fiberglass bumbers - goss or matt?

[spitsnrovers]

Got everything stripped off ready for a repaint.

In sanding the fibreglass bumpers, I took off a thick black gloss paint to find what appears to be a matt charcoal grey paint underneath.

So from your experience, what would an '88 stock Westfalia have been - black or charcoal? Gloss or Matt?

Any preferences to go with a Dove Metalic Blue/grey paint and white poptop?

[PDXWesty]

The ones I have seen have been a matt charcoal or black.

[VanagOnly]

I did mine in black matt and really like the look.Sorry no pictures right now.I used Duplicolor bumper cover on the bumpers,side mirrors,air dam and rear vents.I like the contrast of the black against my grey body color,although not stock.Fiberglass would have been sprayed the same color as the body as stock,but that is out of the question now so I vote for black.
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87 Wolfie
Past rides:72 Bus- RIP
72 Volvo 145 wagon-RIP
76 Jeep Wagoneer-RIP
67 Bug Dad's Daily-Project

[madspaniard]

good post

I have a late 1990 stock westy, orly blue, that for some reason also has gloss black-painted fiberglass bumpers. Every other late westy that I see around here has the matt grey bumpers. My bumpers have spots where the paint is chipping away. Wondering if the PO painted them over with the gloss black paint. I need to sand and paint these bumpers soon

[wgargan]

check it!

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=331723&highlight=paint
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Current ride:

1983.5 Watercooled Vanagon 'L' Automatic transmission

[koolmoe]

Older post, but my 1990 Westy has flat grey bumpers.
Don't like 'em - they're mottled and contrast poorly with the black and blue of the bus.
Was going to look into replacing them, most likely with GoWesty/Van-Again available 'steel bumper set' ($795 + $175 ship). My 'big' Christmas gift.
I got rear-ended last week, lightly, which crunched my rear bumper a bit.
So now I get new bumpers from the other guy's insurance.
Cool (and no whiplash)

My only concern is unseen damage. So will likely have the bumpers shipped to a shop and let them do the install, and look for any related damage while they're at it.
(I know, lame not to do an easy install myself, but insurance is paying and it's cold and wet outside!)

Any opinion on replacement bumpers? Van-Cafe's Big Bumpers would be cool but over a $grand for bumpers + ship? That's hard for this skinflint to handle... The older chrome ones (like Smokey had) I would dig and maybe look better, but then I'd have to replace those on the next fender-bender...
KM
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--
Current: 1990 Westy GL (Savannah. Good to be back!)
from '95 til 2008: 1995 Pathfinder (frame rusted out, charitable parts donation)
from '91-'95: 1982 Westy Diesel (Smokey. Traded in for far too little!)
from '87-'91: 1980 VW Rabbit (my econoPorsche - passed on)

[[email protected]]

[madspaniard]

[sc-surfer]

I used a Rustoleum metallic black satin that looks really nice and stock. no shiny gloss, but the subtle metallic flake makes it pop.

FWIW
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'89 Syncro Westy
Catalog of Vans at SDM 2010
Westfalia, Syncro & Tristar Reproduction decals here.
* * * Coming Soon: Washable seat covers for westy bench seat...keep the pets off the upholstery! * * *

[madspaniard]

[Ryan Alfonso]

Napa Duplicolor Bumper Coat, like an eggshell finish, semi-gloss'ish, mostly flattish...

Took two cans, a bunch of fiberglass work, some bondo, glazing putty... by the end I really just wanted to clear coat the thing since it was so psychodellic looking with all the swirled layers and colors. Oh yeah, beware of the fyoomz dood.

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Upskirt view of TiiCo motor

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