bumper color

PEPPE · Posted: Fri Jan 23, 2004 2:35 pm Post subject: bumper color

i am restoring a 72 bus.
color is all L90D up and down. question is what is the colour of the bumper?
the PO made them black, but we want originality.
i thank that it cannot be cmpletely white... maybe more white like a L82 like splits?

ratwell · Posted: Fri Jan 23, 2004 3:18 pm Post subject:

Bumpers were usually L90D except for a few color schemes. If your bus is L90D top and bottom the bumpers are supposed to be L90D also.
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Ochie · Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2012 8:44 am Post subject: Bumper color

I've searched and read the forums and still am confused due to the seemingly contradictory information.
I am getting ready to paint the bumpers on my 72 tin top Westphalia which is L90D pastel White top and bottom.
The bumpers are most definitely not the same L90D that the charts claim.
The bumpers were/are a brighter white. So which white is it?
L90D as the charts and several people suggest, or perhaps L581 Cloud white as used on 1968-1970, then again it could be L82 Silver White as the very bottom line of the color charts suggests.
So which is it because the original bumper color on my 72 westy bus was not L90D Pastel White.
Is it possible that all three possibilities existed from the factory thus creating all the confusion?

Daverham · Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2012 8:56 am Post subject:

Here's a little more info on this, mostly about some 79 models though:

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=513515&highlight=white+bumpers

Ochie · Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2012 10:17 am Post subject:

Daverham I did read that post and it was interesting about the beige bumpers. Pre 1970 and post 1974 seem to be relatively straight forward but Westphalia's and buses between those years seem to have more confusion. L90D bumpers on an 1972 L90D camper may not be proper.

wihr · Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2012 12:39 pm Post subject:

For my 1970 the bumper color is L 282 1, Lotus white.
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1970 Campmobile "Van Ordinaire"
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Ochie · Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2012 2:34 pm Post subject: More confusion bumper color

Wihr: According to the color charts up to july 1970 bumpers should be L581 Cloud White. Is the whole bus Lotus white or some other color? Are you sure the lotus white is correct from the factory? I have lotus white from my 1968 beetle rims and it certainly not as bright a white as the bumpers were.

wihr · Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2012 4:35 pm Post subject:

You got me worried so I went to my original dealer/factory bill of sale (This car was a tourist delivery vehicle purchased by my father in Frankfurt in June 1970). The receipt says "Pearl White" which is L 87.33 for the body color. The "touch-up paint that I have used for 42 years has been labeled L 87.33. I re-did the front floors and painted them with L 87.33 which correctly matched the original.

Now, I may be wrong about the bumpers as I found the touch-up paint (L282) in my paint collection. My father had tried it on the body and (obviously) it was wrong so I just assumed it was correct for the bumpers. (My bumpers are now grey).

Perhaps I should have mentioned that this is a Westfalia Campmobile which may explain why its color is different. You/they may be right about the wheels/bumpers however.
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WIHR

1970 Campmobile "Van Ordinaire"
2009 Lincoln Town Car "Behemoth"
1969 Lambretta 150 DL "Nina"
1962 Matchless G 12 CS 650cc

busdaddy · Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2012 4:47 pm Post subject:

Ochie is right about the 68-70 bumpers being cloud white, doesn't matter if it's a Westfalia, stationwagon or lowly commercial they all got the same bumper from the same rack, one size/color fits all. Same with the 72-79 Westfalia (notice how it's spelled with an F ? Wink

), one L90D bumper fits all unless it's a 79 stationwagon or a special edition of some sort.

I've had a few all original paint buses and can confirm that as fact whether you choose to belive it or not, keep in mind bumpers get chewed up often and Tremclad only comes in one color for the DIY types. Even body shops weren't above using good old Dupont super white like the bumpers and rims on any other US made van of the era since every shop had a few cans already kicking around, why order up some special color for a crappy VW?
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wihr · Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2012 5:08 pm Post subject:

Are the June '70 wheels also L 581?
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WIHR

1970 Campmobile "Van Ordinaire"
2009 Lincoln Town Car "Behemoth"
1969 Lambretta 150 DL "Nina"
1962 Matchless G 12 CS 650cc

busdaddy · Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2012 6:20 pm Post subject:

Yes, 68-70 model year are L581.
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Ochie · Posted: Thu Jul 26, 2012 8:05 am Post subject: 71-72 bumper

The 72 bus is a 1971 front end but the rear end like a 1973 (to accommodate the larger air intakes for the bigger motor) the front bumper wraps around like the 1970. Off the rack color in 1970 was L581 Cloud White. Since the 1972 bus had the wrap around bumpers the same as the 1970 then off the rack color would be cloud white. They probably had a bunch leftover from production.
On the T2b 1973 and later with the high blinkers and bumpers that don't wrap around then L90D Pastel white makes sense.
There is no evidence of the bumpers ever being repainted. This bus was relatively low mileage (50K ) the bumper paint inside and out was very thin with no evidence of a color change. I doubt anyone would go to the bother of stripping the inside prior to painting.
I'm starting to come to the conclusion that on my 1972 Pastel white (L90D) bus the bumpers were L581 Cloud White from the factory.

busdaddy · Posted: Thu Jul 26, 2012 8:41 am Post subject: Re: 71-72 bumper

Ochie · Posted: Sat Jul 28, 2012 3:51 pm Post subject: 71 brochure

Well I've read through dozens of posts in which so many owners state that the bumpers appear to be a brighter white then the pastel white (roof or body) of there 1971 and 1972 bus. So many commented that the rusty bumper appears to be original paint.
So I searched for some factory photos. It's tough to find pastel white buses in photo.
Some of these are 1971 and some 1972.
http://www.baywindowbus.com/71bus12.jpg
http://www.baywindowbus.com/71bus02.jpg
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/lit/1972_bus_campmobile_basic/1.jpg
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/lit/72panel/cover.jpg
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/lit/71campmobile/backcover.jpg
Even though some pictures are black and white they just don't appear to be the same shade of white.
So what would be the explanation of the phenomenon of so many posts and pictures that seem to contradict the pastel white bumper on 1971 and 1972 pastel white buses?

SGKent · Posted: Sat Jul 28, 2012 3:58 pm Post subject:


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