Bumper needed for '59 Flying Cloud

[jlawrence]

I am looking for a bumper for my '59 Flying Cloud. I think the early 60's had the same bumper. If anyone knows where to find a used or new one I would greatly appreciate it!

I have attached a photo of what I think went on the '59.

Have a great week!

John Lawrence
San Antonio, TX

[jlawrence]

I am not actually sure if this is the right bumper for a '59.

Does anyone know?

Thanks again.

John.

[thenewkid64]

Here is a picture of a 59 Caravanner, looks the same.

[jlawrence]

Thanks for the confirmation! I expect it will be hard to find one of these...

[thenewkid64]

Originally Posted by jlawrence

Thanks for the confirmation! I expect it will be hard to find one of these...

Find, yes, make maybe not. The top and bottom curve could be done on a mandrel pipe bender using some round pipe/exhaust tubing. Cut the pipe in half on a metal cutting band saw, and weld the half rounds to a piece of steel that is cut to the proper center height.

I know, I know, I am watching too much American Chopper and Monster Garage

[summerkid]

Bret (did I spell your name correctly?)... Do you know how much or even whether the bumpers on models of different years or the different models in the SAME year had in common?

[thenewkid64]

Summerkid, 2 T's

Making some assumptions.

Airstream seems to have bought runs of items. 3500+ Armstrong AC units come to mind. They were still installing them for a few years after the Armstrong Company quit making them.

I would think the bumper for a number of years would be the same across the line. As long as the design of the coach and the frame stayed the same why change it? I would be willing to bet in the 50's it was a automobile or truck bumper that was already in production that Airstream used without holes drilled in it. Just called one of the big 3 and said I need 500 bumpers for a 53 Chevy pickup.

One of the sites I frequent and the one the picture of the 59 caravaner came off of it http://www.vintageairstream.com/archives/index.html

He has most of the models made pictured up into the late 70's. Helps on the research when you are looking at a picture on the web and the description seems a bit hinkey.

The biggest issue with using the site as a bible of sorts is that things like bumpers get damaged and then they are replaced without concern for originality and that makes it hard to know.

On the ones I see of this vintage the bumper in the pictures of this thread look to be OEM, others made from flat steel I would bet are replacements that were made for the owners one off, or by the factory as a replacement part. There is just no way to "Know".