I just saw these advertised on eBay:

http://www.groupharrington.com/bumper/Porsche_914.asp

Anyone ever seen one?

-Steve

Nope never seen one, but it is nice that someone is making chrome bumpers even if they do cost $1500 for the pair plus shipping.

Jim

1576.44 does that include VAT?

Note they are polished stainless steel not chrome...

I've seen them online & that price is for a pair - F & R - IIRC. Don't know about VAT, nor how they stack up to the OE chrome ones for fit & appearance. Highly polished SS can be as bright as polished chrome, but with a slightly "cooler" (bluish tone) to the silver when viewed side-by-side with chrome, that perhaps only a light meter could detect.

If done exactly to the original attachments, form, fit & finish as stock chromed steel, they'd be a killer answer to essentially rust-free bumper, along the same lines as SS HE's.

Being a Brit company, I've only seen the "tit-less variety" Euro-style - or our USA the pre-73 fronts & pre-74 rears - which leaves me out up front, cuz I want to restore my 73 2L to OE with the front tits.

I haven't checked to see if they can make 73-74 fronts or 74 rears with the extra back brackets 7 mounting holes for the USA tits/bumper guards, but Tod914 on here has called them - so maybe PM him on what he learned.

Curious to see if anyone has tried them on a 914 - esp. if it's in SoCal somewhere that we can see for ourselves!

YUM, addingto my shopping list.

Shipping to the USA could be costly.

VAT is only charged on sales within the EU. In other words, you don't pay VAT on an item expoted from the UK. There might be some import duty to pay to the US customs tho'.
They're a bit pricey- perhaps they should throw in free bumper caps ( with SS inserts)!
Chris

Thats a huge amount of cash plus shipping if you are in North America or even worse Japan like me...still they look nice...probably would be a lot cheaper to have your old bumpers redone and rechromed locally to same some dollars but for 914 guys in the UK you may want to check it out though.

Hey guys, I emailed them through their Ebay site; which I'll post shortly. But here's the deal. I was speaking with a TR6 owner whom had them on his car. The quality is amazing. I could not tell they weren't chrome. I even compared them to other TR6 bumpers that were at the show. What Ross suggested (the TR6 owner), was to contact them directly from their website. Don't use Ebay because they will be at least another 6% due to fees from PayPal & Ebay. He also mentioned to ask for a Porsche club discount. They were very accomodating from what he said. Shipping I recall him saying was about $150.00 from Vietnam for front and back. Here's the email responce. Remember you should be able to get them cheaper by contacting them directly and mentioning your in a club site.
"Hello Tod,
No problem to order a Porsche 914 rear bumper only. The price is £659 including shipping to
Lincoln Park/US (approximately US$ 973).
Just so you know, the eBay price for a complete set is £999 plus £99 for shipping to the US
(total: £1,098). However, I can offer you a special price of £1,038.50 if you order directly
with us, either from our website www (dot) groupharrington (dot) com or via email.
The delivery time for this type of bumpers is around 2 weeks after we received the order.
Shipping is with DHL airfreight which takes 3 ? 4 days to deliver to your door.
We accept Paypal, Credit Card, and Bank transfer as our payment methods. Please find the
details at the bottom of this email.
Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any question.
Best regards,
Thy Le Bao Quoc
Sales Executive, Harrington Group
shine (at) groupharrington (dot) com

PAYMENT METHODS:
CREDIT CARD (Master Card and Visa Card), DEBIT CARD (Visa Electron, Visa Debit, Maestro and
Solo):
If you wish to pay by credit card or debit card, you can send us your card details by email or
fax +44 1225 430271.
PAYPAL "

Nice!

HPH has SS bumpers.
I saw one there in May.

Thanx Mucho Tod!!!!

Did you happen ask if they can replicate the 73 fronts with tit/guard mounts like ours?

Jaime - your shipping to Japan from where they're made in Vietnam should be even cheaper than to the Conti. USA & Canada. Same for Aussie/Z-land rhd!

