VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1933-1936 1933 Bumper Guards

I have some new information as follows:

There are two basically identical guard stampings but with different bolt hole spacing.

One uses stamped steel backing plates and 1" bolts. This is the most common one found on most cars today per Dave Sylvain. The only marking found on the guard is the letter M rubber stamped on the back side. Bolt holes are 5 1/4" apart center to center.

The second guard I found has a curved iron backing plate bar and requires 1 7/8" inch bolts in order to mount them. The guard is marked on the backside with the manufacturer's name "Steel Materials Co. Patent Pending". The bolt holes on this one are 4 3/4" center to center and the stamped steel backing plates will not work with them. I would accept that these could be aftermarket guards with a change in design to allow a new patent except for the fact that the 1929-34 Chevrolet parts List calls out 1 7/8" bolts for the 1933 bumper guards.

Does anyone have more information on these guards?

Tom

I've never found any hard evidence that bumper guards existed during the 1933 model run. I don't see them in the accessory catalog & I don't see them in the parts catalog until 1934 & there they say 1933-1934 all. None of the sales brochures I have show guards. I wonder what Dave Sylvain has to support this?...Joe

From my 1934 and 1935 parts books'

Under accessories/bumper guards

Bumper guard assembly 1933 CA,CB.,CC, part #364920 85 cents
Plate, bumper guars face 364921 60 cents
Plate, bumper guard clamp, 364922 15 cents
Bolt, bumper guard 364923
and 364926.....
I believe the first item is for one complete guard with hardware.

1934-1935 (Standard) guards are listed as Bumper guard unit, #600481, $3.45.

I did a 1933 bumper guard article some years back and Dave sent me some pictures that I am searching for at this time.

My question has always been, when were they introduced?...Joe

Chev Nut,

One small correction 364926 Bolt should read 364976 Bolt.

Both 364923 and 364976 Bolts are shown as being 1 7/8" long and they were still offered for CA, CB and CC bumper guard as late as the August 1, 1940 Parts Price List. I wonder what the difference might have been.

Tom

I HAVE SEEN THESE EARLY 33 ONLY BUMPER GUARDS ON AUCTION ON EBAY. THEY HAVE THE CARRIAGE TYPE BOLTS GO THRU THE FACE OF THE GUARD IN 2 PLACES.

THE 34-35 GUARDS HAVE THE STUDS MOUNTED INTO THE BACK OF THE GUARDS AND A STAMPED SHAPED PLATE FITS OVER THE REAR OF THE BUMPER TO KEEP THEM ON.

PERSONALLY THE 34-35 GUARDS HAVE A MUCH BETTER MOUNTING SYSTEM AND THE STYLIZED SHAPE IS MUCH NICER.


MIKE LYNCH..........

I have a 33 Master that has bumper guards on it. I found this car in a barn in 1961, and after driving it in high school and college, then storing it for almost 50 years, I am almost finished doing a frame off total restoration. The original owner bought it new and in 1941 he went in the service and was killed in WWII.

Having said that I do not know if these were original or after market bumper guards. They are 5 1/4" OC bolt holes with 1" bolts. They also have a "curved" backing plate to conform to the curvature of the bumper. I have had them re-chromed, so if there was an M stamping on them, that is long gone. There is no part number on either the guards or the backing plate.

If you post a picture we can probably tell you what they are.

pictures would help on all these topics,
as I would love to see these bumper guards, and learn more about what you guys are talking about.

I have three of these and need one more. Anyone have an extra?

One inch carriage bolts. All are the same size. Not sure why photo shows them to appear different lengths.

They are hard to come by.

those are the ones I have seen for 1933 Chevrolet. Mostly on a barn find original car. I do see them appear from time to time on ebay.

mike lynch

somebody on here has to have an extra kicking around

Here's a picture of my bumper http://i.imgur.com/FgBecGW.jpg

Nice picture. That's one of the styles I've heard to be used on a 33. The other was kind of a flat plate. I've never found a picture in any of the lit. or Service News Buletins....Joe

The "flat plate" guards were aftermarket. Could be found on all makes of cars.
Pontiac also used the pictred accessory guard.

I think the question about the two types of identical looking bumper guards for the 1933 Chevrolet is finally answered to my satisfaction. Someone has posted 15" x 18" dealer photo of a new 1933 Master Sedan on e-Bay. I did a careful measurement of the bolt spacing on the photo compared to the 9 3/4 inch bumper guard. That confirmed that the wider spaced bolts and stamped steel mounting brackets using the 1" bolts must be the genuine Chevrolet accessory same as pictured in this thread. The ones with a curved iron bar bracket and closer bolt spacing using 1 7/8" bolts with the manufacturers name inside must have been produced for aftermarket later. I have one left of this type but it is missing the iron mounting plate.

Tom

Can you post a photo of the one extra you have, or send a photo to me via my email?

Thanks, Roger

Hi Roger....I may have what you're looking for. I have several 31-32 bumpers stored. However there are one or two next generation mixed in that I recall having 3-4 guards as described. I can check sometime next week and get back to you....send me a pm and let me know...

I have just posted two photos. One shows the backside of what we think is an aftermarket guard where "Steel Materials Co." is embossed. I cannot find that a patent was actually issued. The second photo shows the genuine Chevrolet bracket and guard at the top with the Steel Materials guard at the bottom. The only difference in the two guards is that center to center of the bolt holes is 1/2 inch closer together on the Steel Materials guard.

If any one needs it I have the one only Steel Materials guard available with two new bolts but it is missing the curved iron mounting bracket.

Tom

Tom Good to see you on here. It has been a while since we saw each other. Good info on the bumper guards.

VCCA Son,

I have not made it to any VCCA events for a number of years. The '33 became unroadworthy due to brakes gradually giving up the ghost then there was a little garage accident last year which has led me to a makeover of the whole car and fixing some of the finer details like the bumper guards missed years ago. I do miss the shows up in Ohio and will try to make it some time in the future.

Tom