10.01.09: CUSTOM BUMPERS

I’d been looking at the Banshee lately and as much as I love the body style, there was still something missing to make the car look “finished”. Aha….. I know what it is….a rear bumper! Now a lot of people would look at the car and say…”Bumper?!?....are you crazy?......you don’t need any stinking bumpers! The car looks great just the way it is! “ Now while it’s true that the car DOES look great the way it is, a rear bumper would make it even better. Why? Well since this car has the look and styling of a classic 60’s European sports car, (Ferrari, Jaguar, Lotus, etc.) the only missing ingredient that those cars had, and this one doesn’t, is a thin chrome bumper fit tight up against the body. Look up a picture of any classic sports car of that era and you’ll see they all had ‘em. The exception of course, were the race cars. They were usually bumperless and that’s how you could always tell the difference between a street car and a race car. So, after deciding that I wanted to build some bumpers for the Banshee….where to start? Well the key to building custom bumpers is to hopefully find something that is reasonably close and then just modify it to fit. That way you don’t have to completely hand fabricate the whole bumper. Well, it’s easy to say you are going to find something……not so easy to do sometimes! I looked at everything from early Mustangs, Corvettes, Camaros, Corvairs, etc and nothing was a real good fit. Then I turned my attention to the European cars and started thumbing thru the Victoria British Catalogs. MG’s, Trumphs, Austin Healey…..hmmmmmm, now we are starting to get close. Finally I settled on the front and rear bumpers from a 65-68 Trumph TR4 – 250 and figured that between the two bumpers, I could make a killer rear bumper for the Banshee. When the bumpers arrived, I started experimenting and found that if I took the front bumper and turned it upside down, it fit the contour of the rear of the Banshee PERFECTLY! The ends however, were another story, as they were too short, curved in too far, etc, etc……. so the ends were going to need some serious work. The stock rear bumper for the TR4 had the right ends….they were just too long. So by carefully cutting, splicing, and shortening the rear bumper ends so they fit the front bumper center section, I was able to create a rear bumper that fits the contour of the body perfectly, and makes a huge difference in the overall look of the car. At this point I still have to add a lower panel to the bumper and have it all re-chromed, but you get the idea how it’s going to look. The best part is, if I ever want the “bumperless” look…… all I have to do is take it off. Now, what about the front? Hmmmmm ……not quite sure…..it DOES look really, really good just the way it is! However…….if we just took this…….and then added that……and then chopped up a couple of those…… But wait, that’s for another Blog…on another day!

Comments

[Cameron Low]

Stacy,
I really like the Banshee project. Unfortunately, so does everyone else around Mooresville, NC. The price of Miatas has gone up significantly and the number of guys just driving them is nuts. Hopefully they will all go in to the garages this winter and be transformed into the original V8 projects.
Thanks,
Cameron

[rjs2005]

I think a rear bumper on the Banshee is a GREAT idea, and I can't wait to see it! Ease up on the girl car comments, dude! There is a strong contingent of dudes who love their Miatas, including me. I love a good V8 project as much as the next guy, but a proper sports car is one of the great joys in life, and every fan of them should face Hiroshima and bow to Mazda for having the intestinal fortitude to bring it back.

[Eric Fogleman]

I have been trying to get all the Banshee episodes on DVD but without a single reply to 3 or 4 requests. Any chance you could look into a DVD set of the banshee for say $50. I would buy it immediately.

I have a mustang nut at the office and he says we can get close to 350 hp out of a junkyard 5.0 for around $1200 plus the engine. I'm not sure I like the Simpson Italia front end enough to pay $6500 for his kit. I would really like to make my own front end.

[shaun]

First, I really enjoy the Banshee. A small, lightweight car, with a V8 and manual transmission makes a great street car. I'm going to buy a Miata and do this, but I'm a chevy man. I had a 2002 camaro with an LS-1 and t-56 until I was rearend 11/20/09. I haven't done much with it, I just used it as a daily driver, until I bought my Sonoma. Is there a kit I could use to bolt the LS-1 and 6 speed in the Miata?

[Blake Mize]

Stacey,
Hurry up and get to finishing the Banshee!
I can't wait to see the outcome.
Oh and if you'd like I have a very nice road here in east TN you could test it on.
US 129-Deals Gap aka "The Dragon' would love to see you slay her.

[Bob]

Hi,
I need the contact information on the company that sells the fender blanks you spoke of on your show. Can you post it?
thanx
Bob "fan of Gearz"

[gerald lunsford]

iam gerald lunsford i realy like your show , stacey i wish you would do a show on 55,56,57 shoebox chevys as you can tell by my web site i realy do like these kind of cars , i have a 55 belair my self i will be hoping and watching to see if you do one, ps i will try to send pic.s of my car soon. 12-6-09 thanks for a good show i watch ever episode.

[gerald lunsford]

hey stacy,gerald lunsford again may have u some pic.s of my 55 chevy belair , droped u some in fo on this 12-6-09. you may want to show thim on gearz tv.i droped u these lines- need in fo where to send the pic.s to , address,zip,est. thanks alot ,please post info for me on your blog. 12-10-09

[Juan E. Valadez Jr.]

Stacy I never seen anyone really get involved to show us (the regular every day dream guy)how easy it can be to restore a vehicle. it is hard to find parts for my 1994 suburban. I decided to take it apart and restore it myself. It is stripped out and only has the 4 seats in it and a broken dash.It was broken into and a lot of parts damaged including dashboard. I cant find aftermarket parts. I want to just restore it all including engine. The only thing that's still running ok is the transmission.Please help me this is the first vehicle I bought under my name and i would rather restore it than buy a new car. For one it is a new car note off my back and if you are right, you will be the first person to be able to help me. This is my baby! 1-9-10

[Eric Sloane]

So is their going to be any more shows. What the going on with the banshee. Bumpers early jag would be cool?

[Steve Bergman]

Hiya, Stacey! Your friend, Neil Bergman's brother Steve here...

It was great meeting you two summers back when we came through town to see Neil and his family. Among all the projects you've been cranking out I really dig the Banshee ... but I'd love to see a "Payoff" episode with the promise of performance matching or exceeding the Cobra you teased us with at the beginning!

Sure hope to see it this year, Pal!! Keep on "Keeping On!"

Regards,
Steve

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[Rick Abbott]

I had trouble understand what Steve Bergman was trying to say. I hope my reply is right... When I was young, I had plentry of money, but those times ars lost...

[gerald lunsford]

hi Stacey,cant wait for the new shows, iam tired of watching football. i sent u pic.s off my 55 chevy, in a email hope to see if u find them. the car is black, with candy blue flames and in the flames there is lighting mixed in. thanks for great shows on how to fix up old cars,and trucks u make it look easy. hope u have a good new year. gerald 55 chevy man. spring, texas.

[Matthew L. Dinges]

I want more information on the Ted Newgen Bronco spension kit. Thanks Matthew

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