Factory Step Bumper or Prev Owner mod?

[jocko]

Anyone ever seen a factory step bumper like this or did a po do a nice job of modifying one to fit his truck? Seems I HAVE seen one before like this, but I sure can't find a pic to prove it. I like the wraparound step bumpers on 3/4 tonners, but I think this one looks pretty good too. Can almost see a pie cut where it may have been mod'ed, but it might be my imagination. Would love to know if anyone else has an original just like it. Thanks.

[61K10]

all these type bumpers were all aftermarket and dealer installed, and many types were made. I really don't know if there was a factory one made.

[Clyde65]

Barden bumpers they are called, like 61k10 said, dealer add from local companies mostly.

[oem4me]

Originally Posted by jocko

Anyone ever seen a factory step bumper like this or did a po do a nice job of modifying one to fit his truck?

Saw it thought exactly the same thing. I have not noticed another like it. Also, the step seems rather short compared to most, no? Good eye, Mark.

[jocko]

Familiar with Barden, thanks Clyde, and thought this looked like one - just hadn't seen one with these ends on it.

So, follow-up question. V43 was a factory step bumper RPO, I thought that THAT one came to the dealer with it already installed, if a buyer had ordered it - AND that also local dealers installed plenty of local rear step bumpers on various C/Ks that showed up bumper-less. Interested in any more background on what V43 got you when you ordered it, and if it indeed showed up from the factory with it installed. I find it hard to imagine that if a buyer ordered V43 on an ordered truck that it was luck of the draw as to what he got installed by a dealer - thought it had to leave the factory with one. But I honestly don't know, interested in some more background on this - thanks Clyde, 61k10.

Bruce - I agree it seems like the step surface is not as long - I stared at it and compared to some of the later year barden bumpers I've had. At first, I thought that maybe the cuts for the bedsides were deepened and the bumper set in as far as it could go - but now I think it's just a little shorter than others I've seen. But then again, I could be just over-thinkin it... ha.

[LostMy65]

I've seen lots of Barden's. Never seen one that short or with that arc.

[Clyde65]

I know it’s different but, when I worked at a GMC dealer (77-86) none of the trucks came with bumpers.
I was told they didn’t to save on weight for shipping...we would put on whatever bumper the customer wanted.
I wonder if this was true back in the 60’s as well...idk.

[The Rocknrod]

Some trucks may have come with bumpers.

[Clyde65]

I’m sure they could be ordered with one..

[66x3]

my 66 C 20 has the V43 factory step. Its built like a tank.I could pull down a house and the frame would probably rip in half before the bumper came off ! The truck was spec'd out like a custom camper including the front sway bar without the shiny stuff. Listed as V 43 BA REAR STEP BUMPER EQ on the spid sheet.When i figure out how to post pics i will.

[jocko]

Welcome and start clickin 66x3! Just click "Post Reply" or "Post Quick Reply"+"Go Advanced" - then click on the paper clip.

[mongocanfly]

those bumpers also used to come stamped with the dealership that sold the trucks name and city stamped into it......
sure wish I had access to those stamps
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=561195

[mongocanfly]

here ya go 66x3.....http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...sting+pictures

[60-66]

Interesting discussion . The blue truck appears to be a 1966 C20. Also appears to be repainted , only reason I say that is , the wrap around bumper was prone to damaging the rear quarter. Repainting the truck you would almost certainly remove the rear bumper. To me I think that bumper is modified. Theres also many manufacturers of that same design "Bardon" Style bumper , each with slight differences.

Looking into "options and Accessories when installed by Chevrolet" , on a C10 K10 C20 K20 it does appear that V43 was factory installed and V37 sport style rear bumpers when order codes 46-3 V37 chrome , 46-4 V38 painted and V43 46-5 were specified . This is all under "Factory Installed Options" in the 66 data book . I cannot find this section in my earlier data books but it is listed in other specific sections

[factorystock]

I agree with 60-66, an interesting topic and IMO also, custom job, looks kind of dangerous if your stepping off the back corner of the bed and nothing below. Thanks for bringing it up Jocko. There is a step bumper shown in the '66 accessories catalog, but many pickups left the factory bumperless and had step or barden bumpers installed by their local dealers ( various designs throught out the country ) or in some cases installed by camper dealers.

[jocko]

Originally Posted by 60-66

Interesting discussion . The blue truck appears to be a 1966 C20. Also appears to be repainted , only reason I say that is , the wrap around bumper was prone to damaging the rear quarter. Repainting the truck you would almost certainly remove the rear bumper. To me I think that bumper is modified. Theres also many manufacturers of that same design "Bardon" Style bumper , each with slight differences.

Looking into "options and Accessories when installed by Chevrolet" , on a C10 K10 C20 K20 it does appear that V43 was factory installed and V37 sport style rear bumpers when order codes 46-3 V37 chrome , 46-4 V38 painted and V43 46-5 were specified . This is all under "Factory Installed Options" in the 66 data book . I cannot find this section in my earlier data books but it is listed in other specific sections

Originally Posted by factorystock

I agree with 60-66, an interesting topic and IMO also, custom job, looks kind of dangerous if your stepping off the back corner of the bed and nothing below. Thanks for bringing it up Jocko. There is a step bumper shown in the '66 accessories catalog, but many pickups left the factory bumperless and had step or barden bumpers installed by their local dealers ( various designs throught out the country ) or in some cases installed by camper dealers.

