Sweet GMC. but look at the bumper! - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

'68 C-20 · 08-20-2009, 10:29 PM

I was out in Vermont today and spotted this nicely done GMC in the yard at a garage, of course I had to stop to gawk. What really caught my eye is the rear bumper. I have seen such a bumper a few times, My Grandfather had one on his Road Service Truck. I call it a service truck bumper. I have been searching for one and even posted here but did not have a photo, until today.

I walked in the shop to ask who owned the truck and is owned by the owner of the shop, I think he told me he got it from his dad. It's a GMC Camper Special Long Bed with Dual Fuel Tanks. He was a real stand up guy who took a few minutes out of his day to talk to me, the shop had several bays and many mechanics so he was real busy.

Any Case, he said I was welcome to crawl around the truck to see if I could see a name on the bumper, there was a name plate welded to the back, just above the step recess, but it had been painted over.

Anyone know who if anyone makes such a bumper today? Anyone got one out in the shed?

**71blksuper4x4** · 08-20-2009, 10:45 PM

you could have one made for you if you got the dimensions from that one. As far as I know, you won't find one like that being built today. You could possibly find someone that has one off a 3/4 ton though. Most of these were on 3/4 tons. Trevor

*vegaschevy* · 08-20-2009, 10:48 PM

I have two HD bumpers and they are not perfect and about to go in the garbage.

chevy_mike · 08-20-2009, 10:51 PM

Heck, if you want one, I'll give you one but you have to come pick it up.

cdowns · 08-21-2009, 05:05 AM

jcwhitney has similar bumpers

i see those type at swapmeets all the time very cheap just needing a good cleaning and a coat of paint for arour $20-$25

'68 C-20 · 08-21-2009, 08:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chevy_mike

Heck, if you want one, I'll give you one but you have to come pick it up.

hmm, would you honor that if I paid shipping? Could you package it?

Quote:

Originally Posted by cdowns

jcwhitney has similar bumpers

i see those type at swapmeets all the time very cheap just needing a good cleaning and a coat of paint for arour $20-$25

Yah sorta' similiar, stamped sheetmetal made in china, not going on my truck!

Here in New England they don't show up, and if so they are pretty well rotted. The road salt from winter hangs up in the nooks and crannies and rots them out from the inside....Going to a show with a swap meet this weekend, I'll be keeping my eye open.

So they were a Factory Option? HD Bumber for 3/4 tons, make sense.

Thank you.

63 & 64 Bowties · 08-21-2009, 10:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by '68 C-20

hmm, would you honor that if I paid shipping? Could you package it?

Just some info, maybe it'll help you guys work something out. UPS will ship that un-boxed. They just stick on a label and off it goes. There is an add-on charge that they call "special handling." If you're looking for a quote, I don't think they have special handling quotes online.

chevy_mike · 08-21-2009, 10:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by '68 C-20

hmm, would you honor that if I paid shipping? Could you package it?

That's why I threw the

in there. No thoughts of packing or shipping as it's a major PITA for something this big and heavy.

BTW, mine is a 1/2 ton. I don't think it is part of the SPID tag so my guess they were dealer added options. GM might have supplied them to the dealers.

Good luck on your hunt.

**lks dcvn** · 08-21-2009, 10:17 AM

I have one here in Ohio that it still on the frame I cut up - it is heavy - come get it and you can have it. No shipping.

Is is labeled 'Friendly Chevrolet - Dallas Texas' - or something like that.

ChevLoRay · 08-21-2009, 10:36 AM

When these trucks were new, rear bumpers were optional....you had to pay extra to get one. A lot of dealers had their name stamped into the steel step bumper surface, like the one mentioned from Friendly Chevrolet. Some dealers didn't, but many did. I have one that is trash. It's rusting from the inside and while it still will do the job, it ain't worth keeping on the truck when I have nice, used chrome factory bumper to install. Mine is free to anyone who wants it for what it is, including the 7-pin connector attached to it.

cdowns · 08-21-2009, 10:39 AM

bumper i got from jcwhitney wasn't stamped sheet metal was a very heavy welded piece made of 1/4"plate a very substantial piece //dont know where it was made

'68 C-20 · 08-21-2009, 10:59 PM

cdowns,
Sorry for the negative JC Whitney comment, hope I did not offend, they have a lot of good stuff and I have used them. I just find that I have been disappointed in the past with some items, so I would not order something serious like a bumper without actually seeing one that someone else had purchased.

Again, sorry if my mouth engaged quicker than my brain.

