Author Topic: Bumper Guards for 1968  (Read 7030 times)

RAS68

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Bumper Guards for 1968
« on: December 30, 2017, 02:47:36 PM »
My question is about the quality of fit of the original bumper guards against the bumper profile? In other words, I would like to see some close up examples of ORIGINAL bumper guards fitted on the car in order to judge the fitment of originals. I would like to see some pictures of front and back if anyone has them or can post some. I also started a thread in the Restoration section about who might make the best reproductions. NOS bumper guards are very expensive so I will be forced to use the repros - (or maybe just put rubber plugs in the holes). I looked at the cars in the Originality section and some show bumper guards but there are no close ups to show the fitment against the bumpers. Thanks in advance - this is a great forum!!

Allen
'68 SS L34 07C NOR

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Re: Bumper Guards for 1968
« Reply #1 on: December 30, 2017, 03:59:46 PM »
My car is the feature car for Dec/Jan home page. The rear guards are the originals as well as the bumper from the car they're on  & they fit well. I added the front guards & took them back to the chrome shop several times before I got a fit that I could live with. Still not perfect but bumper & guards on the front are also original GM pieces.....Joe
See America's First, Chevrolet

1968 Z/28 Corvette Bronze. Black Hounds Tooth. 02E Los Angeles born 3/13/1968 pnt OO. Purchased March 1976
1969 SS396 Yellow/Yellow 08E Norwood born 8/28/1969 pnt 76E. Purchased April 1981

RAS68

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Re: Bumper Guards for 1968
« Reply #2 on: December 30, 2017, 04:38:37 PM »
Thanks for the prompt reply Joe. I will check it out.
Allen
'68 SS L34 07C NOR

RAS68

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Re: Bumper Guards for 1968
« Reply #3 on: December 30, 2017, 04:55:35 PM »
Joe, I looked at the feature pics on the Home page. Wow, what a great car, its beautiful! And it also shows the correct rear wheel well moldings. Can you take some close ups of the bumper guards from the side so I can closely see how they follow the bumper profile and the top front edge design? I am referring to the area or edge where it goes over the top and then stops at the forward edge of the bumper. There are some repros with a curved top front treatment and some with a more chopped or abrupt treatment there. I also notice that in some pictures you have the rear bumper guards but not the fronts. That's interesting as I may leave the front ones off of my car as well. To all -any help or close ups of original bumper guards would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Allen
'68 SS L34 07C NOR

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Re: Bumper Guards for 1968
« Reply #4 on: December 30, 2017, 05:08:32 PM »
The car didn't originally have front guards. I added them later in life & wish I hadn't. Z/28s had rear guards but fronts were optional or accessories. I'll take some picture in a while for you. Thanks for the compliment....Joe
See America's First, Chevrolet

1968 Z/28 Corvette Bronze. Black Hounds Tooth. 02E Los Angeles born 3/13/1968 pnt OO. Purchased March 1976
1969 SS396 Yellow/Yellow 08E Norwood born 8/28/1969 pnt 76E. Purchased April 1981

x66 714

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Re: Bumper Guards for 1968
« Reply #5 on: December 30, 2017, 11:28:58 PM »
Here's the rears. This bumper & guards are original to this car...Joe
See America's First, Chevrolet

1968 Z/28 Corvette Bronze. Black Hounds Tooth. 02E Los Angeles born 3/13/1968 pnt OO. Purchased March 1976
1969 SS396 Yellow/Yellow 08E Norwood born 8/28/1969 pnt 76E. Purchased April 1981

x66 714

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Re: Bumper Guards for 1968
« Reply #6 on: December 30, 2017, 11:30:34 PM »
Front. Guards & bumper are not original to this car...Joe
See America's First, Chevrolet

1968 Z/28 Corvette Bronze. Black Hounds Tooth. 02E Los Angeles born 3/13/1968 pnt OO. Purchased March 1976
1969 SS396 Yellow/Yellow 08E Norwood born 8/28/1969 pnt 76E. Purchased April 1981

RAS68

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Re: Bumper Guards for 1968
« Reply #7 on: December 31, 2017, 04:16:32 PM »
Hi Joe, These are excellent photos and its just what I wanted to see. Thanks very much for taking the time to post these. These photos provide a good reference for fit and shape of original bumper guards. The rears appear to fit very well to the profile of the bumper. The fronts fit pretty good as well with only small gaps on one side. The reproduction bumper guards I recently bought have pretty good chrome finish but the fit along the bumper is terrible, especially along the underside. To be fair, the fit along the top side of the rear bumper guards I got is acceptable( but not as good as your originals show) . However, the front repros I have don't fit well anywhere. I guess if I want to get this right I will have to buy NOS or find some originals and have them re-chromed. Does anyone out there have any experience with alternate reproduction bumper guard vendors? Thanks again Joe!
Allen
'68 SS L34 07C NOR

VINCE Z28

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Re: Bumper Guards for 1968
« Reply #8 on: December 31, 2017, 06:30:54 PM »
Allen I have a full set of originals already rechromed. PM me if interested.
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68camaroz28

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Re: Bumper Guards for 1968
« Reply #9 on: December 31, 2017, 07:20:36 PM »
Allen, I doubt there is more than one supplier making the repro guards but many Camaro parts suppliers selling the same produced guards. Unfortunately I've heard or read too many times of fit up issues with the repro's. I used a set of NOS guards for our 68 rears purchased when still available in 1979 and fit up was near perfect.
Chick
68 Z/28 NOR 01B Orig motor/trans/rear
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RAS68

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Re: Bumper Guards for 1968
« Reply #10 on: December 31, 2017, 10:41:32 PM »
Hi Vince Z28, I am interested in your re-chromed originals. How do I "PM" you to get in direct communication? To 68Camaro Z28 - I was afraid of that - that all the repros are actually made by the same folks. Some of them are made by Golden Legion which I think is in Taiwan.
Thanks,
Allen
'68 SS L34 07C NOR

x66 714

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Re: Bumper Guards for 1968
« Reply #11 on: January 01, 2018, 12:35:02 AM »
Click on his name & look on the left...Joe
See America's First, Chevrolet

1968 Z/28 Corvette Bronze. Black Hounds Tooth. 02E Los Angeles born 3/13/1968 pnt OO. Purchased March 1976
1969 SS396 Yellow/Yellow 08E Norwood born 8/28/1969 pnt 76E. Purchased April 1981