Thanks for sharing guys - this truck in post #1 is the 66 C20 I posted over in the CL thread for ref HERE.

My assumption (which may have been way off ) was that any truck that had a bumper RPO on the SPID would mean that it would leave the factory with it - be that a V43, 37, etc. If no bumper on the SPID, it left the factory bumperless, and the dealer that got it as dealer stock would source a local bumper, and usually of the step variety because that is what the majority of aftermarket bumpers were. Thus the proliferation of many different step bumpers on these old trucks.

What I am wondering now is if the factory only built them with bumpers if they were specifically ordered that way by a customer (or dealer perhaps) -or- if there was some subset of non-buyer/dealer orders that were destined for dealer stock that the factory just happened to also include a rear bumper, and put it on the SPID because they built it that way.

Anyone have a SPID with a bumper RPO on it that does NOT also have an order number on it? Such a SPID would seem to prove they just built some at the factory with a bumper of factory choice with no order being placed.

Thanks for all the replies!

[66x3]

Got it squared away, maybe

[jocko]

BINGO, we have a match! Thanks for posting the pic. That matches the accessories catalog pic and you have it on the SPID, I'm gonna call that an original V43
(66x3, saw a few pics of your truck in the other thread - would love to see a "here's my 66 C20" thread with more pics of it inside and out - real nice looking truck, love the slots!)

[oem4me]

Ok, this is starting to get interesting. Any coincidence that the illustrated bumper in Factorystock's post is exactly the same as on 66x3's truck? I bet not.
It's remains curious that sport bumpers were all factory installed, yet step bumpers were not.. unless you ordered one, and then you got this specific one?
I seem to recall hearing that some import vehicles are/were shipped bumper-less for tax and duty reasons. That is, it's less money to import an "incomplete" vehicle than a complete one. I seriously doubt this thinking applied in any way to older domestic trucks.
I'd love it if we could get to the bottom of this issue. Several years ago when I had my 9000 mile '66 C10 judged for originality at a VCCA event, the ONLY deduction I received (right or wrong) was for having an aftermarket rear step bumper! What, should I have removed the dealer installed bumper and had it judged without one?

[66x3]

Thanks jocko,I'll work on posting a thread on my 66

[60-66]

Originally Posted by oem4me

Ok, this is starting to get interesting. Any coincidence that the illustrated bumper in Factorystock's post is exactly the same as on 66x3's truck? I bet not.
It's remains curious that sport bumpers were all factory installed, yet step bumpers were not.. unless you ordered one, and then you got this specific one?

Sport bumpers , I don't believe they were, all, "factory" installed. Years ago At the Carlisle swap meet I bought a NOS 60-62 chrome rear bumper in the gm accessory box , its on my 60 blue short bed now. Unfortunately that was before I had a cell phone for pictures. Came with all the brackets , bolts etc in one box. 1963-1966 makes me think that's true as the filler plates need to be body color , easy enough for a dealer to do though also. You also have to consider , Dealers ordered lets say 10-20 trucks for the lot , they had no idea how to outfit them until the customer came in to purchase .

Also , looking through some other accessory books , GMC offered a V43 style wrap around bumper and also in their accessory catalogs offered the sport bumper as an accessory kit painted and chrome.

The Chevrolet accessory part number for V-43 , fleetside 986027 , stepside 986028 and GMCs is 2234002 fleetside . Interesting they have another that wrapped around with that double plate version like 66x3s that they call a "Draw Bar Hitch" style part number 2234126 for all fender side and 2234125 for wide side , just in case you guys want to go order some

[60-66]

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[Brad54]

Originally Posted by The Rocknrod

Some trucks may have come with bumpers.

See that license plate mount on the upper truck?
My buddy bought out a local Chevy dealer that had been in business for nearly 100 years, and upstairs was all kinds of goodies--including a big stack of those license plates brackets/lights.
No boxes, but all mint NOS condition.
No-Bumper trucks came in with them, the dealer installed a bumper, and threw those brackets on a shelf.

[60-66]

Originally Posted by Brad54

No-Bumper trucks came in with them, the dealer installed a bumper, and threw those brackets on a shelf.

What a lot of people do not realize , is that same GM license bracket was later, Cut off, by the dealer and bolted to the aftermarket step bumpers . Makes an ideal license light. Holes are already in the bracket and lined up perfectly on this bumper I bought from oem4me for my 63 GMC. Ive seen this on many stock trucks.

[Brad54]

Originally Posted by 60-66

What a lot of people do not realize , is that same GM license bracket was later, Cut off, by the dealer and bolted to the aftermarket step bumpers . Makes an ideal license light. Holes are already in the bracket and lined up perfectly on this bumper I bought from oem4me for my 63 GMC. Ive seen this on many stock trucks.

That's cool!
He gave me a couple of those brackets, and I've been wondering what to do with them. I've got a wrap-around step bumper for my '62 K10 stepside, and have been wondering how to handle the license plate... I THINK I'm going to mount the high-lift jack between bumper and tail gate, but haven't decided yet (it's going to be a resto-mod).

And I LOVE that GMC!!!!!