Why are so many Beetles missing bumpers?

"Alan Nelson" <anelson.DeleteThis@rraz.net> wrote in message news:<c7vr6p018u6.DeleteThis@enews4.newsguy.com>...
 > I would guess rust, or maybe being dented and just taken off and never
 > replaced. It's possible that because the are so easy to take off when
 > compared to other vehicles, people just did it and liked the look.
 >
 > There was also the Cal Look movement where they were replaced by Nerf bars.
 >
 > --
 > Alan Nelson
<font color=purple> > <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.boatcop.com</font" target="_blank">www.boatcop.com</font</a>>
 > ___
 > /___\ Proud Owner of a
 > (0\_|_/0) 1969 VW Bug
 > U U "Tizzy"
 >
 >
 > "james_anatidae" <parshallNOSPAM.DeleteThis@citcom.net> wrote in message
 > news:c7urk7$a706$1@news3.infoave.net...
  > > Just wondering.
  > >
  > > --
  > > "I'll find Fry's coffin, get his corpse and keep it under my mattress to
  > > remind me that he's really dead. That'll prove I'm not insane!"
  > >
  > >
  > > Goliath & Wildwing's Storage Room
<font color=green>  > > <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://anatidae.homestead.com/</font" target="_blank">http://anatidae.homestead.com/</font</a>>
  > >
  > >

Go to my site and Click the T-4 manual Check out my SLICED BUMPERS
They were stock 74 with the shocks and I sliced each one twice and
then put then back together. More car is shown, stronger, and same
protection as a stock car.
Joe<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Why are so many Beetles missing bumpers? 

"james_anatidae" <parshallNOSPAM DeleteThis @citcom.net> wrote in message
news:c7urk7$a706$1@news3.infoave.net...
 > Just wondering.

Depends on where you live. It's a fashion in many areas, and in some states
a bumper is required by law or just plain common sense. Of course there's
the fact that many aftermarket bumpers are as flimsey as tin foil and rust
away in a year... kinda discouraging.<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Why are so many Beetles missing bumpers? 

"james_anatidae" <parshallNOSPAM RemoveThis @citcom.net> wrote in message
news:c7urk7$a706$1@news3.infoave.net...
 >
 > Just wondering.
 >
 >

...................I took them off of my '77 because it looks better without
them and they aren't very functional anyway. I'd rather replaced a crumpled
apron than try to deal with the more extensive structural problems that
result when the bumper mounts get pushed back causing major structural
distortions beyond the apron.<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Why are so many Beetles missing bumpers? 

"Tim Rogers" <thr.DeleteThis@stny.rr.com> wrote in message
news:2ghrvbF36juvU1@uni-berlin.de...

 > ..................I took them off of my '77 because it looks better
without
 > them and they aren't very functional anyway. I'd rather replaced a
crumpled
 > apron than try to deal with the more extensive structural problems that
 > result when the bumper mounts get pushed back causing major structural
 > distortions beyond the apron.

Are you serious?

Sheesh. I don't need any further encouragement to remove my bumpers,
although they are so flimsey that I can literally twist them almost 180
degrees with my hand.<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Why are so many Beetles missing bumpers? 

"jjs" <nospam.DeleteThis@please.xxx> wrote in message
news:10a7emja8absh98@news.supernews.com...
 >
 > Are you serious?
 >
 >

..........yes

 >
 > Sheesh. I don't need any further encouragement to remove my bumpers,
 > although they are so flimsey that I can literally twist them almost 180
 > degrees with my hand.
 >
 >


.................Go for it John!<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Why are so many Beetles missing bumpers? 

On Thu, 13 May 2004 14:30:13 -0400, "Tim Rogers" <thr DeleteThis @stny.rr.com>
wrote:

 >
 >"jjs" <nospam DeleteThis @please.xxx> wrote in message
 >news:10a7emja8absh98@news.supernews.com...
  >>
  >> Are you serious?
  >>
  >>
 >
 >.........yes
 >
  >>
  >> Sheesh. I don't need any further encouragement to remove my bumpers,
  >> although they are so flimsey that I can literally twist them almost 180
  >> degrees with my hand.
  >>
  >>
 >
 >
 >................Go for it John!
 >

That is step #1.
Step 2: Trim rear fenders slightly for extra clearance...
Let me know when you are ready for step 3... <!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Why are so many Beetles missing bumpers? 

