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Tue Aug 08, 2006 3:44 pm

i saw a thread inthe beetle forum regarding the company who makes these.

1st hand experience over there!

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=183706

Tue Aug 08, 2006 5:44 pm

Be careful .......There's stainless, and there's stainless. BBQ mfgrs tout stainless, and a magnetic adheres to it.

Bill

Tue Aug 08, 2006 6:49 pm

I apologize for being so slow to get the results on these bumpers out.

I have a rear 67-69 ghia bumper together, but it has not been test fit to a ghia yet.

I'd like to reserve my opinions until I'm completely finished and I know you guys are anxious so I'll make it a priority this weekend to finish up the report.

Harrington is anxius to hear my opinions as well, so I need to get this done.

I had to take a break and take the kids camping....important stuff. :wink:

Tue Aug 08, 2006 8:38 pm

i wasn't riding you Mike :P - i know family is important.

I just stumbled across totally relivant info in another forum. My car is so far from road-worthy it's a little daunting - so i am not in a rush. that said - i can move fast for the right stuff. :)

Tue Aug 08, 2006 9:48 pm

westcoast-paul wrote: i wasn't riding you Mike :P - i know family is important.

I just stumbled across totally relivant info in another forum. My car is so far from road-worthy it's a little daunting - so i am not in a rush. that said - i can move fast for the right stuff. :)

I understand Paul...I didn't take it as such...It had just been awhile since the last post and I didn't want folks thinking I had forgotten.
Thought i would give an update although there wasn't much content.

Wed Aug 23, 2006 9:22 pm

Surely you have installed the bumpers from Harrington by now, how are they?

As you know I had already contacted them back in late July. I hestitated because as far as I know you are the only one to have contact with them regarding Ghia bumpers. I need a front and rear for my 69.

I am glad to hear you paid for them and they showed up. :D I was too nervous to send $1100 to a total stranger..... :roll:

S.Ell

Thu Aug 24, 2006 12:59 am

I got a local estimate (in 2003) for $250 for rechroming a ghia bumper and that included straitening. I haven't taken the company up on the deal yet, but I have to go get a '73 Ghia bumper chromed and I'll ask them again about doing an earlier Ghia bumper for under $300. Seems like it's too good to be true, but when they quoted me I exclaimed how good of a deal that seemed to be and the person told me they could do it. The company is in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

-John

www.VintageVWCars.com
Don't forget the Cars!

Thu Aug 24, 2006 9:14 am

basically - you get what you pay for as far as chroming goes. single stage (like the bugpack beetle ones) only look good for a short amount of time (rust - chrome peeling, etc)

Thu Aug 24, 2006 9:24 am

another thread about the harington SS bumpers

not good. He's trying to get his money back.

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=184587&start=20

Tue Sep 19, 2006 10:52 am

http://www.gravesplating.com/contact.html

I used these guys about 7 years ago when restoring my ghia. Drove it daily for 3 years (was parked outside), and has been inside for the last 4 and not daily driven (unfortunately). The blades ran about a grand (they had some dents in them and had to be straightened). I would rate the quality from this company very high.

Wed Oct 18, 2006 12:13 pm

Mike sent me these pictures

(note the towel rack bend)

overall - they look pretty bloody shiny, but the bend in the towel rack sort of scares me (obviously Harington doesnt have the same attention to detail that i do)

your thoughts?

Wed Oct 18, 2006 1:06 pm

Paul,

For the price, I think they look great. The bend may not be the best, but it will do if originals cannot be sourced.

Wed Oct 18, 2006 1:08 pm

Untill I see close ups of it mounted, and a review from a full retail customer, or have one in my hand myself, I'm reserving judgement.

Hopefully it is a viable solution, but for the price, and they're beetle bumper rep in other threads, I'd rechrome original metal. Hopefully Harrington proves me wrong, as quality chroming is getting as hard to find as nice Ghia bumpers, lol, but it IS out there.

Seems like alot of cash for a Vietnamese repro that no one has seen actually on a car... or have they? Does ANYONE have a pic of this thing mounted?

I've got a small pile of cores, and a 65 that needs bumpers... it's going up for sale at some point, so cost is a factor. I may keep the good cores and slap some fiberglass bumpers on this sucka :wink:

Wed Oct 18, 2006 1:18 pm

I'm not sure if harrington offers euros, but that may be the way to go. eliminate the weak link (towel bars)

price is ok. i have a set of very solid cores, so right now i am weighing these vs. rechroming (local shops are so-so)

Wed Oct 18, 2006 1:31 pm

The bumper overrider doesn't look like it fits well. Look at the space between the blade and the gasket.

IMO if you have no bumpers and no hope of find ing a set they will fill the space.

Wed Oct 18, 2006 1:39 pm

i *think* that is jsut extra gasket.

click on the image to see a bigger one

Wed Oct 18, 2006 1:45 pm

westcoast-paul wrote: i *think* that is jsut extra gasket.

click on the image to see a bigger one

No I mean on the top of the blade, you can see the orange of the car through the gap.

Wed Oct 18, 2006 1:56 pm

70 140 wrote: westcoast-paul wrote: i *think* that is jsut extra gasket.

click on the image to see a bigger one

No I mean on the top of the blade, you can see the orange of the car through the gap.

I don't think the gasket is installed properly; however, you may be right. I'd have to see one in person. Hell, I've seen originals that look worse considering all of the abuse they've been subjected to over the years.

Wed Oct 18, 2006 11:00 pm

any more updates? I've been looking at their site as well and am tempted to purchase. I have a very decent pair of bumpers that I could turn around and sell for a few bucks and that'd make up for the cost of the repros, though I'd hate to get rid of the originals.

Thu Oct 19, 2006 8:27 am

bvhill wrote: I have a very decent pair of bumpers that I...

Dude-- you're the prime candidate for re-chroming! I don't understand why you'd trade a set of good originals in on a set of dubious quality copies.

Maybe if you didn't have anything at all, but...

Not trying to knock you (and to prove it, I'm putting used fiberglass bumpers on the one I have for sale, lol), but what's the thought process here? Maybe I'm lookin at things all wrong...