Rubber Bumpers, How to restore rubber bumpers back to black Options

[matchpoint]

Does anyone have a suggested product or system to use to restore my 1976 - 914 rubber bumpers back to a good looking black. I have read about many product like peanut oil, sunflower oil, motor oil, cooking oil, heat gun and many more. I did a teat sample on the bottom of the front bumper using tire black, back to black & vegetable oil. Of the 3 the vegetable oil looked the best after application and a 5 min dry. I would think nothing will provide a long term fix but just a one month restore to a black would be great.
Thanks

[Tom_T]

In addition to the items above, we've had good luck with a product called "Bumper Black" sold at BavAuto, & other make specific & FLAPS stores (store &/or on-line), with the similar "synthetic rubber" plastic material on my 85 BMW 325e & our son's `88 Honda Civic HB - which is the same or similar material as on the 57-76 914 BUBs.

It's a simple apply, soak, reapply (usually 1-3x applications in total) until you get an even black/semi-shiny finish, then maybe an annual touch-up or before shows/concours.

I've also used Wurth Rubber Treatment spray on my `73's chrome bumpered "rubber" top pads to some success, but they didn't suffer from any serious sun fading, & that tends to not last as long.

IMHO - no need to remover them from the car in either case above, but it depends on how much white-ish oxidation or faded material you have & if you need to remove the top layers to get them nice.

BTW - I too think that the BUBs look good on a Black & certain other darkish colors of 914 - especially with nice brightwork on the car. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)
Tom
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