Painted bumpers

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Back in Time

Back in Time

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I'm doing a mild resto-mod on My 64 Dart GT. All the chrome and stainless is in good shape and will polish up nice except for the bumpers. The car is going to be painted white and it's just not in the budget to get the bumpers rechromed. Do I paint them body color or a contrasting color? If so...what color?
 
I've seen a few 67 and newer Darts with the bumpers painted body color,, looked surprisingly good..

PS.. I bought Rechromed bumpers at the Portland meet a yr. or so ago.. They were $300 exchange.. ( I took my cores back the following yr. for $50 core refund)

hope it helps
 
I used to have my fiberglass ones painted a bright silver ,looked decent.

But I finally gave in an bought some rechromed originals
 
Personally, I'd clean up the bumpers as good as possible. 0000 steel wool works great at cleaning up chrome. Then I'd save my money and have them rechromed at a later date.
 
Not a Dart, but I had mine powdercoated silver. here's a couple of pics.
 

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Painting them silver makes them look like made in China- plastic.
Nice enough for a dragracer perhaps but imo it looks cheap on a driver.

Try chrome wrapping them. The bumpers don't have difficult shapes.
 
If you check into rechroming,, in my area was near twice the swap meet exchange price,, and some members mention way more ..

There were 3 rechromers there (Portland), they seem to attend most Large swap meets..

I had to inspect all 3 platers for quality,, as some weren't so good.. but one was veerryy niiice...

hope it helps
 
If you don't want to or lack the funds for re-chroming, then it's really your personal preference on whether to clean them up as best as possible or paint them. Tossing my hat in the pot, my own personal preference would be either to find some used ones at a decent price via FABO or Craigslists or paint clean up the old ones and wait on something better. Nothing wrong with painting though.
 
Everybody has a hard on for painted bumpers. I say do what you think looks good because it's your car.
 
Thanks guys....these are pretty beat up and need some straightening to use. Might just paint them for now and do as suggested and look for better ones down the road. This is a back yard resto -mod so new rechromed just can't be justified. I kinda like the idea of leaving the front one off on it.
 
Cars aint cheap.
The only way to make that new paint look good, is with a set of nice chromed bumpers.

Painted bumpers suck....Oops, did I just say that ?
 
Who says you have to rechrome? I sold a cherry looking early Dart bumper to a guy on here a few years ago for $50. Put an ad in the wanted section and see if there's anything of quality out there.
 
If you paint do anything but black.
Ton of people paint bumpers and grilles black and think it looks bad *** and it doesn't.
Tells me hey I'm a cheap bastard who cuts corners and spends a ton of money on a paint job and want to make my ride look like a total POS with all bumpers painted black
 
I think anything you paint fast reflects your lack of care. Usually shows in the quality. Doesn't have anything to do with the color imo :)
 
Back in Time said:
Fast01....Your Cuda looks great in my book.Keeping my options open.
Click to expand...
to each his own. the barracuda looks good! I`m painting mine (front fiberglass-rear steel) same color as the car, it`ll look decent enough to me,
 
Back in Time said:
Fast01....Your Cuda looks great in my book.Keeping my options open.
Click to expand...
to each his own. the barracuda looks good! I`m painting mine (front fiberglass-rear steel) same color as the car, it`ll look decent enough to me, i`m more about speed and updating. I do have the money to have them rechromed, not important to me! I t will be above a daily driver and look good, but originality don`t mean much when you`re behind. :supz:
 
I have a 66 dart and I plan on painting both bumpers on mine. I would like more information on what this chrome wrapping is. I just can't see $900-$1000 for 2 bumpers when the car value isn't that much.
Rod
 
I painted my bumpers body color. I think they look great. It's your call. Who cares what some one else thinks.


Fred B
 
^Exactly, I've seen a ton of car people that are catty; they talk behind your back, and cut down your hardwork and choice of personal touches.
 
For now I'm leaning body color. If I don't like it I'll cross that bridge when I get to it. Thanks for the remarks...even from the ones who find it easy to advocate spending money you don't have because " cars aren't cheap":smile::smile:
 
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