72 Pontiac GTO bumper

[Kmb0319]

I bought "the turd"... Possibly the worst model ever...the MPC 1972 Pontiac GTO.  I've always loved the car anyway, but I asked my best friend what his dream car was, and that was his answer, so I'm going to try to make something out of it for him.

I've seen the Reliable Resin body, and it comes with clear headlights and parking lenses, which is a plus, but the biggest problem with this kit isn't solved: the terrible, far too wide rear bumper doesn't seem to come with this kit.  Has anyone made an accurate aftermarket rear bumper for this kit??  I feel like someone has to have done it.  Thanks!!

[Snake45]

The bumper's the same as it has been since 1970. The body keeps getting narrower for some unknown reason.

Several modelers here have just chopped down the rear bumper with good results. I suppose you could also spilt and widen the trunk area of the body.

As to answering your actual question, I don't know of one.

[Snake45]

Here's a thread where this was discussed in some detail:

[Sport Suburban]

The rear bumper from the MPC 70 GTO fits much better. It is now hard to find separately.

Also before you send any money to Reliable Resin you might want to look for reviews on him.

[Snake45]

The rear bumper from the MPC 70 GTO fits much better. It is now hard to find separately.

Also before you send any money to Reliable Resin you might want to look for reviews on him.

It might fit the original '70 GTO body better. It won't fit the current '72 body any better. See the link I posted above for detailed measurements.

[Sport Suburban]

It might fit the original '70 GTO body better. It won't fit the current '72 body any better. See the link I posted above for detailed measurements.

The issue you need to look into is this kit.

I have 4 of this kit and it's bumper is smaller and fits the bodys very nicely! For comparison I have two original issue 1971 GTO's, and 4 of the 72 issues, oldest one is red and molded in the 80's, two grey ones from 2004 and a new one in orange. I don't have any original 70 kits and your only reference is from a 70 promo. I'm not saying that you are wrong just that the last 88 issue of the 70 GTO has a smaller bumper.

Here is a 70 I just finished. The body is not widened and the bumper is unmodified.

[Snake45]

Okay, I have that kit and even saw it the other day. I'll measure that bumper as soon as possible.

[Can-Con]

I just did some comparisons myself and Raoul and Snake are both right . 

The new '72 kit body is narrower than the '70 or red '80s '72, but only by about 1 mm across the widest part of the bumper opening. [about 70 1/2 mm compared to about 71 1/2mm for both the red '72 and the '70]

The '70 bumper fits its body pretty well, also almost as well on the red '72. The new body is off a bit more but it still looks OK. 

Unfortunatly, both of my '72 bumpers have already been narrowed and are mounted on sprue , ready for replating so no point in measuring them. But I do believe they were noticeably wider or I wouldn't have bothered cutting them down.

BTW, the timeline on these kits is actually a bit strange.

The original '72 was modified into a race car in the '70s and back to a street car in the early '80s.[red car]

Then it was modified again to the '70. The current '72 actually seems to be a different body. If you compare the red body with the current one you will find a lot of small differences,

Edited July 20, 2016 by Can-Con

[Snake45]

The issue you need to look into is this kit.

I have 4 of this kit and it's bumper is smaller and fits the bodys very nicely! For comparison I have two original issue 1971 GTO's, and 4 of the 72 issues, oldest one is red and molded in the 80's, two grey ones from 2004 and a new one in orange. I don't have any original 70 kits and your only reference is from a 70 promo. I'm not saying that you are wrong just that the last 88 issue of the 70 GTO has a smaller bumper.

 

Here is a 70 I just finished. The body is not widened and the bumper is unmodified.

Well I checked out my 70 kit and I owe you an apology--you were right and I was wrong. The bumper in that kit IS narrower than any of the others I measured. Didn't even get out the dial calipers, you can see the difference easily with the naked eye.

It still seems just a hair too wide for either the '70 or the recent '72 bodies, but not enough that you'd really notice it if it weren't already a known issue, and prolly not enough to modify.

The '70 body seemed just a hair wider across the back than the current '72, but I didn't actually measure them so can't say. But you're right, the bumper from that kit would work and look a lot better than what's in the '72s.

[Bob Ellis]

There are 3 1972 GTO bodies The original says 400 on the rocker panel. Became a NASCAR or modified stocker. The second body is from 1980 or so.Think this one became a 1970. Same bumpers just different bodies. You have to narrow the rear slice the trunk and push apart with evergreen styrene.

Edited July 20, 2016 by Bob Ellis
incorrect statement

[Sport Suburban]

Well I checked out my 70 kit and I owe you an apology--you were right and I was wrong. The bumper in that kit IS narrower than any of the others I measured. Didn't even get out the dial calipers, you can see the difference easily with the naked eye.

It still seems just a hair too wide for either the '70 or the recent '72 bodies, but not enough that you'd really notice it if it weren't already a known issue, and prolly not enough to modify.

The '70 body seemed just a hair wider across the back than the current '72, but I didn't actually measure them so can't say. But you're right, the bumper from that kit would work and look a lot better than what's in the '72s.

Thanks, but no apology needed. I don't know why that kit has a smaller rear bumper but it looks great to me on the 71 and 72 kits. I don't have any other versions of the 70 GTO to check but I always wondered why that kit was different.

[Kmb0319]

The issue you need to look into is this kit.

I have 4 of this kit and it's bumper is smaller and fits the bodys very nicely! For comparison I have two original issue 1971 GTO's, and 4 of the 72 issues, oldest one is red and molded in the 80's, two grey ones from 2004 and a new one in orange. I don't have any original 70 kits and your only reference is from a 70 promo. I'm not saying that you are wrong just that the last 88 issue of the 70 GTO has a smaller bumper.

Here is a 70 I just finished. The body is not widened and the bumper is unmodified.

WOW!!!!! That's one amazing GTO!!! I'd love to see some more pics of this baby.

[Sport Suburban]

WOW!!!!! That's one amazing GTO!!! I'd love to see some more pics of this baby.

http://www.modelcarsmag.com/forums/topic/115427-70-gto-judge-convertible/#comment-1666924