"Shaggie" <blah.RemoveThis@blah.com> wrote in message
news:n6h7a05rkpikdi9vj0kq7ck4fqolu5i3vh@4ax.com...
 >
 > That is step #1.
 > Step 2: Trim rear fenders slightly for extra clearance...
 > Let me know when you are ready for step 3...
 >
 >


.............uh.........step one is REVERSIBLE !!!!.............hello?



timmy<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Why are so many Beetles missing bumpers? 

Tim Rogers wrote:

 > "Shaggie" <blah RemoveThis @blah.com> wrote in message
 > news:n6h7a05rkpikdi9vj0kq7ck4fqolu5i3vh@4ax.com...
 >
  >>That is step #1.
  >>Step 2: Trim rear fenders slightly for extra clearance...
  >>Let me know when you are ready for step 3...
  >>
  >>
 >
 >
 >
 > ............uh.........step one is REVERSIBLE !!!!.............hello?
 >
 >
 >
 > timmy

So is cutting fenders.

Jan<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Why are so many Beetles missing bumpers? 

On Thu, 13 May 2004 23:22:34 +0300, Jan Andersson
<bugfuelpalikka.TakeThisOut@rocketmail.com> wrote:

 >Tim Rogers wrote:
 >
  >> "Shaggie" <blah.TakeThisOut@blah.com> wrote in message
  >> news:n6h7a05rkpikdi9vj0kq7ck4fqolu5i3vh@4ax.com...
  >>
   >>>That is step #1.
   >>>Step 2: Trim rear fenders slightly for extra clearance...
   >>>Let me know when you are ready for step 3...
   >>>
   >>>
  >>
  >>
  >>
  >> ............uh.........step one is REVERSIBLE !!!!.............hello?
  >>
  >>
  >>
  >> timmy
 >
 >So is cutting fenders.
 >
 >Jan

So is step 3 with a *lot* of work. <!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Why are so many Beetles missing bumpers? 

On Thu, 13 May 2004 15:15:38 -0400, "Tim Rogers" <thr RemoveThis @stny.rr.com>
ran around screaming and yelling:

 >...........uh.........step one is REVERSIBLE !!!!.............hello?

so is step 2-5.....and not that hard to do...you *will* see when you
realize that your "reasoning" for the no bumper look is
flawed...replace a crumpled apron than try to deal with the more
extensive structural problems that
result when the bumper mounts get pushed back causing major structural
distortions beyond the apron."...you DO realize that the bumper mounts
on most beetles are just inboard of the apron right? the flimsy light
steel apron? the one that if hit with the force that it would take to
cause the scenario you described, would result in the same
damage?...not that it matters, clipping a bug is childsplay...
some here may remember me mentioning last july when my bug was rear
ended lightly...a bumper would have taken the impact(car behind took
off before the light turned...<yikes>) and probably resulted in
nothing more than a scratched or slightly bent bumper....instead since
i don't run bumpers either i get to replace the apron(inner and
outer), do some body repair to the lower rear part of the rear
fenders, replace the badly creased decklid, replace or repair the rear
engine tin, and then of course it will need paint....hmm...maybe i
should run bumpers?


JT<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Why are so many Beetles missing bumpers? 

"Joey Tribiani" <Joey.DeleteThis@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:8je8a05ts36kf05liag3u6428nk4dq1vt7@4ax.com...
 >
 > so is step 2-5.....and not that hard to do...you *will* see when you
 > realize that your "reasoning" for the no bumper look is
 > flawed...............snip!
 >
 >

......................This must be one of those matters of opinion that
you've mentioned in the past. I don't have any facts on this question, just
my opinion. If it had the earlier pre-68 style bumpers, my '77 would
probably still have bumpers. I just don't like those big square shaped ones.
I shaved off the turn signals and installed those low-flat profile tail
lights for the same reason. My bug isn't show material by a long shot but at
least, now when I look at it, I like what I see. I guess it's all about me,
something for me that I like. That's why I don't let any family member drive
it without me riding along..... IT'S MINE......ALL MINE!


timmy

<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Why are so many Beetles missing bumpers? 

On Thu, 13 May 2004 13:13:38 -0500, "jjs" <nospam.RemoveThis@please.xxx> wrote:


 >Sheesh. I don't need any further encouragement to remove my bumpers,
 >although they are so flimsey that I can literally twist them almost 180
 >degrees with my hand.

Are they original? Repo bumpers are like that, like tin foil. The
original ones on my '66 are a solid as anything! It's impossible to
bend them without a heafty impact (not that I want to try...)<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Why are so many Beetles missing bumpers?