Abarth Bumperettes?

[Yadkin]

These may help solve an issue that I'm having with the front openings. The painter masked around the openings instead of back taping, so there is an exposed primer edge that these may cover. If you have them, can you take a picture of how they cover the openings?

http://www.vickauto.com/newstore/index. ... ts_id=2481

Also, any feedback on the VAS brackets for these, to adapt to my 74.
http://www.vickauto.com/newstore/index. ... ts_id=3416

[mscafide]

What about your 1974 bumper?

Much better than the later ones.

[davery]

I'm out of town and don't have a pic. The rear bumperettes cover the holes, but the front do not. I bought and installed Tony Miracle's bumper hole blanks, then cut out for the bumperettes and had them painted with the car. Another option would be to leave these blanks black.

Mark had at one time a fiberglass(?) bumperette that looked a little wider than the Abarth, so that would probably cover the entire front shock hole. I have also seen pics of people using Porsche 914 bumperettes, but they seem a bit large for my taste.

[vandor]

73-74 had very strange bumper mounting, I don't think anybody makes a kit to mount Abarth bumperettes on those.

[Yadkin]

Yes my bumper has a strange mounting. Remember that in 1973 GovCo required 5mp impact bumpers. So for my 73, the bumpers stick out about 5 or 6 inches, mounted by basically a long bolt, head welded to the frame and sticking out horizontally. There is a hard foam block that is part of the assembly, an energy absorber. My front blocks were a mess because the bolt rusted out, so I made replacements out of foam plastic trim lumber.

[Yadkin]

What about your 1974 bumper?

Much better than the later ones.

To avoid having to paint the front of the car again.

My front one looks nearly new, I suspect it was replaced at one time. My back bupers have some rust on the tops, so I masked off the tops and painted them silver. I'm not sure that I can buy just the rears.

Plus the mounts are post '72, stick out fro the car and look rather silly.

[mscafide]

Yes, my 74 was the same. I had to make a bracket to mount it to the post and move the bumper closer to the body.

The front is now too close and I need to adjust it a bit more.

[Yadkin]

Nice. Do you have to lower the front too to make it fit?