Topic: Ford Tooling 65-66 Front Bumpers

[69bossnine]

Before you get too excited, this isn't a "surprise, they're available!!" post.. This is a post asking for your input.

We (NPD) just bought a stash of un-plated original Ford 65-66 front bumpers from the stamper in the Detroit area that ran them for Ford. They've been languishing there since the 1990's, round-about 400 of them.

As some might remember, Ford bumpers in the 80's and 90's left a lot to be desired. This was because the trim-tools were getting worn, and that's what caused the rough edges. But the overall fit and thickness/integrity of the steel was as-original and spot-on.

Our next step is to approach a few quality chrome platers to see about what it will cost to 1. Clean-up any/all rough edges to an acceptable standard, and 2. Do a quality plating job.

My goal is not Pebble Beach quality hyper-show-chrome (which I did on the original bumpers for my GT500KR, and cost over $1500 bucks for the pair... But damn they're works of art LOL!). My goal is a plating job that is superior to Ford's original production bumpers, but not to the level of what I would call "show chrome" (author's note - my definition of show chrome is far superior than what many platers self-proclaim as show chrome).

In short, I want the bumpers to look nice-quality, clean around the edges, and good chrome that looks at home on a show car.

Here's the big question. I haven't gotten any numbers back from any platers, but I'm guessing that these bumpers are going to retail somewhere in the $450-$500 range once they're done. If anyone has ever had plating done for their own restoration, they realize that the costs are high, and it'll be quite a feat for me to bring these in under $500/each retail.

Would you pay in that range for a Ford tooling bumper? Knowing that the YW Taiwan repro's that we carry (the other repro's are junk) are darned nice for $147 bucks? If not, what WOULD you pay??

I know that for all you resto-mod and frequent-driver guys, the answer is probably an emphatic "no". But for you guys who are going for a concours restoration, or trying to keep your Mustang all-Ford where and when you can, I'm really looking for feedback. I don't want to sign a contract to plate 400 friggin' bumpers without some level of comfort that there's a market for them.

Thanks!

Rick
NPD

[hertz350]

I recently paid about $500 to have an original Ford front bumper triple plated. I paid $130 for the nice used Ford bumper. Knowing what I know, I would not pay even the common price of $450 for a chromed NOS Ford bumper if I were going to have it chromed anyway. I think there is a market for selling these bumpers as is and that would allow the buyer to have it finished to his or her own specifications.

[ruppstang]

You are correct I had $550 each in the ones for our GT350. I have been happy with the plating at Sioux Plating in Sioux City Iowa. That is a long way from you.

One other thought is possibly selling then as is and that person could have them done to the level they want. I bought a NOS bumper and had it striped and replated. Good cores are hard to find.

Good luck

Marty

[Bob Gaines]

I recently paid about $500 to have an original Ford front bumper triple plated. I paid $130 for the nice used Ford bumper. Knowing what I know, I would not pay even the common price of $450 for a chromed NOS Ford bumper if I were going to have it chromed anyway. I think there is a market for selling these bumpers as is and that would allow the buyer to have it finished to his or her own specifications.

Finding a nice core can be a issue  .Many bumpers have already gone through the replating process at least once . Many have been straighten before and have the plier marks on the back side along with pitting etc.Some have hideous spots on the backside where the plater welded a hanging wire to the bumper for the chrome plating process.  You have to address the rust etc on the back side by blasting or sanding before sending off to be plated because the platers will typically ignore it. You can do some creative disguising if you have a bumper replated that has a less then perfect back side but not really good candidates for show cars. The superior core that has no marks or pitting on the back side or a NOS bumper get the best results. FYI when judging and working our way through the underside of a car the backside of the bumper is one of the first things we look at  .

[outlawincorporated]

RICK

interesting post......

i personally think there is 2-3 markets available for NPD with these original FORD tooled bumpers.

1; sell them as is and let the buyers do with them as they see fit
2; restore/replate to a superior level than what you stock now
3; restore/replate to hyper-show-chrome quality for the most descerning customers, maybe even offer correct date stampings them for each of them

obviously it is all price dependent and whether there is enough margin in it for your company to do as 2-3 options.
i have spent good dollars buying NOS examples and then replating them for show cars and i sure others have also done the same.

just my thoughts
regards

PHILL BERESFORD
MELBOURNE.
AUSTRALIA.

[Bob Gaines]

RICK

interesting post......

i personally think there is 2-3 markets available for NPD with these original FORD tooled bumpers.

