SO.....
Long story short Mike Warhurst (Warpig) had helped to broker a deal for stainless bumpers that looks like it's well....dead.

I'm looking into making front and rear bumpers off shore with a company that a student of mine's uncle owns. They have experience in stamping and have pressed big enough to do these. QC is an issue that will need to be addressed, and at 1st it will be late bumpers. They are very labor intensive to do, but if there is an interest I will visit the factory and see what we can do. I plan to actually ship over front and rear clips to check fits. That and final payment will be made in person as they are packed to insure no surprises.

I'm shooting for about $800-900 a set but would need to do about 50 sets to make it work. I will also be offering discounted rubber bumper tops for those that want it to help make this work.

So, lets start again.
Who would be interested at that level?

You had me at "SO", I'm in.

+1

Please put me down for two 1970-1972 front bumpers if the piece is s a perfect match for the factory piece.

Also interested in a 1970-1971 rear bumper when/if you do those. No hurry and no pressure, and very thankful you are looking at doing this.

Would also consider an upcharge for show chrome if that is possible.



pete

I am in for early bumpers

I need two early front bumpers !

Before committing, I'd do a poll for rears: early, late, first available.

I've got a nice driver pair off the 72 that will likely go back on when it's done being restomodded. On my backdated 75 it doesn't really matter but since it sounds like a -6 it might be fun to have the early bumper

It sounds counter intuitive given the production numbers, but the big bucks are going into -6 swaps. Plus a supply of new ones will put good used ones on the market.

Either way, the front bumpers are going to be the better seller, specially if you have a local guy doing the GT mod.

Early bumpers please..

Early set please. Mark, I have a car at Cary's. You are welcome to the tail section if you need it. It's a 74.

I would be in on this GB.. 1 set

I am interested and will be watching. I could possibly be in for two sets (early) as we get more info.

I suggest you guys re-read Mark's post before you rush him with all your "early" orders. He clearly states it will be "late only to start".
Obviously big demand here for early stuff tho...

Polished SS or CP steel?

These will be steel chrome plated.
As far as early vs late on the bumpers if I got enough early I'd go that way. So open to looking at it, really a matter of economics.
Mark

Early (1970), both front and back.

Maybe worth doing a poll and then a GB thread?

What would you buy:

-One 1970-1972 front bumper, one 1970-1971 rear bumper
-One 1970-1972 front bumper, one 1972-1973 rear bumper
-Two 1970-1972 front bumpers

(The nice thing is the bumper guard holes should be easy to add to the front bumpers above, or the rear 1972-1973 bumpers)

Fwiw, I've grown to like the 1970 rear bumper's aesthetics, with the more GT bumper-like angles around the license plate. It's technically incorrect for my car (which is plenty incorrect anyway), but it's been on there for 23 years—ever since a guy at the 1995 Parade wanted to trade rear bumpers and proceeded to tell me my 914 didn't deserve an early rear bumper. It suddenly looked GREAT to me.

late front would work for me.

You should also poll the option of a 916 front bumper that's steel and chromed

That thing would look like a '58 Buick.

Too late to add the poll, but if there is enough interest we would contact everyone via PM to figure out where to go 1st.
My suspicion is that we will be able to make the front easy enough, adding the holes could be done after stamping with a jig. There are plenty of late to make it from. The expense is in the tooling.

That gets us to an early / late question for the rear.

If we do the early 1st the market is smaller, we would probably have to increase the cost. However, many may not care if they put an early rear on a late car if it's perfect.

There will be a few that will want the late for the late car. It becomes a matter of having a conversation with those that are interested to determine the path. A poll is binary, I suspect that we may have more success at this if we ask for some level of commitment then see where the cards fall. I have an idea, but may be way off base.

i'd be in for a set....not sure I care if early or late matters for me as I'm taking off the big rubber bumpers on a 75

Can someone educate me? What is the difference between early and late bumpers besides the holes for the bumper tits?

I would definitely be interested in the future for an option of the GT style with the oil cooler opening if that is offered.

So has Mark H said whether the GB he was working on is dead or not? I sent him a PM a week or so ago and his thread was brought back up but no word from him.
I am interested in new bumpers (front and back) but don't want to leave anyone hanging. Not a concurs guy so early or late would work for me, car is a 74.

