Well, I was in a local restaurant a couple of days ago, and my '78 280Z was parked to the right of a big pick 'em up truck. We were both pointed out into the lane of traffic. The 'older' gentleman that owned the truck apparently got in it, pulled out, and turned right a little too early. The lower panel of his truck, just in front of his right rear tire hit the left side of my front bumper, on the plastic end piece. He moved about 3 feet after he started hearing the "squeal" of his truck rubbing along that plastic. He came back in to get me, leaving his truck in place so I could back up and try to minumize any further damage.

So I backed up. And looking at the two vehicles, there was a little rubbed place on the plastic of my bumper (not visible from 3 feet), and a three-foot "gash" down the side of his truck. My kids do more damage to my cars with their bikes! If I had been driving a Z with a 240-style bumper, it's pretty obvious that the guy would have been replacing my bumper, the left headlight bucket, and maybe more. As it is, he just has to fix his truck.

So they may be ugly to some, but they come in handy!

I use em whenever I pull into the garage. I pull in til I see the old washer and dryer in front of me move....

They may not look so nice, but I'd take them over no bumpers any day of the week, and I'm too cheap and lazy to swap them for the 240s decorative bumpers.

Absolutely. They aren't attractive, but they weren't designed to be attractive. They were designed to prevent damage to the car.

In my case though, the bigger (and undeniably better protecting) bumpers aren't part of the Z that I see in my dreams. You see, I still see Z's in the context of the brand new 240Z's on the local Datsun dealer's lot that I drooled over as a 16 year-old with a brand new driver's license. This means that my 240Z will be far more vulnerable to damage. It is a risk I have to accept.

Honestly, I kinda like the big ol bumpers. Something about them is attractive to me. I also do like the fact that they do offer some protection, can't complain too much about that.

Not only do they protect but they make a great place to sit and bs.:classic:

Not only do they protect but they make a great place to sit and bs.:classic:

True story! The headlights also make a great place to sit and to set tools and other items.

They make great boat anchors! :pirate:

They make great boat anchors! :pirate:

You'd have to be careful though, because you'd hate to capsize your ship if doesn't hit bottom.

Of course, it may be that if you had 240Z bumpers, he would not have hit your car in the first place since they would not have been sticking out so far from the car! :laugh:

haha, ugly but effective....