1; sell them as is and let the buyers do with them as they see fit
2; restore/replate to a superior level than what you stock now
3; restore/replate to hyper-show-chrome quality for the most descerning customers, maybe even offer correct date stampings them for each of them

obviously it is all price dependent and whether there is enough margin in it for your company to do as 2-3 options.
i have spent good dollars buying NOS examples and then replating them for show cars and i sure others have also done the same.

just my thoughts
regards

PHILL BERESFORD
MELBOURNE.
AUSTRALIA.

Good point in that you could sell them as is and let the buyer have them chrome plated. That way you side step the inevitable person that complains about the chrome regardless of how good it is.

[tobkob]

Maybe have a certain number plated and offer them plated (for the person who doesn't want the hassle of dealing with the platers) or not plated for those who want to have one plated to their own standards. Just a thought...

TOB

[midlife]

My first thought was "wonderful!  You'll have people knocking down your doors!".  Then I realized...you spend $5-600 chroming a bumper and the customer doesn't like it after buying it and returns it.  It may have new scratches on it or something else due to shipping.  What are you going to do with a returned expensive item like that with not a lot of customer base? 

In other words, your scrappage  costs will be astronomical.  I vote with others: sell them as is at a reasonable price with the disclaimer that they are not perfect for show cars as is, but NOS bumpers for show chroming.  Do the custom chroming on just a couple to show what can be done with the bumper.
Oh, just a note: these bumpers cannot be used for Thoroughbred judging.  You might want to state that in your description.

[hughnews1]

i vote with Midlife.... 

[69bossnine]

The suggestion of selling them as-is was made over on VMF, and is a good one... However, I'm a bit more concerned with the return-rates on bare bars/cores, since they exhibit the same poor/rough edge trimming as existed with NOS Ford bumpers in the late-80's and 90's. Or course, people have been buying those bumpers and using them as cores likewise, so I suppose that most of the "likely market" for these will be a reasonably-educated market.

I am also hoping that the prospect of chroming a BULK QUANTITY at one time, assembly-line style, such that the labor dressing the edges and polishing through the process will gain rhythms/efficiencies and cost-savings such that offering a finished-plated bumper would be a win-win for both us and the consumer (i.e. $500 bucks and bolt it on, rather than $150 bucks and then lord-knows-how-much with your plater).

I am also concerned that costs of chrome plating might continue to skyrocket, especially if we have an environment in Washington DC after November 3rd that resumes overt regulations and restrictions on platers and their materials. If that were to happen, I'd have felt smarter for getting as much plated in-bulk, at a low cost driven by the volume, while things were more affordable.

It's all swimming around in my head, quotes from platers (both in-bulk and in smaller batches) will certainly play into my final decisions, and I'm already certain that we'll hold-out a certain amount of bare-steel bars (which we'll likely have dipped and oiled) to sell as-is so you can choose your own plater and finished-quality.

Thanks, and any further input is very welcome.

Rick
NPD

[jwc66k]

I am also hoping that the prospect of chroming a BULK QUANTITY at one time, assembly-line style, such that the labor dressing the edges and polishing through the process will gain rhythms/efficiencies and cost-savings such that offering a finished-plated bumper would be a win-win for both us and the consumer (i.e. $500 bucks and bolt it on, rather than $150 bucks and then lord-knows-how-much with your plater).

I had several 66 parts re-chromed. The shop gave me a 10 cent tour and explained what the process entailed (I'm a retired Master Scheduler and Production Planner - I was professionally curious). Each part went was "dipped" in a different liquid around 30 times - cleaning, plating, rinsing, repeat. In between those steps was buffing and grinding, and more "repeats". To commit to plating 400 bumpers is a big "commitment". I would think that lots of 100 for a full concourse grade bumper might be more cost effective, primarily to evaluate the plater's process, your storage and inventory costs, and market reception.
Jim

[bluemax]

As one just starting out on a restoration project I am excited to read through these posts and the possibilities with this "find".

I for one will be interested to know when these will be available and in what form; bare steel or show chrome.

[CharlesTurner]

It sounds like a huge headache to go through with chroming and offering for sale.  There's so much quality control involved, I just don't see enough consistency from typical chrome plater's to have enough confidence that things would turn out as intended.  If it were me, I would offer the bare cores at a reasonable profit and move them as quickly as possible.

Just went through having an original core re-chromed twice by a very good chrome plater.  2nd time there is still a blem, we gave up and went with another core at another shop.

[69bossnut]

I think the sell as is is the best option with the understanding there are some edge issues that will have to be addressed.

[OldGuy]

I think the sell as is is the best option with the understanding there are some edge issues that will have to be addressed.

Buying an unplated bumper would also allow the end user to "fit" the bumper to the car without having to be concerned about damaging the plating. As I remember the vintage service bumpers, there were lumps and bumps (from worn out tooling) that were also undesirable.

Bottom line: Sell as is.

Frank