[6t5gto]

Is there a way to determine if my rear bumper is oem or reproduction? It has been on the car since 2002. Under the license plate bracket is a faint outline of a number and letter. It looks like A5 which could be January 1965 ? I want to rechrome the bumper but do not want to spend the money to rechrome a reproduction bumper.

[hakansan]

I don´t think there was any reproduction bumpers in 2002. And if there where they have no markings on them.

[geeteeohguy]

Repro bumpers are noticeably thinner than original and the line around the top edge and corners is sharper. Easy to spot next to an original.

[ScottsGTOs]

I have an OEM 65 rear bumper with back up lights for sale, in Camano Island, Wa for $200 + shipping.

[6t5gto]

This is my bumper. The slots go up to the reverse lamps. Have not seen that on other bumpers.

[lucky1]

I tried a repro. My back up lights did not fit.

[6t5gto]

Maybe an early production bumper? Then they realized the slot was to close the the lamp and revamped the bumper?

[Rich-Tripower]

Wasn't it possible for the backup lights to be added at the dealership? Maybe someone just cut the holes for those lamps not quite in the right place. If the chrome is original, you could pull one of the lamps and see if the rim of the hole is not chromed (meaning the holes were cut after the bumper was chromed).

[6t5gto]

Rich, That is a great thought. Chrome is not original but I will take out the lamp to see how the hole is cut and see if its perfectly round.

[NYGTO]

Rich that is a good idea and 6T5gto, if you have the PHS it should say how the car was built.

[Rich-Tripower]

Even if cut out at the dealership or later, the hole is still probably round. If done as designed, the dealership would have used a hole punch tool which makes perfectly round holes.

[6t5gto]

PHS states back up lamps

[Jeff Hamlin]

Dealer Added BU lights use a punch, so the hole should be almost perfectly round.

The last image is a car with a punched bumper but didn't come with BU light option, so there are chromed caps over the holes.

[dhcarguy]

All the rechromed originals that I ever seen (including mine) still have some pitting( rust pits) on the back side chromed over. Some I have seen were heavy, but still looked new on the outside.

[Skip Fix]

So a big question is it costs almost as much to rechrome an original as a repop. Which to do?

[geeteeohguy]

Originally Posted by Skip Fix

So a big question is it costs almost as much to rechrome an original as a repop. Which to do?

The re-chromed originals I have seen locally here in Fresno are better quality than the factory chrome. They almost look too good. So if you see pitting, etc. in the re-chromed bumper, time to find another plater. A properly re-plated original piece is hands down superior than any repop in look, fit, and quality.

[ZeGermanHam]

Originally Posted by Skip Fix

So a big question is it costs almost as much to rechrome an original as a repop. Which to do?

Have you found a plating shop that will rechrome a rear bumper at a decent standard for around $370 (i.e., cost of quality repop)?

[Skip Fix]

No most are higher! 400-600 at least. My Impala project bumpers need a rechrome also. Why I was asking about repops as they would be cheaper.

[ZeGermanHam]

Originally Posted by Skip Fix

No most are higher! 400-600 at least. My Impala project bumpers need a rechrome also. Why I was asking about repops as they would be cheaper.

Gotcha. I was a little confused by your previous comment where you suggested it costs almost as much to rechrome an original as it does to buy a re-pop. In my recent communications with plating shops, it typically it cost much, much more to rechrome an original part than it does to buy re-pop. So then it comes down to are the re-pops any good and worth buying in the first place. It seems with bumpers, they're pretty decent all around, fortunately.

[Skip Fix]

I just hate to not "fix up" something! The Impala bumpers are 3 piece and they have a3 piece or a 1 piece repop.