308 US to Euro Front Bumper Adapters

machine shop made this for me, what’s nice about this bracket is that you can adjust the depth as in (in or out), left and right, and up and down which you can really fine tune or adjust the bumper, if interested PM me you number.

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I'm not aware of anyone that makes the set of adapters as you describe (though it's certainly possible).
As you've discovered, the mounting structure for the US and Euro bumpers is completely different, and requires fabrication to make Euro bumpers fit on a US car.
The Superformance bumper, though a replica, is designed to mount up to the Euro structure (as you've seen). I have one on the front of my '79 Euro 308 and even then it required quite a bit of trimming and modification to fit the signal lights, etc.
With a carb car, if you do a Euro bumper, you also need to swap to a euro grille as there will be visible gaps if you leave the US grille in place. I'm not sure if this is the case with QVs or not?

With my previous US 308 GTB, the only "plug and play" solution was Berlinetta Motorcars. They had fiberglass replica euro bumpers which bolted up directly to the US bumper shocks. They were extremely thin fiberglass and definitely for looks only. They were expensive and it took quite a while for him to get them made.
Note that even with a "plug and play" solution like this, it is absolutely not an easy "bolt it together" in 15 minutes solution. It will take hours of trimming/modifying/drilling the stock mounts/shimming with washers, etc. to get it right.

Hope this helps!

 

Mike, can you give us some basic dims for scale?

 

I’ll get that dimensions for you later but just to show you, this is the idea. Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

Travis, have you seen this link. I used big hose clamps on the shocks to pull in my bumpers

https://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/threads/us-to-euro-bumper-conversion-any-dyi-instructions-and-guidelines.606500/

 

Mike, I'm not sure those bumper brackets will be doing much in any collision above 10mph! They are too light material with no supporting gussets. I mean the OEM US brackets (shock mounts) were ridiculously over engineered, but this might be a step too far in the other direction? They pretty much make the bumper a cosmetic piece

 

You are correct, Euro bumpers are strictly for looks/cosmetic and for weight reduction as there’s no protection whatsoever.
You’re also correct about the US bumper being over engineered but when a heavy collision occurred, I don’t think neither US nor Euro bumpers will make any difference.

 

Genuine question:

How many 308 owners with US-spec bumpers on here, have actually had a low speed collision, where their park-bench bumpers have made a difference?

I'm asking because, there seems to be quite a bit of: "Euro bumpers are cosmetic only!", talk, which has left me wondering how many owners are benefiting from the US spec bumpers?

 

About 1988, a guy backed into my original bumper '79 car, enough to push one side of the bumper in until the shock mount stuck in that position (about 2" or so in). A good whack with a heavy soft mallet on the other side let the bumper shock spring back to normal.No damage.

Thats back when i drove it to work everyday in south L.A (Southgate/Cudahy). and parked in the company lot. they guy that backed into it was the biz owners senile father, who was about 85 at the time.

Now that i never leave the car anywhere unattended, i would have no problem putting fiberglass bumpers and simple bumper mounts on the car.

Doug

 

Well, it's a long story, but I rolled my car forward into a tree. The US front bumper, even in its pushed-in state, stopped the car before any metal was damaged. It cracked the outer shell/paint of the bumper and left some permanent scars in the bumper but not in the metal. I'm pretty sure the euro version bumpers would have been a far more expensive experience.

I'm thinking of converting to the euro bumpers because of the scar I have and also they look so much better. Also because probably I'm a slow learner.

 

I'm looking to convert my 82 US GTBi to Euro look at the front, have a grill on order, looking for a bumper, any suggestions?

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Dennis this was for sale here a few months ago.

https://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/threads/308-euro-valance-rennspeed.691806/

Jeff

 

I purchased a Rennspeed fiberglass unit for mine and found it took many hours of work (like about 8) to get the shape correct (it had a big sag in the top surface) and to permit my turn signals to fit. Not a huge deal, as I do my own work, but if you're paying a shop you need to factor that in.

 

Nice! I had a shop do something similar for me, but I like yours better. Your design, I mean; I had no complaints about the shop.

 

You pay about twice the price as aftermarket, but to my surprise - if you order from Eurospares in EU - they still make an OEM bumper.

 

Superperformance offers a 308QV fibreglass front bumper "Convert from US spec to European spec" for 349.50 pounds. Anyone have experience with it? Do you know what brackets it needs, what grill and how the US turn signal lights fit (or don't fit). I will give them a call, but would appreciate any input.

 

I did the front and rear conversion last winter, using the Superformance bumpers. They required a bit of finessing (filing and cutting) to get the US light fixtures to fit. There is a projection on the US fixture that must be removed. I fabbed-up a small bracket to hold the assembly in place--but you can probably avoid all that trouble by just springing for Euro fixtures.

I also had to design and build my own adjustable brackets to mount the bumper. Right now, I'm in the testing process on 3-D printed versions using different materials. So far, our printed carbon fiber version looks like a winner. It's light, sturdy, and but will collapse in an impact so you don't transfer the crash force to the frame (and to the driver). I expect to have a batch available for sale in a couple of months, if you are interested. I will also have H2 to LED bulb assemblies ready to sell if you want to add period CIBIE Airport fog lights. The original plastic H2 bulb holders are junk, and almost impossible to find, and the bulbs themselves draw a lot of amps while producing more heat that actual light. Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

I've 3D printed bumper conversion brackets as well as clips to adapt the turn signals for the Rennspeed bumpers in ABS for a few folks on the forum here. I've also done the "body work" and painted required on the Rennspeed bumpers for one member. I have been running them for the last year and a half and ~1,000 miles or so. Working really well!

Rear bracket
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Front bracket
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My car wearing the bumpers
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Vinsanity - Thanks! I am leaning toward the Superformance bumpers. I would certainly be interested in brackets.

 

Vinsanity,
I would also be very interested in your euro bumper brackets for USA cars. Could you keep me in mind when you start productions.
Thanks

 

Absolutely. I will make an announcement here when they're ready. I haven't forgotten the rear bumpers either. My solution re-uses the US bumper supports, because they are a PITA to remove, and only add about 10 pounds of weight total between the two of them. The flange and the bolt holes don't line up at all with the Euro bumper molding, so a little cutting and an adapter is required.

 

I ordered one from Mike Tuason, I'll let you know how it is after I receive it. He's great to deal with so far! Conversion brackets are included.

 

Cameron, your rosso GTB with gold rims looks FANTASTIC!

 

I fabricated adaptors that looked a little closer to what came off with the U.S. bumper. Those things weigh a ton!
Not really that difficult, but it took a while to get everything adjusted correctly. I also moved my Euro bumper in more than stock, and WAY more than the original bumper.
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I've also fabricated a Euro-style grill to fit, along with the brackets needed. The grill turned out very nice, and I was asked to make a few more for other guys doing the same conversion. (I've seen some truly horrible looking aftermarket grill/bumper installations.) I honestly feel it's a better product than others are supplying & I'm doing it for about half the price.

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If anyone is interested, let me know. I have the patterns & would be happy to make a few more.