NOS 71 Rear Bumper

[Smartin]

Drool!!!!

I wish they could be more specific about what exactly is imperfect about it.

And the shipping cost is out of control.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/NOS-BUICK-1971-1972-LeSabre-CENTURION-RR-BUMPER-71-72_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ140700QQihZ023QQitem Z360023468249QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW

[dewbers]

Where does it say it's imperfect? I didn't see that. Nice looking piece. Is it accurate for both 71 and 72? $85 is steep, but that's no little puppy to ship either. Hey Adam... road trip!?!

[Centurion]

Interestingly, a friend backed my Centurion into a tree about 25 years ago -- prior to the car's repaint, etc.

Since the original rear bumper was tweaked and I could still order an NOS bumper from GM, I went ahead and bought the new bumper.

This has always been a disappointment to me, since the chrome on the NOS rear bumper failed to measure up to the quality of the original. I should have had this one re-chromed, and, someday, perhaps I will.

I remember that John Weber, who completed an impeccable restoration of a Burnished Cinnamon '71 Centurion convertible, obtained an NOS rear bumper for his car. He was so disappointed in the quality of the chrome that he had the bumper professionally re-chromed.

http://www.buickcenturion.com/1971/john_w/Untitled-1f.jpg

So, as so many of us have come to realize, NOS does not necessarily equal "perfect". Shop wear issues aside, the quality of chrome on the NOS bumpers may not be as nice as the bumpers that were originally delivered with our cars. Ideally, it would be possible to inspect one of these bumpers before paying the price and the hefty tab for shipping.

[Smartin]

I bought an NOS front bumper for my 71 LeSabre two years ago, and it cost $25 to ship.

That bumper was NOS, and it was perfect, too.

[centurion 455 ragtop]

Shipping in the last year or so has gone up a lot. Last year I had a fender shipped to me from northeast Ohio and it cost me $125. Came by freight and was delivered to a commercial location.

Two three years back gas fuel was way cheaper and so was insurance rates. People fail to realize that with costs going up commercial companies just pass the increase on to the customers.

I would honestly think $85 is not too bad. Just that now when you bid on an item you should also take in the cost of shipping on what your max amount you want to pay overall.

[Smartin]

$25 to have my bumper shipped 2 years ago, to $85 today? Doesn't jive. They're fluffing it so they can get their money's worth for handing it. It's not the easiest thing in the world to ship, but jeez.

[Centurion]

That bumper was NOS, and it was perfect, too.

Just to clarify, I didn't intend to generalize that most NOS bumpers are poor quality. What I meant to say is that NOS bumpers are not always perfect, and that might be the case with this one -- since the seller didn't rate it a perfect "10".

The problem with buying large, expensive-to-ship items like this is that you don't always know the quality of the item until you've paid to have it shipped. If it fails to meet your standard, then you could face another expensive shipping bill to return it to the seller.

[Smartin]

Just to clarify, I didn't intend to generalize that most NOS bumpers are poor quality. What I meant to say is that NOS bumpers are not always perfect, and that might be the case with this one -- since the seller didn't rate it a perfect "10".

The problem with buying large, expensive-to-ship items like this is that you don't always know the quality of the item until you've paid to have it shipped. If it fails to meet your standard, then you could face another expensive shipping bill to return it to the seller.


Right...

an 8 or 9 on a scale of 10...on who's scale? That's what I was asking originally - why did he deduct points from the condition?

I have an NOS rear bumper sitting in my basement, but it has pits from sitting. :tonge2: :tonge2: :tonge2: :tonge2:

[EEE]

I think $85 sound like an actual shipping cost, maybe -$20. I've shipped inner fenders, fenders, bumpers etc, and it's all been up there, Greyhound, Fedex USPS etc. $25 must have been a loss to the guys who shipped yours a few years ago.

[Smartin]

Actually, now that I think about it...

I had replaced both of the bumpers on that tan 71 LeSabre. The front bumper came from a guy on the BCA board, and the rear came from a place called Southern Bumper. Both charged exactly $25 to ship to my shop. (which might make a difference, especially if you can specify shipping to a commercial address.)

[RFortuna]

I have a driver quality 71 rear bumper in my basement. It's free if anyone wants to pick it up. I just don't want to hassle with shipping it.

Randy

[GutRat]

I have a driver quality 71 rear bumper in my basement. It's free if anyone wants to pick it up. I just don't want to hassle with shipping it.

Randy

Where you located? The 71 and 72 are the same, correct? My 72 bumber is kinda tweaked where it v's up a little from the middle. Not horrible, but noticable.

[RFortuna]

Kansas City. The 71 and 72 bumpers are close to being the same. The 72's have the protective black rubbber rub strips, the 71's don't.

Randy

[Smartin]

ziggebock wins another one!

[Eric B]

The Buick Farm sent me a rear NOS bumper in bubble wrap for $30.