Also Jaime & all - I've recently talked to a local SoCal rechromer/restorer & he ball-parked $800-1000 each per bumper starting from straight cores (no dings/dimples), so these would be about the same or less for a bargain deal of the pair. Last time new OEM ones were available IIRC, they were about $1500 each plus tax & shipping.

Jaime - re: "Thats a huge amount of cash...." - they take plastic!

Chris/beech4rd - since they're coming in from mfgr in Vietnam they'd be VAT-free for others worldwide & maybe GB/Euro too, but the duties for US, Canada, GB, Euro, Japan, etc. may apply (pretty sure US does, unless they have a duty-free arrangement for certain goods from Vietnam.

Racer Chris - any chance Rich B. or someone from HPH could weigh in here on how they mount, fit & look, shipping/tax & timing issues?

Do you know if theirs are the same mfgr./supplier, or a different source?

Well, I just paid by credit card (chargeback standing by if this is a scam ), and supposedly they will be here in about 3 weeks. I was able to email negotiate him down to $1500 for both (ouch). I started at $1200, but would have paid full price, so I still feel like I won.

Anyways, I'll let you know how it turns out.

I asked if they could make the bumpers without the front license plate holes and without the rear tow hook hole, and he said no problem. I think it should be a slightly cleaner look.

> Did you happen ask if they can replicate the 73 fronts with tit/guard mounts like ours?

No I didn't and I am not sure. It seems easy to NOT drill holes (as I requested), but adding extra brackets may be more work...

-Steve

p.s.

This is the address they ship from:

Harrington Group
23A/4 Ap Hiep Thang, Xa Binh Thang
Huyen Di An, Binh Duong INVOICE NO. 2010071017
Vietnam, 70000

And this is the best I could do on Google Maps:

Anyone know better address formatting? I was hoping street view caught a moped with a stack of 914 bumpers on the back.

BTW - I didn't mean to imply this is a scam, it's just that there is very little information out there about this company. The fact that he didn't take my first offer on negotiation actually made me feel a little bit better that the company is legitimate.

-Steve

VAt is a tax on every step of manufacturing so you will pay the tax on anything you buy made in a nation that has a VAT. the metal was VAt taxed when refined from ore, if made into rolled sheet aat a different factory it gets a VAT tax then, then when formed to a bumper it gets a VAT tax, then when it is chromed, the chrome guy ads more VAT tax. it is simply passed on to the end user in the purchase price.

keep that in mind when the socialists try to implemt it here. one more hidden tax the people have to pay, yuck!

Anyone check to see what Rich at HP wanted for a pair?

Understood Steve, but do let us all know how the mount & fit as to the OE ones, or if there are any fitment issues.

FYI - my buddy had the license plate bracket holes braised-in when he had the front bumper on his otherwise all original 71 914/4 (yup, that's still the original Bahia Red paint on there ), & you can see more or less what yours will look like below -

Click to view attachment

Someone check with Rich at HPH. Does he stock them? May be an option.

I'm really looking forward to seeing those bumpers Steve. We need a full report.

He's selling them on SF Craigs List for $1495 EACH! $3k Is too much for bumpers, at least for me.

I hadn't seen that ad until today. Here it is:

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/pen/pts/1843396509.html



-Steve

I had my stock black bumpers filled straightened and chromed for $700. I would think for 2 stainless bumpers for $1500, you got a good deal....

Dare I say... group buy?

In France it is mandatory to advertise the price with VAT (no hidden charges). The shop will then pay the VAT back to the state. When I visited USA I also had to pay taxes on everything I bought.
VAT is not the same for all items or services. For food it's only 5.5% but for manufactured items it it's 19,6

BTW , VAT has been invented by the french

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Value_added_tax

...

> I would think for 2 stainless bumpers for $1500, you got a good deal....

I don't think I'll ever consider 2 bumpers for $1500 a "good deal", but I'm ok with it.

-Steve

So is this ad by Rich B at HPH, or somebody who is buying the ones you got Steve & marking them up 50-100% for the fools on CL????

... are they even the same SS bumpers?

