What is the level of damage you have received being rear-ended in your 914? Options

[DaveB]

I'd like to get some feedback from anyone that has been hit from behind in a 914 with chrome or rubber bumpers. How did a 25mph hit or greater translate into the car?

The design plan on my '75 is to replace the fugly rubber bumpers with the early style chrome. This car was rear ended years ago and the plate behind the bumper was bent in about two inches. It looks to have been a hard impact. As I run through the car to understand how this impact was translated into the car, I am finding the '75 stock set-up absorbed and distributed most of the impact.




I really hate the look of the '75 bumper and I generally build what I want. But....this is one of the few cars I'll let my kid drive because she is helping me with the rebuild. I can't bubble wrap my kid and IMO it's better to teach her defensive driving and how to handle cars in bad weather/traction loss. Before I lock down the design, I'd like to know the real world difference from owners who have experienced getting rear ended. I clearly understand the '75 bumper set-up is safer, but I'd like to know from folks on their experiences, especially in solid/chrome bumpers getting rear ended, before I decide what I want to do.



DaveB