When I was looking to buy my corvette i read that 1974 was the only year with a split rear bumper. Is this correct? I see many 1974 vettes that have a solid rear bumper. Just wondering if they used both a split and solid in 1974?
Thanks Rodney


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'74's had split bumpers/2 piece. The '74's you have seen with solid bumpers are not original.

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GEN III 5.7L "LS6" Engine swap
TKO500 5 spd.

Sarge am correct. All '74s came with the split in the rear bumper. It was the first year for the rubber rear bumpers, and that's the best idea the designers could come up with, and be able to manufacture & install it. They had another year to re-design it, and make the one-peice.
It is next to , if not impossible to find original/Nos rear bumper covers for '74s. The last set I saw was a couple of years ago, and the asking price was $1500! This is why you see many with the later style covers, or even a one-peice with a molded in "split".
I have a two-peice cover on mine, but it is a fiberglass replacement, not the original urethane.

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Joel Adams
C3VR Lifetime Member #56    
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"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"

Agreed.  My 74 had (and still has) a replacement split piece from Ecklers when I got it.  If it hadn't had the split, I would have passed on it.  That's one of the unique attributes that made me choose the 74 model year!

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I wanted a Corvette my whole life, but I never dreamed of all the wonderful people I would meet because of it!

My 74 rear bumper was replaced with a fiberglass one that has a spoiler and no split by a previous owner.  I almost didn't buy it, but decided it has a unique look that I kind of like.  Haven't seen another one like it, which is ok with me. 

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Both front & rear on mine seem to be the original urethane. I've been told  they should be quite brittle by now, and to expect them to brake when I decide to have the car painted

My 74 rear bumper is getting replaced this winter, victim of drying and cracking... was going to replace with a tru-flex one peice with seam version of rear bumper....

The Tru-flex stuff is good. It's a lot easier to fit to the car than the solid fiberglass bumper covers, and they won't warp/crack like the original urethane.

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Joel Adams
C3VR Lifetime Member #56    
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"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"

To warbird:  My 74 has the original front and rear slit rubber (urethane) bumpers and show no sign of getting brittle, cracking or drying.  I can flex them with my hand very easily.

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Steve, Lifetime Member #129

74 coupe 4 speed 350, 54K actual miles,
all original; paint, interior, engine,
split  bumper. #'s match. 2nd owner, no stress cracks.

Steve, yours would be the exception to the "rule"!! If it has been garage kept all its life, it would only stand to reason that the urethane bumper covers would still be in decent shape. Still, the odds of most of the originals still being in good condition are not good.
The urethane dries out over the years, especially if the car has to sit outside in the sun, and in the cold of winter.

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Joel Adams
C3VR Lifetime Member #56    
My Link


(click for Texas-sized view!)             NCRS

"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"

[QUOTE=steves74]To warbird:  My 74 has the original front and rear slit rubber (urethane) bumpers and show no sign of getting brittle, cracking or drying.  I can flex them with my hand very easily. [/QUOTE]