I'd actually seen this ad repeatedly on 914club's CL notifications to me, before I saw the other eBay one with the set for $1500, & now I'm wondering.....

That ad is absolutely HPH. I'd recognize that background anywhere.

yes beautiful and expensive.

So then, is he buying the Vietnam made ones & adding a huge mark-up, or sourcing them elsewhere at a higher wholesale cost to HPH?

BTW - then HPH is also advertizing SS Rockers on CL with pix in front of that same garage door. You can probably find the ad in the 914club NW or SF CL listings.

I've seen them. They're nice, but too $$$ for me.

At $1500 for the pair F & R = $750 each, which was about the last price for OEM chrome ones new IIRC?

I was recently quoted (in CA) $800-1000 each to CW-10 restore & 3-step rechrome OEM ones!
- so if these are new, SS & comparable quality, workmanship, fit, etc. - $750 apiece sounds like a bargain!

... I'll just need to see what they'll add to the cost to add the 73-74 holes & backbraces for the bumper gaurds - IF they will even to that!!??

<edit PS> - I just emailed them for the added cost for the 73-74 F & 74 R bumper guard/tits holes & back braces, & a quote all-in with shipping for my 73 set. I'll post the info here when I hear something, but will probably wait to purchase pending my seeing some on a 914 & talking to whomever installed them to make sure they fit/look right.

To be clear - at the Harrington website they're selling them for what equates to about $1500-1600 for BOTH the front & rear set - not each.

F is the 70-72 "no tits" style & R is the 70-73 "no tits" style. Mods to add for tits is TBD.

Last time I spoke with the Triumph owner, he said they are very accomodating and will add holes, not add holes, what ever you want.

I just emailed Harrington for a quote on the 73 & 74 tit mods & will post here when I hear back.

Did you check out their 1/2 scale 356 cars?

Very cute toy. I wonder how much they are?

> Did you check out their 1/2 scale 356 cars?

Those are pretty neat. Although too nice for my 18 month old. She'd destroy it.

Update: I received an email that they need 2 extra weeks to make my bumpers because of my request for no front license plate holes and no rear tow plug hole. So... it's still 4-5 weeks out. Stay tuned...

-Steve

OK Update -

For those of you with 73 or 74 914s with chrome bumpers & wanting to keep the OE front &/or rear Bumper Guards/"Tits" - here's what Harrington said it will cost to do the bumpers to fit the "titties":

Front 73-74 MY Bumper w/ Bumper Guard Mounting Holes & Brackets:
Adding 2 back braces behind the "tits" & 2 mounting stud holes each side L & R will add $50.00 to the total "sale" cost of $1579.00 for both F & R bumpers in polished SS.

Rear 74 MY Bumper w/ Bumper Guard Mounting Holes:
Extra holes apparently can be accommodated at no additional cost (same as Steve's "hole deletes), because the rear bumpers' mounting brackets also line up with the rear tits, & an extra set of brackets isn't needed.

So if we're understanding each other & communicating clearly with each other in the emails below, a F & R set/pair of polished SS bumpers for either 73 or 74 MY will cost at their current price $1629.00 (instead of $1579.00 for 71-72 style tit-less bumpers). As with Steve's set deleting the license plate bracket mounting & tow hook holes, these extras will take a few weeks delay in manufacturing & shipping them (unless they later decide to carry both types in stock in the future).

NOTE that their rep. Vivian says this price(s) includes ALL shipping & handling, taxes, VAT & duties - as a complete to your door price for 2 bumpers!

In my email to her below (2nd down in thread), I'd included these pix of the 73-74 F & 74 R chrome bumpers which Tom Blizick was selling a while back (Craig/CAMP914 got them IIRC, I include more pix for her ref. but this shows them both F&B sides) - & added here FYI so you can see the differences to the "plain" bumpers:

Click to view attachment Click to view attachment

Also FYI - here is the extra rubber buffer pad that go on the F bumper's tit-braces in the pix above, with a sketch Tom B did of them in case we need Mark W./Mikey914 to make repro replacements for them.

