I had a 71 4 with the squared bumper.

3 1970 6`s in my family and two have the squared bumpers 1 rounded ...I think it was just a matter of witch one was available when the car was put togather in the factory

I know that happened often later on in the heritage, but everything we've seen as a group indicates that all of the '70 /6s had the squared bumper. After all, the rounded-edge bumpers weren't even around yet.

My guess is, the /6 in your family with the rounded bumper had the original bumper replaced somewhere along the line.

My Dads 6 has been in the family sence it was brand new and it was never wrecked or even pumped into .... it was repainted so just maybe when it was put back togather they put the wrong one on ??.I have asked him about it and he says its stock

Wow, that's really pretty interesting!

Squarebacks are rare & as far as I know all 914s came w/ them in 1970.

is there #s stamped on them somewhere i could look up....the mystery continues

Do you know the build date of your dads' /6?

Paul

I will find out..Mite take me a day or two

hi, just bought a 75 914 and wanting to put those bumpers on. what am i looking for and where's the best place to find them? yours look great!

Cutting-Drilling-repainting-grinding-secure parts-plug holes-
rechrome-top rubber caps secure-oooooopsssss then
another set of fogs and grills....$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
(the horns can still stay below....)Put some WTB's out there
and check the classic threads for a retro fit....Good Luck

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I had a '73 a long time ago and I took the chrome front bumper to a body shop and asked them to send it out to their bumper repair shop (outside contractor) and have the minor dent removed (some fool backing into it) and while they were at it to fill the license plate holes and bumper tit holes. It came back a week later and looked perfect. They straightened it, welded up the holes and re-chromed the whole thing. Just a thought.

If you are not in a hurry, bumpers do show up for sale in much better condition than those. Hell, I gave away an extra rear bumper that just needed re-chroming.

I've seen some just about that bad that have been made perfect.

It won't be cheap, but a very good metal person can make it happen.

You will be very lucky to find undamaged bumpers that won't need any work. If you find damaged ones, even though not as severe as yours, you'll pay the price to bring them back. Will you save money? Maybe, but doubtful.

I'd ask aroung my locale for the best metal bender & go talk to him.

Though it was a long time ago, what did you do with in insurance money you got?

Should have gotten new ones then, when they were still available.
Pat

Yo tom
nice pic I noticed your exhaust system what are you running on that 914-4

Welllllll twas me I would go for good cond bumps and replate those..
your smushed ones might not line up when done as those are prettttttty
tweaked.....plus the top rubber caps also will not have hole alignment problems....
was their ins monies??...Plus you can get an early 70 71 72 and eliminate
the bumperettes in the front...UNLESS keeping concour...put some WTB ..Bumps and see what comes across for offers!!

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Yeah, I can understand. You do what's needed at the time.

Remember when I was about to get out of grad school - drove the 914 every night (I was working full time). We had a Harvard approach, so we stayed as a group until security sent us packing. One night in February, I was on campus untill 11:30, before the cops sent us packing. Went to my 914 & the locks were frozen! Thought they just needed some warm air, so I locked my lips on the handle & proceeded to blow air into the lock. I swear this is true! It was about 20 degrees.

Lips froze on the door latch! Tongue froze on the keyhole! No one around - thankfully!

After a bit of panic, I thought - blow what hot air you have from your guts. Did so. it worked. First the tongue came off, then (slowly) the lips.

Key worked the door after that, but I had the worst case of chapped lips ever.

Then I found WD40.

True story & sorry for the hijack - when you become older these things just come back from nowhere.

Grad school was such a hoot! Yeppir, fond memories.
Pat

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Umm, Tom - be forewarned!

Even if you have a straight bumper that needs re-chroming, it's going to cost you plenty! Decent chrome shops are out there, but thecosts they accumulate for disposal of hazardous materials are drilled down to the customer. Chroming is a very nasty business! My father-in-law (now deceased) sold his plating business in the early 90's because of the costs associated.

Unfortunately, we early teeners have big slabs of steel fore & aft that require immense amounts of nasty chemicals to re-plate them. Expect high costs!
Pat

ps: I've gone to Chapstick. WD40 gave me the farts!

