Chrome bumper components cover the 1275cc chrome-bumper Midget (1967 to 1974). The front bumper is a single-piece chrome-plated blade mounted on a spring bar that bolts to the front chassis legs via handed brackets. The spring bar provides a degree of impact absorption by flexing on its mounting bolts. Overriders on each end provide additional protection and a visual finishing touch.
Overrider seals sit between the overrider and the bumper blade, preventing moisture from becoming trapped and causing corrosion at the contact point.
Rear Bumper Design Change
The rear bumper changed design during the chrome-bumper era. Pre-1970 cars used a one-piece rear bumper blade with overriders, while from 1970 onward the rear bumper was split into two separate blades, one each side of the number plate, each with its own overriders. The split rear bumper overriders also use overrider pads between the overrider and the bumper blade. This split design was introduced to accommodate the revised rear lamp cluster arrangement introduced with the GAN5 facelift.
Number Plate Supports
Front and rear number plate supports mount to the bumper assemblies and are available in standard and stainless steel. The stainless versions are a worthwhile upgrade on any car, as the standard steel supports corrode heavily behind the number plate where moisture is trapped and invisible. The rear number plate backing sits between the bumper blades on the split-bumper arrangement.
Towing Eyes
Towing eyes mount to the front chassis brackets using the same bolts as the bumper brackets, providing a secure towing point at the front of the car. These should be fitted to any car used on the road, as they provide the only safe point from which to tow the car if it breaks down, towing from the bumper blade or spring bar risks pulling the bumper off the car.
Fitting and Adjustment
When fitting bumpers, all bolts should be left loose until the bumper is correctly positioned relative to the bodywork, many bolt holes are elongated to allow adjustment, and bumper spacers are used to set the correct bumper-to-body gap. The bumper should be centred on the car with even gaps at each end before the fixings are progressively tightened. A replacement spring bar should be considered if the bumper blade doesn't sit to its correct curvature, a fatigued bar will sag in the middle, creating an unattractive gap between the bumper ends and the wings. Bumper bolt kits provide all the fixings needed for a complete bumper installation.