It was pointed out to me at the Anniversary Meet that my 1950 rear bumper's center section did not have a hole in it and a matching bumper bolt. The illustration of the Bel Air in the 1950 Dealer's Book does show a bumper bolt in the center section. Now, here is where it gets interesting. The center section that I used was a NOS wrapped from the factory piece and it does NOT have a hole in it. Part number 3698600. When I purchased the car from the previous owner, there was no hole in that bumper either. BUT, if you look at the front center section piece, there IS a hole in it. But, there are also two smaller holes for the front license plate rubber bumpers. I have seen several 1950's with a bumper bolt in the center section. What purpose did this "dummy bolt" serve? Gene, can you share your thoughts on this please!

The center rear bolt hole was eleminated during the 1951 production year. After that time new replacements also came with no ole and there was no change in the part number.

So any 1950 today with no hole indacates the center secton has been replaced at one time.

We sols a lot of them as the metal was rather thin.

An error in my above post.

The part nuber did change when the bolt hole was eleminated.
From the 1950 parts book the original number was 3687961.
On 7-1-51 it was changed to 3698600......may have entered assembly line production before that date.

You could always tell if sections of those 3 piece bumpers were replaced if they were bolted together rather than riveted.

Not sure about California and Canadian cars with one piece bumpers as far as the bolt hole is concerned.

Thanks Gene. Any idea why there was a hole there in the first place?

Pehaps at one time they thought they would offer an acessory bumper guard in the center like they did from 1938 to 1948.

our 50 chevy convert that was built in calif, still has its original(albeit rechromed) bumpers, both one piece. the rear lacks the hole in the middle. mike mccagh

I figured that the hole was there to help in the manufacturing process. It would center the bumper blank in the trim and forming dies. We often did that with large formed metal parts.

Apparently in the early 50’s the figured out how to use the other 2 holes for that locating function.