**special-K** · 08-22-2009, 06:46 AM

Although that bumper isn`t the one that came on 67-71 trucks,it`s almost exactly the same,like Fleetside Paul`s.For shipping they are oversized,like grilles,and then there`s the weight.It would be a freight item.You should be able to find one close enough to get your hands on one.most guys these days don`t appreciate them and prefer the chrome sport bumper.They are a truck guy thing.They are true step bumpers because they provide a 4" drop and toe space below an opened tailgate.In`73 they went to 8" wide and not dropped.

mr48chev · 08-22-2009, 10:40 AM

ChevLoRay is correct in that this model of truck was shipped minus the rear bumper unless it was ordered with the sport bumper

A dealer installed option with several different vendors selling them at the time from what I can figure.

I've seen them with the dealership name and town expecially in Texas and seen several variations from different parts of the country. The bumper on the green truck looks like it used to have the pieces that went up alongside the bottoms of the bed side to the rear wheel opening at one time.

57larry · 08-22-2009, 11:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lks dcvn

I have one here in Ohio that it still on the frame I cut up - it is heavy - come get it and you can have it. No shipping.

Is is labeled 'Friendly Chevrolet - Dallas Texas' - or something like that.

I'd like it if you give me about 2 weeks to pick it up

**leddzepp** · 08-22-2009, 11:55 AM

I had 2 of those bumpers and I couldn't even give them away. Scrapped them about a month ago.

**special-K** · 08-22-2009, 12:39 PM

The step bumpers were dealer installed and in the accessory program.`72 was the first year step bumpers were an option.They were stamped and looked like the newer ones,only still 4" wide and dropped 4" like the earlier ones made from c-channel.The wrap around bumpers when called Bartons bumpers.My`72 GMC has one.

Uwe Blab · 08-22-2009, 12:41 PM

What's the piece at the far left of the bumper, above the step? Is that for trailer electrical hook ups?

**Stocker** · 08-22-2009, 02:46 PM

License plate light.

I'm sure there were several bumper manufacturers, but Barden Bumpers was one of the larger ones back in the day.

justcuz · 08-22-2009, 02:59 PM

Out West here a company that made bumpers like that was Fey Bumpers. They were based in Irwindale, Ca. I have no idea if they are still in business. Their were thousands of them around and someone on the board here has to have an old one laying around. I have one on my 71. The frame brackets are a lazy S shape that allows for the drop. I was actually going to cut the caps off the ends and raise mine a few inches using some heavy angle iron

mikajo39 · 08-22-2009, 07:04 PM

My friends call it MEGA BUMPER!

It even survived being hit by another car. Destroyed that civics right side!

'68 C-20 · 08-22-2009, 07:22 PM

Great Educatin' on bumpers, thank you. Don't know if I'll find a good one here in New England or not but at least I know what I'm lookin' for and have pics.

mclairmo · 08-22-2009, 07:44 PM

I have a similar one on my truck but it looks kinda hand made custom and is welded to the frame. I figure I will leave it on since it would probably destroy any vehicel that comes near it.

unclewatts · 08-22-2009, 07:45 PM

Sorry. This is a really lousy picture of mine but it's all I got. My truck was made in the Fremont ("Z") plant and not far from there was one of the biggest manufactures of those types of bumpers in the US in those days. They were called Barden bumpers and they were located in Oakland CA. I doubt they are still around because that was nearly 40 years ago and they sure don't match the modern plastic vehicles. Because Barden was so popular and the lack of salt roads here in CA, you still see quite a few of these bumpers on the road. Notice that mine wraps around all the way to the bottom of the wheel arch. Not common.

**jerry moss** · 08-22-2009, 08:26 PM

we used to throw those in the scrapper back when we were parting trucks--couldn't even give them away,lol.

08-20-2009, 10:29 PM	#1
'68 C-20 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Dansville, NY Posts: 248	Sweet GMC. but look at the bumper! I was out in Vermont today and spotted this nicely done GMC in the yard at a garage, of course I had to stop to gawk. What really caught my eye is the rear bumper. I have seen such a bumper a few times, My Grandfather had one on his Road Service Truck. I call it a service truck bumper. I have been searching for one and even posted here but did not have a photo, until today. I walked in the shop to ask who owned the truck and is owned by the owner of the shop, I think he told me he got it from his dad. It's a GMC Camper Special Long Bed with Dual Fuel Tanks. He was a real stand up guy who took a few minutes out of his day to talk to me, the shop had several bays and many mechanics so he was real busy. Any Case, he said I was welcome to crawl around the truck to see if I could see a name on the bumper, there was a name plate welded to the back, just above the step recess, but it had been painted over. Anyone know who if anyone makes such a bumper today? Anyone got one out in the shed? Attached Images __________________ DIY body and paint work is cheap, making it look good... priceless -------------------------------------------- My Toys; ’26 Ford Model T ‘72 Triumph Spitfire 1500 '09 "The Briggs Flyer" Gettin' High. Last edited by '68 C-20; 08-20-2009 at 10:31 PM. Reason: Spellcheck!

