Bumper swap on Subaru Brat - Suggestions/photoshops needed!

[georgexs]

Hi all,

I bought a Subaru Brat a while ago (build thread to start soon), whilst stripping it down the other weekend I took the small rear quarter bumpers off....Well nearly, I tore the rusty knackered mounts off that barely held them in position.

It got me thinking, if I have to make a new mount to put the bumper back on, I could probably just as easily make a different mount and stick a far nicer bumper on. I'm really not that fond of the either the front or back stock ones. Which look like this:

Mine ^

Not mine, much cleaner^

Earlier models got nicer chrome ones and full length variants on the back instead of little bumperettes:

(And also way cooler options, targa tops, stripes, jump seats in the bed, sides steps and check the middle cyclops headlight that flips up under the subaru badge, SOOO cool)

So does anyone have any ideas about bumpers off another that could work (perfectly happy to do cutting modifying as necessary to make them fit) with the shape. Front and back!

So far I think mk2 escort or chrysler sunbeams are the best i've seen, I think they match the boxy shape of the brat. Also, should say, not that fond of the debumpered look.

My mounts: 



Thanks!

[waveman1500]

Subaru L Wagon would be the obvious one.

[mikeymk]

I was thinking chrome or aluminium bumpers with (small) end caps. It gives a hardy retro look and they're easily adapted to fit with both length and brackets.

There are a wide range of styles and sizes, mainly '70s stuff from all over the world - the U.S spec motors often got real chunky stuff due to the stringency of their legislation..







You can always wrap a chrome bumper in something like satin grey or textured black - not so easy to chrome one though, if it isn't steel..

[guz]

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/391237858882?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT ?

[Anglevan]

You can still get the correct brat ones. But you need to be looking on the US eBay.
I've bought a pair of new old stock ones for my brat but they are for the saloon as such don't have the number plate recess.
you can pick up used original ones if you can manage the carriage and customs.
as to alternatives, it's quite a basic shape, have you thought to have some folded?

[slackerTHEpinstriper]

Mk 2 polo breadvan. Get the bumpers and take the plastic off down to the steels. There just Ike an early mk1 golf bumper

[slackerTHEpinstriper]

My old breadvan with the front bumper done

[georgexs]

Thanks for the suggestions.

waveman1500 - Yeah they are a bit nicer than the small corner bumpers, I think I want to go with less plastic though, I think the more 70's bumper will suit it better.

mikeymk - Lots of good suggestions there, wouldn't have expected the RR Classic to be anything like it from memory, looks good though. Could even work with valance below it too.

guz & slacker - Good shout on the vw stuff, didn't know about the polo bumpers being plastic over metal.

Anglevan - I assumed getting stuff from the US would be silly expensive but I'll keep my eyes open. Hadn't considered folding one myself, we do have a 2 metre press brake at work as well, the subaru is very flat fronted as well, no nasty compound curves needed.

[baggabones]

One word from me .... chrome!

[village]

some thing full width made from round bar or probably tube?

[colnerov]

Hi, Volvo 2 series Aliminium polished up. You will have to deal with the bare ends. Which brings to another point, Don't just take end caps off you will run into MOT problems because it presents a sharp edge.

Colin

[georgexs]

Sept 2, 2015 17:35:54 GMT baggabones said:

One word from me .... chrome!

Yup, i'm leaning towards chrome. 

Sept 3, 2015 9:51:49 GMT village said:

some thing full width made from round bar or probably tube?

I have thought about a tube bumper, but to me they only suit something very offroad biased stuff.
Although I quite like this:

Sept 3, 2015 10:59:37 GMT colnerov said:

Hi, Volvo 2 series Aliminium polished up. You will have to deal with the bare ends. Which brings to another point, Don't just take end caps off you will run into MOT problems because it presents a sharp edge.

Colin

Got a photo of the type you mean? A quick google brings up acres of plastic ones, and a few that are metal but appear to wrap around the ends?

[mk2cossie]

Sept 3, 2015 10:59:37 GMT colnerov said:

Hi, Volvo 2 series Aliminium polished up. You will have to deal with the bare ends. Which brings to another point, Don't just take end caps off you will run into MOT problems because it presents a sharp edge.

Colin

No it wont, as it's not caused by damage or corrosion

Although other people may disagree

I think the tube design one is pretty cool tho

[village]

how about something a little less "in your face" but still tubular

[colnerov]

Hi, these. -

They're an Ali bumper with a rubber buffer and look like this with it removed. -


Colin