Appreciate all your respones, but it's about small/big bumper conversions and keeping it how it was., that's what we were trying to do, didn't mean for it to go so far..love all you've done...be who you are.
I agree. If I found a car with low miles in near perfect stock condition, especially a Grabber, Sprint or Stallion, of course I wouldn't mod that car out. Because that car is historic. But anything else is fair game. They're Mavericks, "Frankenstein" them. Millions and millions of them were sold, and most of them got thrown away with the trash because they were not particularly interesting cars back then.
There is a few really nice big bumper cars. I have seen them done tastefully. As long as this thread stays sensible. Lets see some pics of big bumper cars. Remember to just keep your comments clean. Some like them some don`t but don`t insult them there still a member of our site. Also Touching the 4dr thing I really like them, I have had a few and am still doing my 71 which will be a sweet one (atleast in my eyes) when its done.
I agree. Post some pics. The ones I've seen of the 4dr. cars have given me a greater appreciation of them. Also I like the smaller bumpers, but if there was a later Mav/Comet in great condition I would consider returning it to stock.
So if you put Aftermarket wheels on are Dis-respecting the Hub Caps? Pull out a 6 cyl to add a a v-8... did you dis-respect the 6 cyl.? Swap in a nice stereo and you`ve taken out the history of the AM ??? IF I ever buy a big bumper car I would swap it to small bumpers ...out of respect for the car...because the govt. DISRESPECTED it when they mandated them.
Don't mistake my rant as a slam against big bumpers. My car was born with small bumpers, but I wouldn't necessarily have changed that if it wasn't. I'd certainly leave a '73 bumper alone. It doesn't look disproportionate to me. '74 and up can look really good, especially with a tuck, but one doesn't have to know the Story of Why We Have Big Bumpers to see that not much aesthetic consideration went into them, just compliance with the law. They don't, in my opinion, look bad. Just not as good as the early bumpers. As for the 4-door... I don't see anybody in a hurry to convert their 4-door to a 2-door, (although that would be killer- that roof line would look sweet shortened) but I have seen a couple of really great 4-doors. Jmiller's car comes to mind, the green one that burned. When somebody puts the effort into a 4-door, it looks as good as anything. But it doesn't happen much. Another disclaimer and I'm done - I don't hate sixes either. But I do hate sloppy handling, weak brakes, narrow tires and loose steering.
but the maverick is an easily custum car (weird wording) AND i dont have a grabber but will make it into a grabber clone..... interesting subject
My '77 Maverick has the big bumpers and I prefer to keep them. I know the car would look better with the smaller bumpers, but I will not swap them out. My reason for doing so has nothing to do with the car's history. I've been in the autobody business for a long time and I know how much protection to the car the small bumpers provide. Little to none. I've seen many a small bumpered Maverick and Comet in the junkyard that have been involved in front end or rear end collisions. In almost every case the small bumpers were folded up like pretzels and the damage to the cars was enough to total them. The big bumpered cars tended to fare a bit better. Unless they were hit really hard, it was usually rust that did them in. While the big bumpers may look like crap, they do provide more protection to the car, and I can testify to that. I hit a deer with one Maverick and got rear-ended in another. Both cars had big bumpers and both times the bumpers saved the cars from extensive damage. I live in a heavily deer populated area and hitting a deer with a car is like a rite of passage. With the odds of a deer vs car collision so high, I do not want the small bumpers on my car. Sure I can fix my car if it gets damaged, but why fix more than I have to. If I had an older Maverick that had stock small bumpers, then of coarse I would leave them on. I do like the looks of them better than the big ones. But you can be sure I would stock up on spare body parts just in case that one deer decides to cross my path or that inattentive driver behind me fails to see my brake lights. I have nothing against those who wish to swap the big bumpers to the smaller ones. Everyone has the right to do whatever they wish with thier cars. It comes down to whatever makes them happy, and isn't that what really matters?
Agreed i personally hate the looks of these cars with big bumpers.To me they just take away from the smooth flowing lines these cars have. To each is own.
You do have a point Jean. Those small bumpers are little more than sheetmetal. I have bent one back into shape with my hands. One shouldn't be able to straighten a bumper using hands.
