Shaved rear end, no bumper.

[Rywats]

I'm trying to decide if I should run a 240 carbon rear or just have the bumper holes filled and smoothed out. Anyone have any shots of shaved rear end on a coupe?

Ryan

[Steve Parmley]

Here's one of my brother's old car. I personally think the skinny period bumpers look fantastic.

[72 OJ]

[ATTACH=CONFIG]54783[/ATTACH]

Here's one of my brother's old car. I personally think the skinny period bumpers look fantastic.

That looks sexy, I also like the skinny period bumpers with no rubber inserts

[madkaw]

I prefer the look myself

[jfa.series1]

Here is my tush with a shaved skinny bumper in body color. The same for the front bumper - I was looking to strengthen the horizontal lines across front and rear. The BRE Spook and spoiler bulk up the look a bit.

Jim

[5thhorsemann]

I have been struggeling with this modification since I first saw that white car. The front bumper has been gone for months, the rear is still up in the air, I keep going back and forth like a woman shopping for shoes.

[240260280z]

" Shaved rear end, no bum"

[ZCurves]

While I really like look of a smooth back side, I would be extremely concerned about taking a hit in the Arse. Seriously, you have to think about all of the time, money and effort put into your Z and then give it no protection!?! - One hit and you are done! Seems like there could be a compromise somewhere.

[5thhorsemann]

If you take any kind of shot in the a$$ in a 240, the bumper isn't going to "protect" the car, it will just take more work to cut the bumper off so you can get to the damage. I don't think that concern should play a part in the decision to shave the tail end.

[bluezcrazy]

I agree with 5thhorsemann. I too used to think if I shaved it the rear wouldn't be protected. When you actually think about how thin the factory metal bumpers are, they won't save you enough to worry about.

[hr369]

While I really like look of a smooth back side, I would be extremely concerned about taking a hit in the Arse. Seriously, you have to think about all of the time, money and effort put into your Z and then give it no protection!?! - One hit and you are done! Seems like there could be a compromise somewhere.

That was what i thought but i ran across this page. It changes the way i think about my 78 bumpers.

2) What is the purpose of bumpers?

The car bumper is designed to prevent or reduce physical damage to the front and rear ends of passenger motor vehicles in low-speed collisions. Automobile bumpers are not typically designed to be structural components that would significantly contribute to vehicle crashworthiness or occupant protection during front or rear collisions. It is not a safety feature intended to prevent or mitigate injury severity to occupants in the passenger cars. Bumpers are designed to protect the hood, trunk, grille, fuel, exhaust and cooling system as well as safety related equipment such as parking lights, headlamps and taillights in low speed collisions.

http://www.nhtsa.gov/Cars/Problems/studies/Bumper/Index.html

[JK240Z]

I like the bumperless rear end, but am planning on making mine which is the 1st picture more like the standard more curved back end like the 2nd image this winter, still bumperless though.