VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1912-1928 First Year for Bumperettes

Not counting side mount cars, was 1927 the last year for the full rear bumper on Chevrolets? What year was the first year that Chevrolet had a part number listed for a bumper.

Roger

1925 is the first year for a Chevrolet bumper. You had a choice of a full front and a full back.

Another option was a full front and bumperettes in the back.

See page 143 in the Superior "K" Repair Manual. It is also listed in the Superior "K" parts list.


The bumper is also listed in the CSN for this era.

I'm not sure what model you have, but my '27 touring car has neither front nor back bumbers. A picture of my grandpa's '24 roadster has bumpers.

If bumperettes were optional in 1925, where is this documented?

My parts list dated Jan 1, 1926 shows front and rear bumpers having the same part number.

I must have the wrong repair manual, as both of my reprints have pg 143 as a title page for miscellaneous.

Roger

No. The 1929 thru 1932 models had full rear bumpers available and so did 1933 and beyond.

Ok M.O.M. - I didn't phrase that quite right, but I did mention side mount cars being the exception and I don't think a full bumper in the 29 - 32 range would work with the rear mounted spare. What I really want to know is, what year was the first Chevrolet to use bumperettes?

Roger

From above:

From above:

The first reference to bumperettes in a Chevrolet parts book I have found so far is the June 1, 1926 Superior Models Series K published by General Motors Products of Canada, Ltd. Did not them in the January 1, 1926 Series K parts book by Chevrolet Motor Company Detroit Michigan. Also did not find them in the Series V parts book of April, 1926 (US) but did in the Canadian Nov. 1926 book for Series V. Will try to look further tomorrow.

The July 1926 Master Price List of Parts lists bumpers in the front of the book and just prior to page 1. It lists a set of one front and one rear, and the next listing is one front and a pair of bumperettes.

The April 1st 1925 Chevrolet Repair Manual, 1st Edition on page 143 in the back of the book gives mounting instructions.

If a book dated Apr 1st 1925 gives mounting instructions then the item must have been available prior to that date in a parts book or CSN, or by special letter.

Thanks Ray, for pointing out those references and dates.

Do you know if that edition of the 1925 repair manual is being reproduced?

I would sure like to get a scan of that page to help out a fellow '25 owner in Montana, who asked me these questions.

It would be interesting to find out the timeline of when the bumperettes became available to the consumer and if they matched the front bumpers with matching face plates.

Thanks again,
Roger

Ray sent me this scan out of the Chevrolet Repair Manual April 1, 1925 First Edition


I'm guessing you use the bumper bracket to locate the inboard hole.

Roger

Here is another scan from Ray of the Master List Of Parts July 1, 1926


It mentions they come with duralumin,(aluminum?) metal face bar strips on the bumperettes. Has anyone ever seen a set of these?

If the 1925 Master List Of Parts doesn't show the above, can I presume that bumperettes were first used on the 1926 Superior V?

Roger

If the mounting instructions are for the 1925 Superior "K", the bumpers as listed must have existed in 1925.

If the bumpers were not available would they put mounting instructions in a book 1 year earlier ?

Ray - I'm referring to bumperettes. The holes in the frame are for the 1925 full bumpers, which are the only bumpers listed in the Jan 1, 1926 Parts List. The bumperettes may use the same holes, but using your references, no mention of bumperettes is made until they show up on the April 1, 1926 Master Price List.

Roger

I have a 72 page Chevrolet Parts Price List for Superior Series K - 1925 and Utility Express Series R - 1925. It shows a picture, part numbers, and price for the front and rear bumpers and attaching hardware on page 67. Other than the date noted above, I find no specific date listed within the document.

I also have a portion of the 1925 Salesman's Desk reference booklet, but no mention of bumbers within the portion I have.