What happened to Chrome Bumpers?

[GlennT]

Not sure if this has been asked before. But whilst hacking (at the usual truck enforced 56mph) up the A34 and seeing the flotsam and jetsam of discarded plastic "bumpers" in the long grass and central reservation, I got to wondering about cars with proper bumpers, then of course you start thinking to yourself - What was the last car in production with chrome bumpers? And come to that what was the first?? Something American I should think.
Is there still a car in remote corner of the world still produced with chrome bumpers? . I think it's easy to work out which is the last with painted proper bumpers - Land Rover Defender, and you could put up an argument for Morgan - but that's hardly mass production, and even they seem only to be able to come up with a chrome overrider these days.

Over to you.......

[Truckosaurus]

Rover Mini?

[Rod200SX]

Well placed threads!

[tr7ster]

Hindustan Ambassador was still being made up to 2014...though it looks like they did become plasticised latterly.

[Riley Blue]

For chrome bumper fetishists:

https://www.carid.com/articles/chrome-bumpers-good...

[kambites]

US impact regs, I believe.

[Truckosaurus]

kambites said:

US impact regs, I believe.

Our cousins across the pond do like a bit of chrome to this day:

[dragging ass]

kambites said:

US impact regs, I believe.

Very much so. Style/fashion and to a degree cost influenced the change but the 70's US federal regulations (minimum height for bumpers and 5 mph deformation impact) pushed it to the fore. Who can forget what happened to the MGB place bumpers and a ride hight raised (by adding an inch spacer twixt axles and suspension)

[Mound Dawg]

The Alfa Spider was similarly ruined for the US market with a ride height hike and stupid boofy bumpers. Anyone else remember the Volvo 144s with huge bumpers that used to whistle at anything over 20 mph?

[Johnny 89]

I think quite a few pickups have them on the rear

[ChilliWhizz]

This is my old BGT V8, it's a '74 and one of the last of the chrome bumper B's, shortly after this one was made they stuck those huge and heavy rubber monstrosities on them and increased the ride height... Not everyone would agree, but to me it was sacrilege

[V88Dicky]

2001?

[Trollied]

Probably the Brazilian VW Campers. This one here, 2009.

[Muddle238]

I think part of the reason nowadays why you won't see them on cars is because of pedestrian safety regs, the front of cars generally are supposed to be fairly "soft", pretty much all plastic nowadays. Chrome bumpers would look great as a retro thing but because they'd stick out, EU safety regs would probably veto it before it even left the drawing board. Shame.

[AW111]

Muddle238 said:

I think part of the reason nowadays why you won't see them on cars is because of pedestrian safety regs, the front of cars generally are supposed to be fairly "soft", pretty much all plastic nowadays. Chrome bumpers would look great as a retro thing but because they'd stick out, EU safety regs would probably veto it before it even left the drawing board. Shame.

Given the ability to "chrome plate" plastic, I'd say it's a style thing.
Look at all the pseudo chrome in car interiors.