Remember when cars had bumpers? Things that actually protected expensive parts...

[TreasonousBastard]

instead of being the expensive part?

There was a time when bumpers actually did do their job: a magical era of time between 1974 and 1982, when federal regulations mandated 5 mph bumpers. These were bumpers that could take a solid, brutal 5 mph whack and exhibit no damage at all.

This was the era of those large diving-board bumpers with thick black rubber inserts and fat, chunky black rubber bumper guards. They’re the bumpers that people don’t want, like the ones on say, BMW 2002s or MGBs.

more:

https://jalopnik.com/reminder-cars-dont-have-bumpers-anymore-and-that-sucks-1830007688

[drray23]

1. No kidding . Just had a crack in my 2016 rogue.

It was covered by insurance but the repair cost, which basically was for removing the damaged plastic bumper and replace it with a new one was $1273.00 .

[TreasonousBastard]

5. A lot of that is labor. I cracked the plastic front of my '13 Cruze and found...

a replacement online for $150. Fortunately, sidelights and foglights weren't damaged. A few hours to put the new one on and a can of (almost) matching spray paint did the job.

Oh, and have you ever seen a body shop actually submit a bill for less than the insurance estimate? One experience I had-- "How much is the insurance allowing?"

"$5,000"

"OK, the price is $4,750."

[Doodley]

2. Those were the good old days when motoring was cheap.

[RKP5637]

3. Today's bumpers are ridiculous ... also, the over priced headlights and taillights.

We used to be able to pop in a sealed beam headlight, now, it's often an ordeal ... and the sun wrecks them.

[Guppy]

4. I have a 1994 audi s4

look real bumpers.
Mine looks just like that except I chipped the ECU and put on a performance exhaust. One of the great cars of all time.
0-60 in probably 5.5 sec(6.1 was stock). 4 wheel drive. built like a tank. The engine is indestructible. Mine has 230,000 miles.

[The River]

6. Do I Ever

My (very) late '62 Chevy step-side got loose one day and rolled about 300' downhill and hit a telephone pole. The all steel bumper took the impact dead center. The bumper was bent a few inches but that was all.

[pansypoo53219]

7. crumpling means safety sadly.

had my mom's 73 chrysler new yorker. the blue barge even had big land yacht even had big rubber pier bumpers. my 73 delta was hit a few times. bumper crushed a newer bumper. never hada bumper problem. i sacrificed my header & hood when i was hit by a flying wheel. NOT THE BUMPER! NOT THE PASSENGER! lucky hit. but the reflections were a bitch.

[natheo]

8. nice

Interesting. Hope there's a way to bring back those real bumpers without making the car hideous.