Search by brand by selecting the brand from the alphabetical list below. History of Bumpers
Bumpers were not even included on cars for the first few decades of the automobile industry. By the end of the 1800s the need to pull, push and protect the vehicle spawned the development of a front bumper. These bumpers were originally only a strip of steel that was welded to the frame. They were painted black just like the rest of the car. The rear bumper can be found on cars in the early 1900s as the need to protect the rear of the car became an issue with the invention of driving in reverse.
From 1900-1930 the bumper transformed from a hunk of steel into an integral part of the car or truck design. Car bumpers were stamped and bent to match the curves of the vehicle. When this wasn't ornate enough, bumpers were polished and covered with chrome plating to match other chrome on the vehicle. From that time on, the bumper's design was almost more important than it functional capabilities. This lead to bumpers that were more pretty, but less hefty.
Truck bumpers have totally different characteristics than car bumpers. These working bumpers are put to heavy duty use. Some trucks are actually sold without a rear bumper because the new owners want to be able to buy a rear bumper that specifically meet their needs. These pickup step bumpers have features like steps built into them, hitches mounted to them and ramps mounted on them. They often include both chrome bumpers and painted bumpers and are mounted with custom fit brackets that many times do not require drilling.
In the 1970s the car bumper escalated to the forefront of automotive safety. The FMVSS215 standards when into effect in 1972. The front bumper had to withstand a front impact of 5 mph and the rear bumper had to withstand a rear impact of 2.5 mph. In this impact the bumper had to protect the safety devices of the car like lights and fuel system from damage at these speeds. The standards continually increased throughout the 1970s, but came to a sudden halt with the Reagan administration in the 1980s. At that time the standards were reduced by 50% and have remained that way ever since.
Today the standards have caused a change in the design of the bumpers on cars, trucks, SUVs and vans. Gone is the emphasis on strength. It has been replaced with demands for more styling, lighter weight and lower costs. This leaves the market open for many of the bumper manufacturers to make stronger, better looking and more unique bumpers for the market. You will find these aftermarket bumpers at hitches4less.com
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