The Official 356Talk Forum

Every time I clean out a barn I find at least one weird thing, this trip was no different. While cleaning out a barn in NH I found the rarely seen chrome bumper. In bad shape, but interesting to see this rare option. Somedays I hope the fun never ends...

"There's Gold, I say, Gold in them thar hills!"

Bugs Bunny.

hey adam - have you found it's better to buy repro new panels,hoods,etc to restore or to reuse the parts you find? I'm just wondering because after several years in the caribbean my 356 needs some rust work and repairs.

I think it depends, if your hood is original to your car and fitted to it you are probably better off fixing the problems with it, rather than taking the time to fit a new or used hood off another car. Same idea for bumpers. Remember, these cars were hand built, so the parts the Factory put on were made to fit your car, so sometimes re-inventing the wheel isn't worth it.
That being said the repro parts you get from RD or Stoddard, or Trevor are all pretty good and can be made to fit your car. You just have to make a judgement call when you get to the specific part.
Sometimes new metal is the way to go, it sure it a lot more fun to weld!

I had never even heard of the chrome bumper option until now. I assume it was available front and rear? Any idea of how many were built this way?

Perry, I know it was pretty rare, probably because it was ugly on a 356, kind of like why the Notchback was so rare, it's because they didn't sell that many.

Latest strangeness from the latest trip.
"Custom" bumpers, a "tool kit", and anti-theft system.

Never a dull moment.

Perry Pessia wrote:I had never even heard of the chrome bumper option until now. I assume it was available front and rear? Any idea of how many were built this way?

Perry,

Brett Johnson mentions chrome bumpers in his restorer's guide, 1997 edition page 21. "...chrome bumpers were optional starting with the 356A, although rarely fitted..."

Jose is selling a '55 Cab in the car section that's fitted with chrome bumpers, so they were also available on pre-A cars assuming the ones on the cab are original. Somewhere I remember seeing the option on someone's COA, so like most everything else - the factory would build to suit.

I agree with Adam - they're nowhere near as nice looking as painted bumpers.

http://derwhites356literature.com/356-A ... sLATE.html

CW

Latest cool but unexpected find in a car.
I have always seen these at swap meets and for sale but never bought one. A dealership microfiche reader with all the slides. It must have come from a VW/Porsche dealership because it is a VW reader, and I have microfiche's on every Audi, in addition to the Porsches.
The widow said she would include everything the guy had, I didn't know I was getting the microfiche.
The car is cool, one family owned 56 Coupe. I can't wait for Spring, the parking lot is filling up!

The weird stuff found turned a little creepy, this doll was in a car that was put away in 1969. Big John can always be counted to up the antee and make it extra creepy, thanks John....

Okay, the head is a little weird.

How often have you seen the bench seats? Just curious.

Only once in a car, it was early on for us, early 2000's. There was a 58 Coupe and the widow kept going on about the bench seat, we didn't know what it was. It went with the car, ooopppps.

During the Speedterfest in '98, there was a Speedster shown w/chrome bumpers.
I believe Registry's founder Jerry Keyser had an A cp w/them.

Dick

"Jerry Keyser had an A cp w/them." ??
I never saw that. He started with a T-5 coupe, then the roadster. Did the A coupe come later?