I’d be in for the early (no tit holes) front chrome preferably GT style.

Most folks are mostly concerned with the holes.
But /6 guys (gals) are also after the "sharp" style rear.

As there are lots of rears around (13 on EBay today) as compared to the fronts (1 at buy it now $700) , maybe you could look at the feasibly of doing just the fronts to start. Yes the 1970 rears are harder to get but there are still some out there. Lots of 71-74 rears for sale that people could just refinish.

I have a good 1970 rear that could re-plate it to make it primo and a 1970 front that has a dent in it that can be straightened out so I would look at that cost versus one of yours.

It always has to pencil out. Many people like to back date there 75-76 cars.

Trying to help you with an idea.

Bob B

^ Good points all. There are smarter people here than me on such matters, but my sense is that early rear bumpers are MUCH more desirable and "chased after" than the 1972-1974 rears (regardless of holes, which as you state can be added). From what I have seen, there are also a number of 914-6s and conversion cars (not to mention early 4s) that have nice late bumpers on them right now. Perhaps these would be loosened and put onto the market if early bumpers became available again?

My vote would be:

First offering:
1970-1974 front bumper (drilled for 1973-1974 as option)
1970-1971 rear bumper

Second offering:
1972-1974 rear bumper (drilled for 1974 as option)
1970-1974 front bumper with GT inlet made to fit GT valance

Thoughts offered very respectfully!! It's one thing to arm-chair it, another entirely to make the hard calls.

actually a mild steel bumper could be stamped out quickly at a relatively inexpensive price. It is the chromium steel and the plating that makes the venture expensive.

^

Keys to the exercise are 1) quality (correctness, fit, etc), and 2) taking advantage of the fact that all of us poor sops working with old bumpers have to pay a chrome shop to strip, straighten, rectify, and otherwise prep old bumpers...if that can be done. And then hope they fit when all is said or done. Or go back and forth with the car to the chrome shop at various points in between.

The idea of a repro bumper in the original materials (or something quite like them) that fits the way the original factory piece does and looks indistinguishable—that can be ordered from a shelf—is seriously alluring. Mikey will get my business if he proceeds and the quality of his work meets expectaions/hopes.

Can't be that bad if I can buy a BigAssBumper for my Chevy c10 for $200.

When you are in Asia everything you see made of bright steel on cars or trucks is Stainless. Bumpers and racks on trucks. I have traveled a lot in Toyland and Southern China. Toyota trucks with shells turned into 15 person, local 10Baht taxis and and 3 wheel Tuk, Tuks

There is some cheep Stainless Steel that rusts. I got some industrial Stainless Steel over locks for my yard locking door and it started to surface rust right after the first rain. I use Stainless Steel on thermometers that I make in China and the good stainless Steel we use comes from Japan.

It does not rust.

Bob B
Click to view attachment Click to view attachment

Two brand new steel bumpers, just stamped.
Actually, one front and two rears, early.
No chrome needed.
Been waiting, let me know.
I do not want stainless,

I have heard nothing from Mark Henery. The current offering is a diversion away from the original planed stainless GB offering. I do believe that he was working on some special options with variation for oil coolers on his. It may not be dead as it appears that his contact was not Harrington.

If you want the stainless this will not be the direction I'm going.

One of the big Vietnam stainless mfgs was a real hit and miss. In the Karmann Ghia world the mounts were wrong. One guy even went to Nam with correct bumpers and had an appointment to meet. The meet apparently never happened and he was going to import a large lot. I have heard that other bumpers they had fit very nice such as the type 3 and some early bug. I think the T3 bumpers shipped to so cal were around $800

In general for outdoors use you want a 316 based Stainless steel, same as used for marine applications. 304 might work but in coastal places with salt in the air it will eventually suffer from staining at least if stuck outdoors/uncleaned for periods of time.

