remove '75 bumpers

[jpavlack]

The more I look at my '75 Ascona with the 13X7 American Racing rims the more I want to remove those dang bumpers. I think the car would look real clean without the bumpers. I would like to drop the front a little for appearance sake. My question is this. Has anyone tried small bumpers from another car of that era such as the smaller 2002 bumpers, even earlier ascona bumpers? The car looks real good original but there is real potential there to improve its looks. No I'm not interested in any body kits and all the trim will have to stay. It looks like I would have to put in turn signal lights in the front since the bumpers currently have them integrated inside them. Also I'll have to get a different license light contraption in the rear. Any thoughts?

[RallyBob]

I've done this before and it really does improve the appearance. Sadly, it completely eliminates crash protection. Best way I've found is to bend some rollcage tubing in the shape of the stock bumpers, and weld this to a set of tubes to slide into the stock bumper 'receivers'. Then bolt the stock early bumper to the rollcage tubing. This way, you have some actual crash protection. Sure, a 5 mph tap will still destroy your bumpers, but the body may live to see another day.

Bob