BUMPERS

Evening Star, Issue 22806, 15 November 1937, Page 15

BUMPERS

NGM FOR STANDARDISATION One of the lew things on the modern car that calls for standardisation is the height of bumper bare. Efforts were made some years back to get car manufacturers to standardise the height from the ground of this accessory, but so far the efforts have failed. On some oars to-day bumpers seem 1 to be fitted merely for ornament, since, in order that the body builder’s lines shall not be broken, they'are set in such a position that they fail to protect the body in the event of a collision. A check-up of a number of cars iu a.n English parking area revealed that the variations in the heights of front bumper bars from the ground ranged from 14. Sin to 18.5 in, while the rear bumpers varied from 14in to 20in. The ears were of all ages and makes, and in many instances the front bumper was set at a height that would over-run the rear bumper on some cars and strike the bodywork in the event of a collision. In some cases bumper bars .are mounted so close bo the bodywork that if they were driven back in a collision almost as much damage would result to the body as if there had been ho guard at all; Some bumpers are now fitted with vertical extensions which help to take car© of the varying heights at which they are fitted bn different makes of cars. Under present-day driving conditions these vertical extensions are well worth while fitting to bumpers not so equipped. No wonder the technical committee of the British Society of Motor Manufacturers recently issued further recommendations to car manufacturers in regard to standardising the height of those guards from the ground.