Click to view attachment Click to view attachment

Here's the full email exchange FYI -

From: Stainless Steel Bumpers <shine@groupharrington.com> [Add to Address Book]
To: 'Thomas T
Subject: RE: 914 Bumpers Question
Date: Jul 22, 2010 4:17 AM
Attachments: image001.jpg image002.jpg image003.jpg image004.jpg

Hello Tom,

Thank you for your pictures.

It would cost $50 to add the 2 brackets on the back and drill the necessary holes.

What we need now is an extensive set of dimensions so we can build and position the brackets perfectly.

Since you have a non salvageable bumper, would it be possible that you cut the brackets and send it to us? It will be of great help for us if we can work from an actual sample.

Best regards,

Vivian

Vivian Baretge
Sales & Marketing Director
www.groupharrington.com
www.isettashop.com
http://www.youtube.com/user/harringtongroup
http://www.flickr.com/photos/21038833@N05/
Tel: +44 121 288 1250
Fax: +44 122 543 0271


From: Thomas T
Sent: Thursday, July 22, 2010 11:31 AM
To: shine@groupharrington.com
Subject: Re: 914 Bumpers Question

Hi Vivian,

I've attached some pictures of another 1974 914 owner's bumpers which he was selling for your reference. Unfortunately my 73 front bumper is pretty mangled from an accident, so I'll have to get another one from which to do the measurements you've requested.

However, perhaps your engineering/design &/or production staff can give me an estimate of the additional cost for the extra back braces for the front bumper guards. The braces look to be a bit smaller & different shape, & the black pieces on the back are a rubber pad which I can source elsewhere (maybe still from Porsche).

It appears from the attached pictures that the rear guards line up with the existing mounting brackets (i.e.: with no added brackets), so based on your info. below the "extra" holes could be added at no extra cost.

I do have the front rubber guards for my restoration (3 pairs actually), and there is a vendor on 914world/914rubber who will be making reproductions, & he already makes excellent repro rubber top pads for the front & rear bumpers, if your customers are looking for those.

Thanx for your help on this.

Cheers!
Tom T
///////

On 7/16/2010 3:25 AM, Stainless Steel Bumpers wrote:

Hello Mr T ,

Thank you very much for your email.

I'm Vivian, Sales and Marketing Director of Group Harrington.

Yes, it is certainly possible to modify our bumpers so they can accept US specs bumpers guards. However we do not have the capacity at the moment to produce the rubbers guards themselves.

The price for these modifications will depend on their complexity. If you just need a few additional holes to be drilled, we will do them at no cost; we will just need the exact location and dimensions of the holes

It would be great if you could send us pictures of your original bumpers without the guards, so we have a clear overview of the work to do.

The good news is that our Porsche 914 bumpers are on stock and on sale!

The full set (front and rear bumpers) is available for only $1579 (instead of $1898) INCLUDING DHL shipping to Orange, tax and duties.

The price I'm quoting is the final price for you. They will be ready for shipping around one week after reception of your payment.

Of course if we have to do extensive modifications to the bumpers the price and delivery time might be different.

We offer bank transfer, credit card and PayPal as payment methods; you will find all the details below.

Please don't hesitate to contact me if you have any question!

Best regards,

Vivian

Vivian Baretge
Sales & Marketing Director
www.groupharrington.com
www.isettashop.com
http://www.youtube.com/user/harringtongroup
http://www.flickr.com/photos/21038833@N05/
Tel: +44 121 288 1250
Fax: +44 122 543 0271

PAYMENT METHODS:

We accept:
- Credit Card (Master Card and Visa Card).
- Debit cards: Visa Electron, Visa Debit, Maestro and Solo.
- Paypal.
- Bank transfer.
- For UK residents, we also accept personal Cheque, Bank draft & Cash deposit.

CREDIT CARD, DEBIT CARD:

If you wish to pay by credit card or debit card, you can send us your card details by email or fax +44 1225 430271.

In order to process your payment by credit card, we need the following information:
- Name as stated on the credit card
- Credit card number
- Expiry date
- Verification number -For most cards the verification number is a 3 digit number
found on the back of the card on the signature panel (normally the last 3 digits).