The thing to know is that the standards for these stainless steels are VERY wide and of course the cheapest places will alloy them as cheaply as possibly while still being within the standard. Thats why you will see very different corrosion results between a US/European made Stainless steel and a Chinese/Asian steel (Japan excluded as they know what they're doing at least when it comes to steel production)

We use 316 for all or our railing cable fittings. It polishes up nice and will slightly brown over time if exposed to high salt air environments. We have installations all over the world and many in Hawaii where this is an issue. I can tell you that it will dull, but you can re polish it. However, it's getting dull, the rest of your 914 is getting eaten up.
The 304/5 is softer and machines more easily, it will polish up nicely, but will brown easily in same harsh environment. It is significantly cheaper, but we don't use it, as it's never worth the hassle. We did also learn that when we buy it to get the mill certs so there is no "confusion".

I am in for a set. Stainless or chrome as long as the price is right, Chrome would match the 914rubber fog Light grills better though. I don't mind the later rear bumpers, as long as there are not holes everywhere. I like the option of getting rid of the holes.

I do not want to leave Mark H hanging if his GB is coming to fruition. I hoe there will be an update because of all of this

-Andrew

Let me provide clarification on this. I will not be doing stainless. And by all means if Mark's Group by is open I would advise you to buy from him as he it started this.

Yes, can we dump any mention of stainless steel bumpers in this thread?

There are threads for those products. No offense to anyone—not least Mark!—but I suspect those here are interested in chrome 914 bumpers that are an exact match for their dented/rusted/wavy/thrice-chromed/etc originals in shape as well as materials and finish. None of the stainless steel bumpers I have seen match the appearance of the factory bumpers. The "color" is incorrect, and so are the ends under the rubber bumper top.

To me, it's a very big deal that 914rubber.com is contemplating this project.

Count me in for two early front steel bumpers when ever they happen !

Who can say no to shiny new chrome? I'm in for a pair.

Wow. Seems like there's a ready market for two-packs of chrome front bumpers done well.

So maybe the first offering doesn't even include rear bumpers? One stamping would allow for 1970-1972, 1973-1974 (with holes added), and back-dated 1975-1976.

I would be in for a set of early front and early rear.

In my perfect world they would not be chromed, and the front would have the GT style for the oil cooler inlet.

I could really use a set for my 73 in chrome.

Mark Henry had the buck he created it would be interesting to see where that is and then a potential for someone to offer the mod?? I know I would consider buying a bunch of bare steel fronts and do the mods and resell. Might be an option..

Cibolo! Hah! We may be the only 2 people on the forum who know where Cibolo is. I used to live around the corner on Main St. in Schertz. 40 yrs ago. I would imagine that Cibolol, Schertz and Universal City are one town now.

Sounds like an option we could do.
mark

Mark Henry, Call out for Mark Henry.

What is up?

Bob B

I had expressed interest with the Mark Henry offer / possibility and haven't heard if he's still doing this or not... I am interested in bumpers and would like to deal with a reputable member of this community but am not interested in being inconsiderate by putting MH off because of his absence to the conversation.

Only reasons for this reply is to show my interest in bumpers and be fair and considerate to the other member that sparked my interest.

Honorable, and respected (!), response.

I too expressed interest in Mark Henry's potential offering—for a few reasons that I suspect may be shared by others:
1. For many years, there have been no attractive options available to replace my 914's chrome front bumper
2. Mark's "GT-style" front bumper in stainless steel would have been an obviously unoriginal part, so I felt materials/finishes/details could differ a bit. At that point, I figured I may as well match a rear bumper to it.
3. Mark's predicted price range was attractive

But the project seemed to go sideways when two suppliers from Vietnam began to accuse one another of unethical behavior…I found it hard to know who to believe, and frankly neither came off looking all that great. I felt bad for Mark in the midst of that given his investment to that point (money and time), and watched the thread to see what would happen. It seemed like Mark was left holding the bag, and the thread died (IIRC).

And now a product to fill the void that left me looking for alternatives is offered, and by a vendor who is well known and well regarded within the community? I'm in. If there's some way that 914rubber.com can work with Mark to make a chrome "GT" bumper in steel, I would view that as a win-win. I might buy one of those, as well. Just because a cool part is suddenly back on the market doesn't mean it will be around later when we need it....and front bumpers are one of the highest-risk parts on a 914.