> > I've just removed the overkill US required rubber bumper overriders,
center
> > chrome bash bar and out-rigger extensions on my 76 1500. Looks far
better.
> > Nice and tight. I was wondering how the final piece remaining is
shaped
> > like a Mk4. Is it just minus the holes for mounting all the nonsense
or
> > completely different? I can't believe how much all that crap weighs!
> >
> > Also wondering what I could do in the front. It appears the bonnet
hinges
> > are inside the rubber overriders. Is the Mk4 the same way or something
> else
> > altogether?
> >
>
> As I understand it:
>
> Excluding the late federal black rubber bagel bugger burbers (whatever),
the
> basic front bumper was the same from the introduction of the Mark IV on.
> Different and larger overriders were used on the later US versions to meet
> our regulations, but the enlightened rest of the world somehow managed
> to continue with the early style through the life of the 1500 (unlike the
> MGB/Midget, where a more complex US bumper mandated rationalizing
> worldwide). So...all you need to do to "downgrade" the front is switch
> the overriders, difficult to find in the US of A, but I would suppose
> relatively
> plentiful elsewhere for importing.
>
> As far as the back goes, once you've removed all the excess avoir du
> pois, the remaining bumper matches the US Mark IV and non-US Mark
> IVs/1500s. The only difference being that these models had the license
> plate illumination mounted on the bumper, instead of between the
> reversing lights. I guess this was because the home market license plate
> was so wide...
>
> I agree that what you've done is a much cleaner, attractive look. I've
> always been hesitant, personally, to make the change, since the way
> people drive around here, I can use all the protection that I can get! :)
>
> -Greg
I'm a little concerned about the lack of decent protection but thats the
exchange. My Mini is much worse. I don't expect to do a lot of miles in
this car anyway. It just looks more like as BL intended. There is still
the brackets that support the rubber crap on the car but when I prep for
paint soon it'll ALL come off anyway. Looks like I'll be leaving the front
as it is. Thank God they didn't basterdize it as they did to the MGB and
Midget.
Peter S
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