PAYPAL
If you wish to pay by PayPal, please ask us to send you a payment request or simply go to www.paypal.com to make payment. Harrington Group PayPal ID is info@GroupHarrington.com.

BANK TRANSFER FOR USD
Bank name: EXIMBANK TAN DINH
Address: 48-50 Nguyen Huu Cau, Dist. 1, HCMC, Vietnam
Account name: Nathan John Redfearn
SWIFT code: EBVIVNVXTDH
USD Account No.: 140014850000215

-----Original Message-----
From: Thomas T
Sent: Friday, July 16, 2010 12:34 AM
To: info@groupharrington.com
Subject: 914 Bumpers Question

Harrington Group
Mr. Nathan Redfearn

Dear Mr. Redfearn:

In the USA the 914's for the 1973 model year came equipped with extra
black "rubber" bumper guards left & right on the front bumpers - with a
pair of horizontal screw/stud mounting holes & back braces similar to
those used to mount the bumpers to the body on the backside behind the
guards. The 1974 MY had those in front, plus a set of them on the rear
bumpers as well. By production numbers, the 73 & 74 MYs represented
about 40-50% of the total production of all 113,000+ 914s between 70-76,
with about 60% imported to the USA (perhaps 1/4 to 1/3 of all 914s).

For those of us interested in doing a concours &/or period correct
restoration of our beloved 914s, we want the correct bumpers with the
guards. In my case I have and early-73 MY 914-2.0 (marketed as the
914SC over there in GB & 914S here initially).

Is it possible to produce your stainless steel bumpers modified for
those guards? If so, what will that add to the "base price" for each
bumper - adding 4 properly located mounting holes left & right to each
bumper & adding 4 properly located 2 additional proper back braces
behind those pairs of holes (note that the back braces have similar
holes to the mounting brackets, into which a rubber isolating pad is
fitted) - quoting front & then rear separately (so I can share this info
with my fellow 73 & 74 owners)?

Can you also provide me with a specific quote given your current special
offer for the bumper set - preferably with the modified front bumper as
an added cost, including shipping to my address below, plus any taxes,
VAT, duties, etc.

Thank you in advance for your assistance in this matter.

Cheers!
Tom T
///////

Am I correct in if I DON'T care about being period correct, I can go with hole-less bumpers on my 1973?

$1500 delivered doesn't sound too bad to me, for non-rusting/perfect. Plus, I have no guilt with my bastardized -6 conversion putting on something non-stock.

Looking forward to hearing your report when you receive them.

Yes - Seems like a great price at just under $800 apiece for new SS bumpers all in - $1579 for both!

No reason not to go as is with their bumpers - for either 70-72, Euro 73-74 look, or backdated tit-less bumpers, & for your 73 6-conversion!

Post your pix & let us know how they fit relative to OEM ones - once you get yours!
Steve went without the license bracket holes up front & no tow hook hole rear, which delayed his delivery a bit, but didn't cost extra. So I'm not sure of your meaning of hole-less.

Thank you Steve for blazing this trail. I will pull the trigger as soon as you say you are happy with your purchase. I too want to go without front license plate and rear tow hook holes.

Ya, I'd do the same thing I think.. no need for extra holes I figure!

Out of curiousity Steve & Kansas914 - I understand the idea of the front license bracket holes delete - esp. in states not requiring a front plate - for a cleaner look, but not the tow hook hole?

I seems to me that would be a handy thing to have in an emergency where you get off the road nose first (e.g.: in a sleet or ice storm) & want to have another vehicle on scene hoist you back on the road using a point engineered for that purpose. Having used it before in my 914's DD days, I see it's utility. Plus you can get repro plastic caps again from AA or chromed metal & polished SS ones from FLAPS, hardware stores & fasteners online.

So why delete the rear hole?

... just curious why

Tom - Once you put $20-30K into a restoration, including $1.5K for bumpers, will you be driving in sleet and snow? Mark

> So why delete the rear hole?