My rear bumper on my 1976 914 has a round hole on the left side...can't find a plug/cover for it, any ideas?, Thanks

I have a '72, but believe your plug is a tow hook cover. Shouldn't be too diff to find (Auto Atlanta, Pelican Parts, the classifieds here.

Welcome, and thank you, thank you for posting your question in the correct thread!
Pat

Thank alot

Try www.caplugs.com. They offer free samples & might have something you like. Maybe.

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They do offer free samples. I've used these guys several times. FYI. Cheers.

[attachmentid=204892
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we gots bumpers

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- Original was about options for replacement for the NLA R bumper tow hole plugs.....updated 3-24-12

AA & IIRC Mikey914/914Rubber & maybe some other online vendors are producing & carrying aftermarket repro rear bumper tow hook hole plugs in both chrome (plasti-chrome) & black.

There are also the chromed, polished nickel, polished SS, etc. metal plugs available at the FLAPS, Home DIYs, etc. which can be used as a substitute for non-CW 914s.

http://www.advancecomponents.com/products_...CFSkZawodezPv0A

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Pardon me for raining on the parade...... which you all know I'm good at.

Tom, your plug should be "plated" plastic, and they ARE available from numerous dismantlers.

The metal plugs, though a better product, will stand out like a zit on your sisters nose. If you're after a proper resto of your "S", search for (& be patient - took me six years to find a proper snowplow rear valence for my 72) the proper plug. You'll find it. May even want to talk to George (AA). He probably has a stash of them.

Do not accept substitutes.....unless you don't care.
Pat

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A question about the rear on a 1974. The car I bought has a painted metal front bumper but a (big, ugly) rubber rear bumper. It was built in 11/73 according to the tag on the door jamb. Is this a correct configuration or was my car back-halfed at some point?

Thanks,

David T

A pic or two would help, but it sounds like you have a combo of pre-75 bumper on the front & post-74 on the rear. They are NOT interchangeable! I'd check to make sure your car hasn't had a later rear clip put on it.
Pat

I'm new to here and excited to learn lots more, although I've been learning slowly since acquiring my first 914 seven years ago.

My black 1973 2.0 (originally sold in Kansas, but extensively restored in the UK before my time) had a chrome rear bumper but the front bit that is normally chrome was body coloured black gloss. I'd always assumed this was standard but reading here wonder if it was actually a modification. I attach a picture of the front and back

Thanks for any tips

Richard

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Wow Tom. Thanks very much. I should have asked about this ages ago. Yes you're right, all that spec about the interior is what the car is, leather wheel, console etc.
The car had a serious prang at the front before my ownership, so I can see now that the black bumper was perhaps a cheaper option than finding a chrome one. The grills around the fog lights are both metal not plastic.

(The sad thing is now this car is scrap, as I pranged the front myself, but I've kept the wreck and have acquired a 1972 black one which has been modified to be 2.0l. Given that change, and that it's been quite heavily restored inside my plan is to evolve it into something a little closer to a 1973 2.0 and so before I commence on the restoration I want to get the spec correct. The new car has a chrome front bumper with tell tail holes of where the tits would have once fitted, which I'll probably leave incomplete I think but would have filled and painted had it been factory spec, as I quite liked the black front end look and the chrome's not in perfect shape).

Thanks for advice about the wheels. I need advice about these, and will ask that in the correct thread

(The photos were taken by Lake Maggiore (front) and Lake Garda ferry (rear)! I'm reminiscing about about my travels!

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Yes I saved the 193 2L, all be it the insurance company charged me a lot for it, but it'll gradually be picked at for bits to go on the new one, bits to save for wear and tear and bits to sell. It's a sad day, the car had original paperwork from it's sale. But it's been written off twice now, and it'll not be reborn again

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Early 1970 rear valence as used on a /4

Nice! Next time get your feet outta the pic!

I noticed on cleaning the bumper, that the original finish on the back is the same paint that is used on the steel wheels. so, although it is a 1974 chrome appearance group bumper, they painted the back side with the silver/white finish.

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Agree, though years may have dulled it some.

Does anyone have a photo of a dealer-installed front license plate mount for a chrome bumper car? I have the mounting holes but have no idea what the bracket looks like and it is required in California.