08-20-2009, 10:45 PM	#2
71blksuper4x4 SWB 4x4 Collector Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Osage City, KS Posts: 5,150	Re: Sweet GMC. but look at the bumper! you could have one made for you if you got the dimensions from that one. As far as I know, you won't find one like that being built today. You could possibly find someone that has one off a 3/4 ton though. Most of these were on 3/4 tons. Trevor __________________ TREVOR 1970 CST swb 4x4 (speedwarning,cruise,tilt,tach,8track, original red shoulder belts,tow hooks) 1972 Jimmy (soon to be Hickey cloned) 1971 Cheyenne Super 4x4 swb (tilt,tach,buckets, original blue shoulder belts,am/fm,cruise,tow hooks, dealer 8 track) 1972 Cheyenne Super K20 4x4 Custom Camper (tilt, tach, am/fm, tow hooks, bed toolbox, aux gas tank 1972 Cheyenne Super Crew Cab K30 4x4 Duramax, Allison, np205, buckets, tow hooks (CURRENT PROJECT) http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=624819 1989 V3500 Crew Cab (454tbi, NV4500, np205) 1970 Chevelle SS (LS5 454,th400,8track,buckets,tach) :2004 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon (daily driver) WTB: 1968-70 Cruise Control Lever

08-20-2009, 10:48 PM	#3
vegaschevy Account Suspended Join Date: May 2009 Location: las vegas nv Posts: 1,493	Re: Sweet GMC. but look at the bumper! I have two HD bumpers and they are not perfect and about to go in the garbage.

08-20-2009, 10:51 PM	#4
chevy_mike Never Ending Projects Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 3,836	Re: Sweet GMC. but look at the bumper! Heck, if you want one, I'll give you one but you have to come pick it up. __________________ . 1965 C10 Panel, Tiki Express http://www.67-72chevytrucks.com/vboa...d.php?t=506580 SOLD 1968 Chevy C10, Long, Fleetside, Hot Rod Hauler http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=313233 SOLD 1965 Chevy C10, Long, Fleetside, Hot Rod C10 http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=415702 SOLD We were given two ears and one mouth for a reason... listen twice as much and speak half as often...

08-21-2009, 05:05 AM	#5
cdowns Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: daytonabeach Posts: 22,956	Re: Sweet GMC. but look at the bumper! jcwhitney has similar bumpers i see those type at swapmeets all the time very cheap just needing a good cleaning and a coat of paint for arour $20-$25 __________________ 71c-10 350/2004r/4:11 lowered3/4 longbed/dead by hurricane MEANING OF DEATH::::: SOMEBODY ELSE GETS YOUR STUFF DONT BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU THINK TAKE MY ADVISE;I DON'T USE IT ANYWAY Last edited by cdowns; 08-21-2009 at 05:08 AM.

08-21-2009, 10:17 AM	#9
lks dcvn Registered User Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Columbus, Ohio Posts: 4,339	Re: Sweet GMC. but look at the bumper! I have one here in Ohio that it still on the frame I cut up - it is heavy - come get it and you can have it. No shipping. Is is labeled 'Friendly Chevrolet - Dallas Texas' - or something like that.

08-21-2009, 10:36 AM	#10
ChevLoRay Old Skool Club Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Benton, AR "The Heart of Arkansas" Posts: 10,880	Re: Sweet GMC. but look at the bumper! When these trucks were new, rear bumpers were optional....you had to pay extra to get one. A lot of dealers had their name stamped into the steel step bumper surface, like the one mentioned from Friendly Chevrolet. Some dealers didn't, but many did. I have one that is trash. It's rusting from the inside and while it still will do the job, it ain't worth keeping on the truck when I have nice, used chrome factory bumper to install. Mine is free to anyone who wants it for what it is, including the 7-pin connector attached to it. __________________ Member Nr. 2770 '96 GMC Sportside; 4.3/SLT - Daily driven....constantly needs washed. '69 C-10 SWB; 350/TH400 - in limbo The older I get, the better I was.