Slightly cleaner (maybe, I've never seen it) and I've never used it in the past 19 years.

If I did need to pull my car from behind, I think there are probably better spots underneath...

-Steve

For me it is a matter of form before function. My flared '74 doesn't have the holes in question front or rear and I like the look. So I plan on doing the same on my '72 - it will be a garage queen for the most part - coming back soon from paint and body after a year there (sanded down to bare metal and re-painted the original color of Willow Green). I have Mikey's (Mark Whitesell) new bumper tops (F&R) to put on the new bumpers. Pure aesthetics for me...

It will be a fair weather driver - I doubt it will get 5000 miles on it in it's lifetime (or more like my lifetime )

I guessed you guys were looking for the clean look over function. My buddy with the 71 red 914 without the front bumper holes in that pic I posted early on here for you, also de-badges most of his cars which he gets in black (635i, G35 Coupe, etc.) for the cleaner look - but he's glad he didn't do that on his 914 since it's worth far more as a stock preservation 914/4.

A word of warning IMHO from my experience - pulling it out by anything else underneath has the possibility to damage the engine/transaxle/suspension if you hook a cable/chain somewhere down there. If not where you hook up, then by either rubbing of the chain/cable - or if it comes loose or snaps, then you have a rocket under there looking to destroy alloy engine & transaxle cases, etc. I won't take that chance, but will make sure that I get my hook attachment point properly refitted & welded & in good shape in my resto!

Also from experience - ALWAYS insist on a flatbed for any towing, because all the others will damage your valances, exhaust, front A-arm mounts, transaxle/CV joints, etc. - depending on which end they lift & this is true even for the newer truck with the 2 arms that swing in & lift the tires! The 914s just sit too low & the owners manual severely limits towing them.

AAA et al may make you wait longer & they &/or their tow companies will try to talk you out of it, but they will send a flatbed if you insist & stick to it.

Send the others away & wait for the proper flatbed wrecker truck, or suffer the consequences of some very expensive repairs! I know, the first mistake cost me $300+ back in 76 & most of the parts are more expensive today, if not NLA!!!!

Ya just never know Mark, but it's not as common out here in CA unless I decide to take the 914 skiing as I used to do, but it can still be in need of a rear pull in other situations.

Besides, in my case I'm going for a CW-10 fully stock resto, so I'll keep the bumpers all original - even the front tits. In fact - if these SS bumpers as modified for the front tits are the right fit & look, then I'm saving on $1600-2000+ to resto & rechrome some stock bumpers which could rust again later - so this is a better deal "if"!!

I'm trying to be like Steve G/SMG, Tod914, Pat G & Tom Bliznick "when I grow up" & finish my perfect resto!

My difficulty will be trying to keep it as perfect as those & other CWs do after it's done, cuz I like to drive my 914 & it WILL get dirty, but don't see myself crawling around under it with toothbrushes much!

If I do the CW thing, then I'll just have to enter it in Concours events before it gets too dirty!

You know, we drive new cars $20-40-60k++ on the streets in traffic, the only diff is most/all of their parts are still available!

PS - I'm dividing the cost of everything now by 25 - for the 25 years of "deferred maintenance" while it sat on blocks in my garage since 5/85! ... it seems less idiotic & painful that way!

you can cut your own hole, much eiser than to fill one up that is not wanted. no chrome to woory solid stainless so no rust in your new cut hole. nice option to not have it.

I agree - I had thought about that too. I don't plan on ever selling the car (famous last words) as I have owned this car since 1978 and my daughter is next in line for it. If I was going CW on the car - I would have chromed the steel bumpers anyway.

Just my thoughts...

.... that's why I'm waiting to see them side-by-side with the chromed OEM ones to see how exact they look/fit, before I go this route.

I did the same thing for Mark W's/MIkey914's rubber toppers, but they were so exact that I got his better F&R top pads, even though I already bought an OEM rear one (fronts were already NLA). Even for the CW route, I'd prefer going with the better product over OEM - all else being equal - like Mark's stuff & SS HE's, & maybe these SS bumpers.