Author Topic: Bumpers to re-chrome or not, that is the $700 ea. question.  (Read 496 times)

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Offline Richard48Y

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Bumpers to re-chrome or not, that is the $700 ea. question.
« on: Wednesday,December 18, 2024, 09:15:38 PM »
Yes, it is $700 each to have Europa bumpers re-plated at the only remaining shop in Nevada.
I was told that in CA it would be nearly double that.  :blowup:
I left a nearly strait front to be done for my own car.
I already have a never mounted since re-plated rear.

Now the question is, at $1,400 a set.
Will newly plated bumpers increase the value of a mechanically tidy S2 still in need of paint by more than the expense?

Lesser options include a "Chrome" wrap or powder painting.
My experience with powder paint is that it looks too much like aluminum and scuffs too easily.
Not sure a wrap last well enough.

Thoughts?

Offline EuropaTC

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Re: Bumpers to re-chrome or not, that is the $700 ea. question.
« Reply #1 on: Wednesday,December 18, 2024, 11:22:10 PM »
Personally I'd say it's too expensive if your aim is to recoup the cost of plating in the sale value. But if you want an original look then we all spend far too much on hobbies that it comes down to "your toy, your choice".

There's also the chrome paint option ? I've never had good enough results from the cheap spray cans but I remember seeing it demo'd on Jay Leno's channel and it was very impressive. I've also seen headlamp rims painted with chrome paint and the results were very good. Expensive compared to a rattle can but far cheaper than chrome plating and 99% as good on the samples I saw.

Brian

Offline Richard48Y

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Re: Bumpers to re-chrome or not, that is the $700 ea. question.
« Reply #2 on: Thursday,December 19, 2024, 12:22:00 AM »
In another thread a member here obtained new stainless bumpers at a decent price.
I have sent him a PM in hope he may share his source.

My own S2 will have new chrome.
The car I plan to sell is still under consideration.

Offline Dilkris

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Re: Bumpers to re-chrome or not, that is the $700 ea. question.
« Reply #3 on: Thursday,December 19, 2024, 12:39:43 AM »
Sadly, you will never recoup the cost of your rebuild upon the sale of your car so the question is pretty much academic. 
Its a bit like playing golf...
How much pleasure does rebuilding the car give you? If plenty, them focus on that.

Offline Sparkrite

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Re: Bumpers to re-chrome or not, that is the $700 ea. question.
« Reply #4 on: Thursday,December 19, 2024, 06:35:48 AM »
I've just bought a NOS rear bumper that unfortunately needs re plating and yes the cost is excessive. I recall seeing a YouTube clip where chrome nail varnish came out tops in the testing and certainly seems worth a go. Just can't find that clip again.

Offline Kendo

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Re: Bumpers to re-chrome or not, that is the $700 ea. question.
« Reply #5 on: Thursday,December 19, 2024, 07:25:20 AM »
I used Sherm’s Custom Plating in Sacramento. If you send a few photos, you can get a free estimate. https://www.shermsplating.com/

Offline BDA

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Re: Bumpers to re-chrome or not, that is the $700 ea. question.
« Reply #6 on: Thursday,December 19, 2024, 08:27:44 AM »
I’ve seen chrome paint that actually gives a mirror chrome finish. The first time I saw it was several years ago on Jay Leno’s Garage. It was sprayed on with no concern for drips and it looked very much like chrome on the video. Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to find it quickly. There are lots of other (more modern possibly) paints that claim to give a chrome finish. Here’s a video about one of them (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KBtdU10PIcE). Eastwood has a similar product (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v97U3fQnmzw). There are others. You can search “chrome paint” on a web search or a YouTube search to find them.

Offline SwiftDB4

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Re: Bumpers to re-chrome or not, that is the $700 ea. question.
« Reply #7 on: Thursday,December 19, 2024, 08:50:44 AM »
Since our cars are not all that valuable have you thought of no bumpers? My S1 has a 47 look without them.

Offline Bryan Boyle

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Re: Bumpers to re-chrome or not, that is the $700 ea. question.
« Reply #8 on: Thursday,December 19, 2024, 09:05:21 AM »
Yes, it is $700 each to have Europa bumpers re-plated at the only remaining shop in Nevada.
I was told that in CA it would be nearly double that.  :blowup:
I left a nearly strait front to be done for my own car.
I already have a never mounted since re-plated rear.

Now the question is, at $1,400 a set.
Will newly plated bumpers increase the value of a mechanically tidy S2 still in need of paint by more than the expense?