08-21-2009, 10:39 AM	#11
cdowns Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: daytonabeach Posts: 22,956	Re: Sweet GMC. but look at the bumper! bumper i got from jcwhitney wasn't stamped sheet metal was a very heavy welded piece made of 1/4"plate a very substantial piece //dont know where it was made __________________ 71c-10 350/2004r/4:11 lowered3/4 longbed/dead by hurricane MEANING OF DEATH::::: SOMEBODY ELSE GETS YOUR STUFF DONT BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU THINK TAKE MY ADVISE;I DON'T USE IT ANYWAY

08-21-2009, 10:59 PM	#12
'68 C-20 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Dansville, NY Posts: 248	Re: Sweet GMC. but look at the bumper! cdowns, Sorry for the negative JC Whitney comment, hope I did not offend, they have a lot of good stuff and I have used them. I just find that I have been disappointed in the past with some items, so I would not order something serious like a bumper without actually seeing one that someone else had purchased. Again, sorry if my mouth engaged quicker than my brain. __________________ DIY body and paint work is cheap, making it look good... priceless -------------------------------------------- My Toys; ’26 Ford Model T ‘72 Triumph Spitfire 1500 '09 "The Briggs Flyer" Gettin' High.

08-22-2009, 06:46 AM	#13
special-K Special Order Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mt Airy, MD Posts: 85,863	Re: Sweet GMC. but look at the bumper! Although that bumper isn`t the one that came on 67-71 trucks,it`s almost exactly the same,like Fleetside Paul`s.For shipping they are oversized,like grilles,and then there`s the weight.It would be a freight item.You should be able to find one close enough to get your hands on one.most guys these days don`t appreciate them and prefer the chrome sport bumper.They are a truck guy thing.They are true step bumpers because they provide a 4" drop and toe space below an opened tailgate.In`73 they went to 8" wide and not dropped. __________________ "BUILDING A BETTER WAY TO SERVE THE USA"......67/72......"The New Breed" GMC '67 C1500 Wideside Super Custom SWB: 327/M22/3.42 posi.........."The '67" (project) GMC '72 K2500 Wideside Sierra Custom Camper: 350/TH350/4.10 Power-Lok..."The '72" (rolling) Tim "Don't call me a redneck. I'm a rough cut country gentleman" R.I.P. ~ East Side Low Life ~ El Jay ~ 72BLUZ ~ Fasteddie69 ~ Ron586 ~ 67ChevyRedneck ~ Grumpy Old Man ~ Last edited by special-K; 05-04-2016 at 08:02 AM.

08-22-2009, 10:40 AM	#14
mr48chev Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Toppenish, WA Posts: 15,329	Re: Sweet GMC. but look at the bumper! ChevLoRay is correct in that this model of truck was shipped minus the rear bumper unless it was ordered with the sport bumper A dealer installed option with several different vendors selling them at the time from what I can figure. I've seen them with the dealership name and town expecially in Texas and seen several variations from different parts of the country. The bumper on the green truck looks like it used to have the pieces that went up alongside the bottoms of the bed side to the rear wheel opening at one time. Last edited by mr48chev; 08-22-2009 at 10:41 AM.

08-22-2009, 11:55 AM	#16
leddzepp Moderator Join Date: May 2007 Location: Southern Cal Posts: 19,989	Re: Sweet GMC. but look at the bumper! I had 2 of those bumpers and I couldn't even give them away. Scrapped them about a month ago. __________________ 1972 C/10 Cheyenne Super SWB. Restored, loaded, slammed. 1968 C/10 50th Anniversary LWB. Unrestored, stock, daily driver/work truck. RIP ElJay RIP 67ChevyRedneck RIP Grumpy Old Man

08-22-2009, 12:39 PM	#17
special-K Special Order Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mt Airy, MD Posts: 85,863	Re: Sweet GMC. but look at the bumper! The step bumpers were dealer installed and in the accessory program.`72 was the first year step bumpers were an option.They were stamped and looked like the newer ones,only still 4" wide and dropped 4" like the earlier ones made from c-channel.The wrap around bumpers when called Bartons bumpers.My`72 GMC has one. __________________ "BUILDING A BETTER WAY TO SERVE THE USA"......67/72......"The New Breed" GMC '67 C1500 Wideside Super Custom SWB: 327/M22/3.42 posi.........."The '67" (project) GMC '72 K2500 Wideside Sierra Custom Camper: 350/TH350/4.10 Power-Lok..."The '72" (rolling) Tim "Don't call me a redneck. I'm a rough cut country gentleman" R.I.P. ~ East Side Low Life ~ El Jay ~ 72BLUZ ~ Fasteddie69 ~ Ron586 ~ 67ChevyRedneck ~ Grumpy Old Man ~

08-22-2009, 12:41 PM	#18
Uwe Blab Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Overland Park, Kansas Posts: 134	Re: Sweet GMC. but look at the bumper! What's the piece at the far left of the bumper, above the step? Is that for trailer electrical hook ups?

