Stainless Steel Bumpers for 240Z

[geezer]

Stainless steel bumpers for 240Zs? Good idea or not, I don't know but have considered this option for quite some time. A re-chrome on my bumpers would be expensive also and I still have a bad taste in my mouth from the last batch I had done. (Poor prepwork, missing parts, etc.), but thats another story. Also I like the look without the overriders and this would eliminate the need to fill the holes before a re-chrome. There have been a few suppliers with stainless offerings and they look good. The sellers have respectable feedback, but this most recent seller, seems to be new as an S30 supplier. Just looking for opinions of this product, as my finger has been hovering over the "Buy it Now" button.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&item=350215009215

[hogie]

Holy crap, that is expensive. For that price I would want a single piece rear and no rubber bits at all. I guess it wouldn't look factory then, but stainless wouldn't really in the first place.

[sblake01]

Would they really be worth that much? Over $1200 incl. shipping?

[Oiluj]

It's a great idea, no chrome to pit, no rust. Even polished stainless will not "shine" quite the way way good chrome does, and they are very expensive. Last time I looked, reproduction chrome bumpers were about $750 without the rubber, but it's been a while...

I actually like that they have kept the 3-piece rear to maintain the original look. Heck, with stainless you can always weld and polish it to make it one piece, but that's easier to do with carbon steel and chrome.

If I needed bumpers, I might consider it, but would probably stick with chrome, since it chrome bumpers last at least 10 years and can be re-plated.

[NWT240zed]

I have no experience with that seller, but to my thinking 1200.00 for new front and back stainless steel bumpers doesn't sound too bad. They look good, but most importantly, they will never rust. If were in central/eastern or even pacific Canada and corrossion was a concern and was looking for new bumpers I'd be awful tempted.

Cheers,

Martin

[geezer]

Would they really be worth that much? Over $1200 incl. shipping?

It sounds like a lot, until you start adding up what it will cost to recondition my bumpers.

I have no dings, bends, or bad pitting, so the prep work wouldn't be overly difficult. The overrider holes would need to be filled and leveled. The last time I inquired, I was quoted a price of $450. CND per bumper and that was with me welding the holes up. On top of that the shipping is not much more from Great Britain than a two way trip to & from the plater that is less than a 4 hour drive from me. Also, my mediocre rubber strips would stand out like a sore thumb on newly chromed bumpers, so I would replace them at an additional cost. Factor in what I can recoupe by selling my Series 1 bumpers and the price seems a little more palatable.

[sblake01]

What am I talking about? I might be spending $17000-$18000 today

[hls30.com]

This is the same company I have been in negotiations for well over a year to have these and a multitude of other S30 pieces made in stainless steel. I am sure their quality is high even if their business practices leave something to be desired...

Will

Edited June 18, 2009 by hls30.com

[geezer]

This is the same company I have been in negotiations for well over a year to have these and a multitude of other S30 pieces made in stainless steel. I am sure their quality is high even if their business practices leave something to be desired.

Will

I was hoping to hear your take on these bumpers Will, knowing you were persuing a similar product. I didn't realize it was the same outfit but there aren't that many players. In the Ebay ad it says, "trade inquires welcome". That must be how they are coming up with ideas for a feasible product line, contracting the work out to Asia, then marketing the product themselves online. I believe they are shipped directly to the customers from the manufacturer.

[hls30.com]

I was hoping to hear your take on these bumpers Will, knowing you were persuing a similar product. I didn't realize it was the same outfit but there aren't that many players. In the Ebay ad it says, "trade inquires welcome". That must be how they are coming up with ideas for a feasible product line, contracting the work out to Asia, then marketing the product themselves online. I believe they are shipped directly to the customers from the manufacturer.

Ron,

I have just contacted them again, as I am in a Port city they already deliver containerloads of other parts to(I checked references before I started negotiations), hope to set up port pickup.

While in negotiations,

I sent them several photos, and drawings for evaluating production costs, and ultimately I was told the shop was simply too busy to consider making them at that point. Our one major stumbling block you already know, and it appears now I see why.

I am hopeful that now that they actually are in production of some of the parts, we can work out something that will translate into a less expensive option for us.

Will

PS Having established an account with them, and set up for containerized delivery, I know all of that manufacturing and what was to happen to accommodate customs requirements.

Edited June 18, 2009 by hls30.com

[hls30.com]

One other note-they do not say whether these are early or late 240Z bumpers...I guess my notes were not read completely...

Will

[geezer]

Thanks Will. I will definitely hold out for more information and see what develops.