Monday 30th April 2012
Final batch for MGB rubber bumpers
Rubber-up, says British Motor Heritage, before it's too late (oo-er, etc)
A rubber-bumper car skulks in the background
Parts supplier for classic MGs, British Motor Heritage, has announced a final batch of 100 original-spec front and rear rubber bumpers for classic MGs.
The run, using original tooling, will be the first lot built on the original moulds since 2005, but it will also be the last.
"We are obviously pleased to have been able to commission this batch of product," says BMH managing director John Yea. "However, owners of the rubber bumper cars need to understand that, while we will retain the moulding tools, it is extremely unlikely they can ever be utilised again. The results of the current run must therefore be thought of as a life-time buy, and once they are gone, they are gone."
Of course, there will be those who argue that the rubber-bumpered MGB was an aesthetic aberration, a sop to US-market safety regs, and thus good riddance to it. But there's no getting away from the fact that, if you want an original-spec car from that era, you're going to want a rubber bumper...
If you do want a set, BMH will charge £625 for the front and £625 for the rear. There's only one question: is that a fair price or is it daylight rubbery? (Riggers, you're fired - Ed)
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Stew2000
Original Poster
2,513 posts
47 months
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Don't see many with the rubber 
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TTwiggy
3,734 posts
73 months
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The rubber bumper, on its own, is not that bad (though crome obviously looks better) - it's the associated ride height increase that made Bs of that era look so naff.
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Matt UK
7,524 posts
69 months
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Why retain the tooling if this is the last ever batch...
Good PR to drum up some business though...
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bosscerbera
8,050 posts
112 months
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Stew2000 said: Don't see many with the rubber The run of 100 should last a while.
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tosh.brice
59 posts
80 months
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Is the rubber-bumperred model "normal" underneath, then? ie, if you took the rubber off would you have a "proper" bumper or would you have to fit one?
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kambites
32,864 posts
90 months
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tosh.brice said: Is the rubber-bumperred model "normal" underneath, then? ie, if you took the rubber off would you have a "proper" bumper or would you have to fit one? You can convert them, but it's not just a question of fitting chrome bumpers. You have to add a section to the wings, change the lower valance, etc. I think the bits are about 500 quid if you're handy with a welder.
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Switch
3,066 posts
44 months
PH Techie Junior
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kambites said: You can convert them, but it's not just a question of fitting chrome bumpers. You have to add a section to the wings, change the lower valance, etc.
I think the bits are about 500 quid if you're handy with a welder. you'd also have to replace some parts of the suspension as the lack of weight (the rubber items are VERY heavy) means the car looks like it's been Jacked...
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kambites
32,864 posts
90 months
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Switch said: you'd also have to replace some parts of the suspension as the lack of weight (the rubber items are VERY heavy) means the car looks like it's been Jacked... The "conversion kits" tend to come with the necessary suspension bits, I think.
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Cotic
118 posts
21 months
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Switch said: you'd also have to replace some parts of the suspension as the lack of weight (the rubber items are VERY heavy) means the car looks like it's been Jacked... That's because it had - the rubber-bumper models had an increased ride-height to suit US legislation. I fitted lowered (and uprated) shocks and springs to my '79 RB model, and it looked just fine. 
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Switch
3,066 posts
44 months
PH Techie Junior
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Cotic said: That's because it had - the rubber-bumper models had an increased ride-height to suit US legislation. I fitted lowered (and uprated) shocks and springs to my '79 RB model, and it looked just fine. Yes of course. Gratuitous picture of my '79 'B today with the roof open  
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Kong
1,307 posts
40 months
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If John Yea didn't pay pistonheads to publish this article then hes a marketing genius. "Last ever batch of MG bumpers.. (until we make another batch)"
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thejudderman
53 posts
40 months
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£1250 to ensure it looks worse than it could for less than half the outlay. F*** that!
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LuS1fer
28,548 posts
114 months
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I have never understood the "originality" argument.
Once a a part is replaced, it is no longer original and I'm fairly sure that many rubber bumpers have been shredded and are probably still being shredded in favour of the classic old grille. Even Mike Brewer's WD MGBGT had had them replaced.
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J4CKO
7,399 posts
69 months
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Switch said: Yes of course. Gratuitous picture of my '79 'B today with the roof open That is nice, lovely colour and not too chintzy like some get, love the Rostyles, one of my favourite wheel designs ever, someone should do a modern homage to it.
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Switch
3,066 posts
44 months
PH Techie Junior
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J4CKO said: Switch said: Yes of course. Gratuitous picture of my '79 'B today with the roof open That is nice, lovely colour and not too chintzy like some get, love the Rostyles, one of my favourite wheel designs ever, someone should do a modern homage to it. Thanks! I rather do like the colour it does need a good going over with T-cut and a buffer then it'd "shine up real nice" which I will do at some point.... I've also escaped this potential horror 
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MGgeordie
670 posts
53 months
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Switch said: J4CKO said: Switch said: Yes of course. Gratuitous picture of my '79 'B today with the roof open That is nice, lovely colour and not too chintzy like some get, love the Rostyles, one of my favourite wheel designs ever, someone should do a modern homage to it. Thanks! I rather do like the colour it does need a good going over with T-cut and a buffer then it'd "shine up real nice" which I will do at some point.... I've also escaped this potential horror What the seats or the Nova..??
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Switch
3,066 posts
44 months
PH Techie Junior
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MGgeordie said: What the seats or the Nova..?? The Orange Deckchairs.... 
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sim16v
661 posts
70 months
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Nice to see BMH are really looking after the enthusiast as well. £1250 for a pair, bargain 
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Rude-boy
15,547 posts
102 months
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Kong said: If John Yea didn't pay pistonheads to publish this article then hes a marketing genius. "Last ever batch of MG bumpers.. (until we make another batch)" From the sound of it though (being a grunt who knows nothing about these things) it is likely that after this run the original moulds will not be able to be reused again. Thus when and if another run is required they will be much more expensive to do as new moulds will have to be made meaning that 1) They will not be from the original mould (important to a full geek) and 2) They may not even get that far as any part supplier will want a @ 75% of the run pre sold to cover the outlay for the new moulds and try getting 75 MGB RB owners to all sign on the dotted line and pay over their holding deposit, knowing that the first 10-20 could be waiting 3-4 years+ for theirs...
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S2Mike
2,090 posts
19 months
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When I removed the rubber bumpers from my MGB I only managed to get £25 for the pair, it was almost a trip to the tip, disgusting ugly looking things!! (the bumpers not the tip ) Ho Ho Ho.
Did the conversion myself as mentioned already the lower front wings are chopped off so you have to tack the indicator housing piece on at the front and at the back you have a piece to tack on under the rear lights to finish the bodywork off. Quick fill and blend in, spray and the nasty rubber bumpers are a distant memory, fix the chrome grille and bumpers and there you have it. Or you could go with the sebring look! this is achieved with fibreglass valances bolted on front and back. Luckily for me the previous owner had raced my MGB so had uprated and lowered the suspension.
If anyone would appreciate work in progress, photos I could look them out and upload them on here.
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