Bumpers

[bradly1101]

I think I have one of the last cars made with 5 MPH bumpers (it's that old). I know they went away because of styling concerns combined with looser regulation (just like glass sealed-beam headlights that didn't get all yellow and foggy). I see so many reports of major damage from such minor collisions. Is it time to bring back more low-speed protection for our cars instead of just in the passenger compartment?

This just looks so delicate to me:

 

[who?]

If a bumper flexes back in 5mph collisions it may meet the standard but how many collisions are that slow?
Dad's 1974 Maverick had half inch thick steel mounted on spring cylinders under the bumper chrome to meet the 5 mph standard. A mail truck rear ended him at a stop sign. The mail truck was damaged, the Maverick was not.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

If a bumper flexes back in 5mph collisions it may meet the standard but how many collisions are that slow?

Parallel parking by "feel."

 

[Meghan54]

If a bumper flexes back in 5mph collisions it may meet the standard but how many collisions are that slow?
Dad's 1974 Maverick had half inch thick steel mounted on spring cylinders under the bumper chrome to meet the 5 mph standard. A mail truck rear ended him at a stop sign. The mail truck was damaged, the Maverick was not.

You do remember that the standard back then was 5 mph bumpers in front, 2 1/2 mph bumpers in the rear. The rear were never 5 mph capable...were supposed to be, but car mfgrs. cried so much about how much they'd cost, the standard was dropped to 2.5 mph.