I am restoring a 1970 xke ots. Should I purchase stainless steel bumpers or straighten and chrome mine? Do the judges care? Your 2 cents is fine. thanks

 

Welcome to the forum k52,

I've moved your question from Jaguar Forums Feedback & Suggestion Centre to E-Type forum. The Feedback & Suggestion Centre is for posts about the forum and NOT FOR TECHNICAL QUESTIONS.

Graham

 

The judges will care only if they determine they are not chrome. Most if not all may be able to do this easily. Polished stainless is bright but never as proper chrome over brass/copper wash.

 

thanks for the answer. Seems right to me?

 

I have built/restored many english sports cars with replated chrome bumpers and the replacement SS bumpers. Replating costs a lot of money now, takes forever,
and your never sure of the quality and how well it was done or how long it will last ! With the Stainless ones, the Quality is EXCELLENT, usually better finish and shine than chrome. Think about the heavy steel original bumpers that an XKE came with and ask yourself if you are going to be bumping into things and therefore you would need thick/strong bumpers. If you use your car for shows and touring the lighter/thinner stainless bumpers are a better choice.
The SS bumpers can be ground to fit your car if the car hasn't got the correct shape because of accident damage etc. They can be straitened after a bump,
sanded and polished to a high finish to return them to a new appearance.
They cost 1/3 the cost of replating or replacing original Jag. bumpers, only take a week to ship and a complete set is $1,600. including all overriders,bolts, brackets, blades , fittings and shipping, for the whole car !
I show these bumpers to Jag guys at shows and they don't know they are Stainless because of the superb finish.

 

Thanks, it seems like this is going to break down 50/50 for or against.