1987 930 3.2 rear bumper

metodd · 01:32 PM

Hi all, new to the forum here (been reading for a while though). I'm the new owner of an '87 911 (I also have a 2016 991.1 S and previously had a '23 Taycan GTS, a '15 Cayenne diesel and an '18 718 Cayman S).

I've been reading through some threads about the bumperettes, and really generally the bumpers on the 911 as it pertains to replacing them with something else, and have seen what various people think and have done. Big surprise, but I like the singer rear bumper look, but also the RUF yellowbird isn't bad and I've reached out to Getty Design (via email) about some possible options. I've seen offerings from other vendors too but a little research tells me to avoid them. A lot of the threads I have read through seem to be perhaps a little dated but I'll keep digging.

Anyway, it all has me wondering about the best options for the rear bumper (and no, I don't want to leave it stock). I read through most of the thread @ShakinJoe started back in 2008 about what he did to his 911 -- which is the same car I have. That was a great thread and I'm still going through it.

I guess I'm looking for the most up to date info on what people are doing for this particular topic and then which people are making the highest quality alternatives/replacements.

I would rather get something that can be switched back to original if needed - so no to minimal cutting, welding, etc. I have a good body and paint guy and I'm probably going to paint soon after I sort out any body mods I want to make.

This is a car I want to have some fun with, so I am not necessarily worried about keeping things stock, but at the same time I don't want to go too crazy. I'm not looking for anything cheap, not afraid to spend a little money for quality. Whatever option I choose, I'll post some progress shots here -- but I'm curious to hear from you all who have gone down this path.

famoroso · 01-31-2024, 04:55 AM

Some light reading...

https://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-911-technical-forum/349342-official-modified-bumpers-thread.html

dw1 · 01-31-2024, 10:29 AM

My '87 is shown in the afore-mentioned modified bumper thread, but in short:

I removed the large US-style bumperettes and added a pair of smaller license plate lamps of the type that were used on the Merkur XR4ti & older BMW's. This only required drilling a few small holes (tapping some of them) that would be covered if/when I reinstalled the bumperettes for a "100% stock" look.

I filled in the bumperette mounting holes with Bondo and repainted, but I was never happy with the appearance (the car is black so every non-perfect surface shows) and it defeated the purpose of easily returning the car to stock for shows or for eventual sale. I have since removed the filler from the holes and found some appropriately sized gloss black plug/caps. It actually looks like it was intended to be that way.

metodd · 02-04-2024, 05:38 PM

Good to know. I’ve been thinking about just taking the bumperettes off and doing something like you mention. Also considering club autosport options…not in a big rush, need to sort some other things first…I just don’t dig the bumperettes!

And oh yes I’ve been going through that “light reading”!

Bill Douglas · 02-04-2024, 10:04 PM

Bumperettes can be quite handy. I've got Euro bumperettes.

One day a Ford Mondeo had intentionally parked me in. A huge amount of space behind it and up to my bumper in the front. So I thought fair is fair and reversed back hard enough to push the Mondeo backwards and out of the way. The SC was fine but it totally destroyed the Mondeo's fiberglass bumper LOL All's fair in love and bumpers.