Lesser options include a "Chrome" wrap or powder painting.
My experience with powder paint is that it looks too much like aluminum and scuffs too easily.
Not sure a wrap last well enough.

Thoughts?

Depends.

Chrome plating is a dirty, environmentally unfriendly process.  You're not paying for, necessarily, the cost of the metals but the heavy hand of state and federal regulations covering the control of heavy metal polllution, waste disposal, health and welfare of the workers, etc. 

Is it worth it?  $700 per is about what I paid 15 years ago.  I know I spent, all in, in 2008, about $2100 to do the two bumpers, headlight rings, tail light bases (european) and door handles for 693R.  Was it worth it?  That's not the point if you're going to the extreme of replating door handles.  It was shipwright's disease on steroids once I started down that road. 

For a driver?  You know, I'd have the darn things buffed down to get them smooth and chrome wrapped.  Cost a heck of a lot less than going to a chrome shop.

Taking her to Pebble Beach?  Spend the money. 

In the end, only you can decide.  I can say that for my TCS, the bumpers are in good condition, couple buff marks, but would probably polish out fine if I could find someone who did finish metal polishing!
Bryan Boyle
Morrisville PA
Commercial Pilot/CFII/FAA Safety Team
Amateur Extra Class Operator & FCC Volunteer Examiner
Currently working on 3291R, ex 444R, 693R, 65/2163, 004R, 65/2678
http://www.lotuseuropa.us for mirror of lotus-europa.com manual site.

Offline Richard48Y

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Re: Bumpers to re-chrome or not, that is the $700 ea. question.
« Reply #9 on: Thursday,December 19, 2024, 10:10:18 AM »
For my "Keeper" I have already left a front bumper to be done.
I have a polishing wheel so I guess I will see what can be done with it.
But I cannot polish out peeled chrome.
A wrap for the front is looking likely on the car that is to be sold.
« Last Edit: Thursday,December 19, 2024, 02:28:42 PM by Richard48Y »

Offline Sparkrite

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Re: Bumpers to re-chrome or not, that is the $700 ea. question.
« Reply #10 on: Thursday,December 19, 2024, 10:20:18 AM »
This was the you tube clip I was looking for.
https://youtu.be/ninpBuzNSxQ?si=PtvEZeEjdJTZ2L0e

Offline Hachille

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Re: Bumpers to re-chrome or not, that is the $700 ea. question.
« Reply #11 on: Thursday,December 19, 2024, 10:37:11 AM »
Could also be a solution if they can sell only the front:
https://groupharrington.com/product/ford-anglia-105e-bumpers/
and
I think the back is Cortina MK1. But not sure
https://groupharrington.com/product/lotus-cortina-mk1-full-length-front-bumper/
« Last Edit: Thursday,December 19, 2024, 10:43:13 AM by Hachille »

Offline 314159td

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Re: Bumpers to re-chrome or not, that is the $700 ea. question.
« Reply #12 on: Thursday,December 19, 2024, 10:55:49 AM »
Yep, remember that these are OTS bumpers. There was an Anglia with a decent bumper near me for $500 (I grabbed just the bumper for $100) though both of those and the Cortina are rare in the US.

If you want to chrome, do it now. Personally, I love a tastefully painted bumper. Gold bumpers on a JPS absolutely work, as do white on many colors.
« Last Edit: Thursday,December 19, 2024, 01:02:48 PM by 314159td »

Offline BDA

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Re: Bumpers to re-chrome or not, that is the $700 ea. question.
« Reply #13 on: Thursday,December 19, 2024, 12:09:43 PM »
Did some more looking for that paint from Jay Leno's Garage. What made it even more interesting than the fact that it didn't form drips or runs was that it was water based and non-toxic. I did find a reference to it on a Corvette forum from 2005 but the video is now private. I don't know what that's about!

Sparkrite's video is very interesting but I think painting on a plastic surface is different enough that the results may not translate to steel as well as we might like. Without regard to the price of equipment, etc. IMHO, the Easy Chrome was the best. I think the chrome paints are good enough and the cost of plating is high enough that a few body shops would provide it. I found Easy Chrome at ebay for about $200.

Offline Richard48Y

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Re: Bumpers to re-chrome or not, that is the $700 ea. question.
« Reply #14 on: Thursday,December 19, 2024, 02:27:14 PM »
Email sent to Harrington.
Easy Chrome might be best for a fiberglass bumper?
I may experiment with it as I do need to control cost on the red S2.