Opinions wanted. With or Without Guards

[Reg Evans]

I found some rear bumper guards for J Lo and wondered what you fine fellas would do if this was yours. Install or not install? That is the question.

PS....still in need of the correct front bumper for this 42 Dodge.

[Don Coatney]

I like with.

[Plymouthy Adams]

Personally it is these guards that define the era...I do like them on...

[Mr. Belvedere]

Same for me. Always a good idea to be on guard.

[Normspeed]

Reg, I like the clean look of no guards but on your coupe I think the guards look good and it's worth putting them on for the extra protection for your trunk.

[Merle Coggins]

Reg, I like the clean look of no guards but on your coupe I think the guards look good...

That sounds like "That dress is ugly! Oh... but it looks good on you."

Sorry Norm, I couldn't resist.

I think they look like they belong there, Reg.

Merle

[Normspeed]

LOL, Merle, I meant what you said!

[De Soto Frank]

Reg,

I almost "expect" these cars to have guards (like the ones in your pic)...

Does your Dodge have the three-piece bumper: center section plus left & right end-pieces ? If so, I think the guards help conceal the lap joint (at least, that's what I think I'm seeing in the "w/o" pic...)

I DO NOT like the huge aftermarket Helm "taxicab" grille/bumper guards... makes it look like somebody grafted a bedstead to the bumper !

If you have nice guards, I vote "with".

Either way ,that's one sweet looking coupe ! (LOVE the color !)

De Soto Frank

[Reg Evans]

Yes , it's the 3 piece bumper and the seams show without the guards.

The car also has the headboard front guard on it and I've always thought it looked goofy. That'll be removed. I need the correct front bumper for this car too.

[splat1955]

Hey Reg,

I'm a " yeah" on the guards also.....Hey, and don't think I've forgotten about finding a bumper for ya....I've got feelers out now all over the country....but no replys yet. I'm especially fond of that front bumper!

[De Soto Frank]

Does the "correct" front bumper have the big "wings" like the '42 Chrysler ?

Your grille guard isn't too bad... the ones I really hate had another set of bumper uprights, the tops of which had knobs that made them look like the butt-end of a wooden baseball bat !

Are your bumper bolts round-head (like a carriage bolt) or do they have oval heads ?

Frank

[martybose]

I had the guards on my 47 for a long time, then took them off on a whim and decided that I liked my car better that way.

Maybe it's a light color versus dark color thing; for some reason I think they look better on dark cars, as opposed to my beige one.

Marty

[BobT-47P15]

The guards look right at home there. I usually expect to see guards on these older cars......but many don't have them due to damage or "just

because" the owner didn't want to use them. In the pictures, the front bumper looks similar to the rear one....but I guess there is a difference (?).

[Johnny S]

With.......they look great on the car.

[david lazarus]

Leave them on, as others have said they help define the character of the cars of this era.

Dave

[Norm's Coupe]

I vote "No Guards". Gives the car a much smoother look without them. My 48 coupe had both bumper guards and the grill and trunk guard on it when I bought it. Took it all off and now only have the bumpers. IMHO I think it looks better without.

As for being era correct. FYI guards were considered extra when the cars were new and the customer had to pay extra to get them. So......they are correct either way.

[rearview]

I think they make it's butt look big

[Reg Evans]

I think they make it's butt look big

Well........rearview should know !

[RobertKB]

Nothing wrong with a good sized butt. The guards need to be there to fit the era as many have already said. I believe the people who designed these cars knew what looked good and put the guards (bumperettes in Canada) pm them for that reason as well as for functionality.

[rearview]

Well........rearview should know !

I'll take that as a compliment

[Reg Evans]

"I'll take that as a compliment"

That's good .....it was meant to be.

[Reg Evans]

Thanks for all the opinions. I like them too so they'll be going on as soon as I get them rechromed.

[Allan Faust]

I'm a without..... it looks good, but its not a look for me..... (I'm a shaver and a smoother..... extra lines detract in my opinion....)

Allan

[47heaven]

I think they make it's butt look big

You can put that car on a diet and the butt will still look big. I say leave em!

[Charlie Olson]

Well, since you already have guards on the front; rear guards actually balance out the entire car, not just finish the rear. IMHO