bumper questions.. w114 280

[jack.stew48]

Heyo,
so ive got a 75' 280, and i hate the bumpers. they are the american style that stick way out on each end. ive looked at them, and taken the front one apart, and it looks like there is all the clearance to shorten the shocks so the bumper will be sucked in and sit flush with the body. in my head this will make the car look a heck of a lot shorter, and overall improve the look of the car.

any thoughts?

ill post some pics tomorrow

[bcbens@embarqma]

Anything will be an improvement over those "diving board" bumpers. Good Luck.

[Roil]

I got a bumper question!

I found a clean set of euro bumpers (no vertical protruding tabs) from a '70 w114. Will they fit on my '72 w114?

[bcbens@embarqma]

Yes. Bumpers changed in '74 model year.

[kraakevik]

The taillights changed to ribbed ones in 1974 as well. Putting an earlier rear bumper on a later car will prevent the ribbed lenses from being removed normally unless additional rearward clearance is provided.

The smooth lenses and taillight fixtures can be retrofitted to a later car--however, the lenses and fixtures from each era are not interchangeable. Smooth lenses will not fit later receptacles--and vice versa.

I have the early bumpers here in Illinois from my 1973 sedan, which has since gone to its reward. Not only do I consider the earlier bumpers better-looking and a more classic design, but the hard chrome forty years later still stands up to the minor dings and creases that mar the "baby buggy" bumper covers on many later cars.




Tim Kraakevik
kraakevik@voyager.net