Oh Bumper. Where Art Thou?

[Chuck52]

Who decided that bumpers should be a fashion accessory rather than a hunk of metal on either end of your vehicle? It kinda reminds me of how 5 pound bags of sugar became four pounds, without my noticing. Now I look at most new cars and trucks and where there should be a big chunk of metal, perhaps chromed for looks, protecting all that expensive sheet metal, there's now a plastic covered thing that just smudges into the rest of the vehicle. Tap that thing with a 2x4 and you do a couple thousand in damages and probably have to replace a fender. This subject was brought to mind yesterday when my son called to tell me he'd had an accident. Actually, he didn't have the accident. The girl in the little Mustang behind him who couldn't stop when he did had the accident. My son drives my '91 F150 to school. It still has real bumpers. The other driver probably has a few thousand in damages; I may have to loosen the bolts on the bumper of the F150 so I can pull it out a bit. It's dented some. If her insurance wants to buy me a new one that's OK, but I don't much care. It made me think about what would have happened to my other vehicle, a '95 Dodge Caravan with the "integrated bumper". I'd probably be looking at a whole rear end replacement. Heck, it might be totaled so far as the insurance is concerned. Makes me miss my '56 Chevy. That thing had a bumper! As I recall, the back seat was almost as big as the cargo area of my minivan too. Or maybe I've "grown".

Chuck

 

[Bird]

I agree, Chuck. I sometimes wonder whether the vehicles are made that way so the manufacturers can sell more parts or whether they just think they have to do it because that's what consumers want.

 

[beenthere]

Just this past week I heard some of the 'news' about Ford's SUV having the 'worst' crash test of 5mph impact (apparently frame damage) whereas the Chevy TrailBlazer had the best - only $2400 damage to the bumper! Sure helps make your point.
As to the 56 Chevy, my '57 Chevy Bel Air 4dr hardtop had enough room in the back seat to do a lot of things too. Wish I had that car back. 'nuff dreaming.

 

[JerryG]

Yes, cars are sure made a lot different now. I remember when I was a kid, going around a curve to see a neighbor boy that had just had a wreck. He had flipped his 55 Chevy. The car was on its top, spinning like a top with him still in it. They turned it back over, let it set for a bit, then started it up and drove it away. If you turned over a newer car the whole top would cave in.