08-22-2009, 02:46 PM	#19
Stocker 20' Daredevil (Ret) Join Date: May 2003 Location: Jefferson State Posts: 13,517	Re: Sweet GMC. but look at the bumper! License plate light. I'm sure there were several bumper manufacturers, but Barden Bumpers was one of the larger ones back in the day. __________________ - Mike - 1972 K20 LWB 350/350/205 RIP El Jay



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08-22-2009, 02:59 PM	#20
justcuz Registered User Join Date: May 2008 Location: Alta Loma, Ca. Posts: 930	Re: Sweet GMC. but look at the bumper! Out West here a company that made bumpers like that was Fey Bumpers. They were based in Irwindale, Ca. I have no idea if they are still in business. Their were thousands of them around and someone on the board here has to have an old one laying around. I have one on my 71. The frame brackets are a lazy S shape that allows for the drop. I was actually going to cut the caps off the ends and raise mine a few inches using some heavy angle iron

08-22-2009, 07:04 PM	#21
mikajo39 Gearhead and audio junkie Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: nunyah Posts: 452	Re: Sweet GMC. but look at the bumper! My friends call it MEGA BUMPER! It even survived being hit by another car. Destroyed that civics right side! Last edited by mikajo39; 08-22-2009 at 07:05 PM.

08-22-2009, 07:22 PM	#22
'68 C-20 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Dansville, NY Posts: 248	Re: Sweet GMC. but look at the bumper! Great Educatin' on bumpers, thank you. Don't know if I'll find a good one here in New England or not but at least I know what I'm lookin' for and have pics. __________________ DIY body and paint work is cheap, making it look good... priceless -------------------------------------------- My Toys; ’26 Ford Model T ‘72 Triumph Spitfire 1500 '09 "The Briggs Flyer" Gettin' High.

08-22-2009, 07:44 PM	#23
mclairmo Registered User Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Take Off Posts: 1,908	Re: Sweet GMC. but look at the bumper! I have a similar one on my truck but it looks kinda hand made custom and is welded to the frame. I figure I will leave it on since it would probably destroy any vehicel that comes near it.

08-22-2009, 07:45 PM	#24
unclewatts 70 Chevrolet=Obsession Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: nice ca Posts: 1,067	Re: Sweet GMC. but look at the bumper! Sorry. This is a really lousy picture of mine but it's all I got. My truck was made in the Fremont ("Z") plant and not far from there was one of the biggest manufactures of those types of bumpers in the US in those days. They were called Barden bumpers and they were located in Oakland CA. I doubt they are still around because that was nearly 40 years ago and they sure don't match the modern plastic vehicles. Because Barden was so popular and the lack of salt roads here in CA, you still see quite a few of these bumpers on the road. Notice that mine wraps around all the way to the bottom of the wheel arch. Not common. Attached Images __________________ I'm Just like my truck. Old, Ugly and Grouchy. Except my truck starts easily in the morning and doesn't smoke! IT'S NOT EASY BEING GREEN! -Kermit the frog 1970 Chevrolet C-10 Longbed Stepside : 350, Muncie M20, 3.08 GM corp. positraction Forest green exterior/light green interior(Where all my money goes) 1996 Toyota Corolla (Parts runner)

08-22-2009, 08:26 PM	#25
jerry moss Born Psycho Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: brentwood,cal,usa Posts: 4,756	Re: Sweet GMC. but look at the bumper! we used to throw those in the scrapper back when we were parting trucks--couldn't even give them away,lol. __________________ jerry moss 72 cheyenne super K20- tilt,tach,vacuum,speedwarning,buckets,shoulder belts,am/fm,tow hooks,bumper guards,toolbox,aux. fuel tank,posi front and rear,plus other goodies!!! SOLD 69 suburban K20-tilt,tach,vacuum,speedwarning,buckets,shoulder belts,am/fm,4 inch all spring lift,4 speed, 14 bolt full floater, dana 44 HD,warn winch,posi front and rear,tow hooks,plus other goodies. 73/80 chevy/gmc K20 SB400,turbo 400,205,tilt,a-c,gas hog. 77 K/5 cheyenne blazer-daily driver/beater. SON HAS IT NOW BRENTWOOD,CALIFORNIA

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