[DeTomaso] Removing bumpers

JDeRyke at aol.com JDeRyke at aol.com
Sun Mar 11 15:59:48 EDT 2012


With an L, when you remove the front bumper and the shock absorbers, you'll 
find a network of overlapping sheetmetal seams where fenders & front panels 
are spot-welded together. Pre-Ls had this area bodyworked and leaded but Ls 
have it covered with the bumper. So besides the 2" holes for the bumper 
shocks and the rings of smaller holes, there's considerable bodywork for the 
'bumperless look'. Removing the bumper & all the attachments lightens the 
front by about 60 lbs which you may notice as a change in handling. Removing the 
rear lightens things by another 15 lbs. 

The chrome bumpers do not qualify as 'body-protectors' at any speed and the 
L was only rated at 5 mph when new. A fiberglas replica is not much worse 
and is lighter and cheaper. FWIW, the bumper spec (Sept '72) was supposed to 
guard against headlight & tail light plus fuel system damage. It had nothing 
to do with human protection or body damage. That came later. I'd suggest a 
fiberglas L bumper painted body color as Tom Tjaarda wanted to do 
originally. There is an article on bumpers in the upcoming April newsletter (in the 
printers now). Good luck- J Deryke




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