De- bumpering.....any regrets?

[HBG]

I love the look of the Fulvia without bumpers and with extra front spots.

I'm tempted, have you done it and do you have any regrets?

Also, I think mud flaps are on my list. Where to get them and how to fit them?

Thanks

[JollyClubUK]

Personal choice, the purists will say no but I am a big fan of no bumpers and big spots.
It’s an easy job and you can always put the bumpers back on if required.

[lancialulu]

I have 2 fulvias without bumpers (so am a fan) but big spots dont do it for me. I use my cars in summer on long touring events in hot Europe so not necessary for the extra wattage, and as well as ruining the front areo they block air flow to the radiator.

[JollyClubUK]

I have 2 fulvias without bumpers (so am a fan) but big spots dont do it for me. I use my cars in summer on long touring events in hot Europe so not necessary for the extra wattage, and as well as ruining the front areo they block air flow to the radiator.

That’s a great pic of your HF, I too am a big fan in driving around Europe great roads and no pot holes!
My electric fan keeps the cooling system in good order, another of Stan’s little tweaks.

[Wangler]

I think it depends on the colour and a few other things like alloy wheels and stickers. If it's meant to look like a car used for any sort of competition, no bumpers it has to be. Otherwise you can add a pair of decent period spotlights (Cibie Iode 45 are the best for this as they're 7 inch, but slim)) and it IMO looks pretty cool.

Alloy wheels always help the looks and if you can't get the correct size Cromadora you might get lucky and find a set of FPS alloys which were an option.

[HBG]

They do look great. I think Cromadoras, spots and no bumpers is the way to go. I notice that both of those cars have wheel arch extensions which also look cool.

My main reason for keeping the bumpers is purely practical, living in North London and wanting to use the car locally and regularly I'll have to park and drive near a lot of other less careful drivers....

[Wangler]

I think these are a nice finishing touch, as well a bumper plugs:

https://www.pieces-fulvia.com/oval-molding-for-air-inlet-lancia-fulvia-coupe-serie-2.htm

[jimbo64]

I’m a fan of numberless I’ve tried spots still not sure

[Wangler]

That looks serious!

[JollyClubUK]

Love the look of your Fulvia Jim, serious stance and I am a big fan of the spots.

[Lightweight_911]

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I'm a fan of the bumperless look - but I think suitable alloys are mandatory - & I prefer the 'cleaner' look without spotlights ...

[DavidLaver]

If you have big fake or cheap lights then they'll work as bumpers, at least on the front...

The other trick with a street parked classic car is not to care, to treat the paint as a maintenance item.  Its 25 years since but I used to parallel park an Aurelia outside a house in Lewisham and drive it to work.  The paint wasn't great, it didn't get washed very often.  A scrape or chip ding wasn't the end of my world.  It was painted in my ownership but a cheap respray.  It went on to Jason and Louise Kennedy who drove it to christmas lunches, and on four day rallies in Italy, and at Goodwood race meetings.  They improved areas of the the paint over time and it might have had a better complete respray ahead of one of the Goodwood invitations.  Its a car not a holy relic.  

The late John Savage's Aurelia is "under new management" (alas I can't remember his name but his facebook posts are much enjoyed) and I'm off down memory lane with the old photos he's posting and discussion of its history.  When I was looking for one I got advice from all sorts of different people and there was "check its got the right detail like this to the sills" and "the wheel arch return should be like..." and John was "if its got an MOT that's a decent start".  I bought a car with an MOT that had had floors and sills done to a budget and before anything cosmetic I got John to pull several buckets of old wires out of it and do it all from scratch.  He used a bit of trailer flex down one sill and all sorts else non standard but I never had problems from the electrics.  I had little round rubber lights like trailers have in the rear windows as high level brake lights and indicators and a heated rear screen as well, and (shhhh!!!) a non standard rear screen rubber.

My lovely misses has a question "what's the use case?"   What do you want this Fulvia for?   Its entirely valid to say "to make me smile as I walk past it on the way to the station".  

As to personal taste and Fulvias I've always liked the early cars with slim tyres, hubcaps, long gear lever and four speeds, a huge steering wheel, and bumpers.  The fantasy would be a standard early car AND a road racer!  The road racer might need electric power steering.

So - one of each please!

https://www.carstyling.ru/en/car/1965_lancia_fulvia_coupe/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJNEGAwG1xw

[DavidLaver]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1UUbhmx0qK0

[DavidLaver]

Street parked a HALF cover is ideal. 

Much quicker on and off, neater rolled up in the boot, keeps damp from the places damp gets in.

An unexpected benefit is that it keeps the windows clean from that sand and grit London rain coats things with. 

[HBG]

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I'm a fan of the bumperless look - but I think suitable alloys are mandatory - & I prefer the 'cleaner' look without spotlights ...

I agree about the alloys. When the car arrives and any teething issues are resolved, I'll be on the lookout for some suitable wheels. I like that cromadoras aren't the only fitment.