Cuda 73 and 74 rear bumper question

[SGA]

  I have a question regarding 73 and 74 rear bumpers for the Barracuda. Does anyone know the difference between a 73 and 74 rear bumper? I have a 73 Cuda, but I believe the previous owner put a 74 bumper and brackets on it because the outside bolt is very close to the corner of the bumper. In looking at 73 and 74 cars with the original rear bumper, the outside bolt hole on the 74 is very close to the outside corner of the bumper. The 73 outside bolt hole is a bit further in. Can anyone verify my observation? In looking at parts books, the 73 and 74 rear bumpers have different stock numbers, but the bolt pattern is never discussed. The chrome is shot on my rear bumper and I would prefer to get a new repro rear bumper, but would like to hear from some guys who could tell me the 73 and 74 bolt pattern is indeed different. The reason I ask is that two dealers I've contacted tell me the two are the same, and I do not believe them. Help.   SGA

[Bullitt-]

SGA, I'm not sure we have any 74 Barracudas on the board but we have several 73 owners.
Maybe they could provide some measurements of what they have that will set you on the right track....I'll send a couple of PMs

Wade

[Chryco Psycho]

I believe the bumper si physically the same  but had bigger / heavier rubber bumperettes on them in 74

[RDF]

Lemme get home and check mine tonight and I'll let you know.   

[hooD]

  I have a question regarding 73 and 74 rear bumpers for the Barracuda. Does anyone know the difference between a 73 and 74 rear bumper? I have a 73 Cuda, but I believe the previous owner put a 74 bumper and brackets on it because the outside bolt is very close to the corner of the bumper. In looking at 73 and 74 cars with the original rear bumper, the outside bolt hole on the 74 is very close to the outside corner of the bumper. The 73 outside bolt hole is a bit further in. Can anyone verify my observation? In looking at parts books, the 73 and 74 rear bumpers have different stock numbers, but the bolt pattern is never discussed. The chrome is shot on my rear bumper and I would prefer to get a new repro rear bumper, but would like to hear from some guys who could tell me the 73 and 74 bolt pattern is indeed different. The reason I ask is that two dealers I've contacted tell me the two are the same, and I do not believe them. Help.   SGA

Below are 2 pictures of my '73 rear bumper.  This is a 100% totally original bumper which has never been removed from the car.  If needed, I can measure the bolt holes for you.  From your description above it sounds like you have a '74 bumper as the '73 outter bolts are more inward as you said.  Let me know if you need anymore pictures or help.

Inner Bolts: From looking at the pictures, the passenger side bumper bolt is almost perfectly lined up with the trunk lock.  And the drivers side bolt is lined up with the "C" in CUDA.

Outter Bolts:  Both outter bolts line up with the tail light outter edges.

[SGA]

 hooD,
         Thank you for taking the time to show the photos. Your photos of an original 73 rear bumper and info confirm my 73 does not have an original rear bumper. I've been looking for a 73 owner to confirm that kind of information. I have found photos of 74 rear bumpers claiming to be original and that outside bolt hole is moved out further. There is no doubt in my mind now someone put a 74 rear bumper on my 73. I just came in from the garage after comparing your photos to my bumper. By eye the inner bolt holes look to have a very slight difference too. My car is not numbers matching, so I am going to purchase a repro 74 bumper that way I won't have to replace the inner bumper support and brackets.
           This decision process has taken a while because of some misinformation I have received over the past year. I'll be glad to get a decent chrome bumper on the back of the car finally. I didn't feel the current one worth rechroming. Thanks for the help.

[mrbill426]

I think also that AMD's website has images of all the E body front and rear bumpers.

 

[hooD]

SGA........

Here are some measurements of the bumper bolts:

1)  15 inches from inner bolt to outter bolt

2)  60 inches (5 feet) from left to right outter bolts total.

Glad I could help you.   

[SGA]

hooD,
          Thanks for the further evidence that my bumper is not a 73. It was hard to hold my tape measure steady, but the distance between the outside bolts on the bumper is about 65 inches. SGA

[Moparal]

I'd also like to add that 73 74 challenger bumpers are not the same either

[360 'CUDA]

I believe it's possible that the bumper change happened near the end of the '73 Model year as I have seen other '73s that have the wider apart bolts ect.
I'm not saying they were original, (maybe they were in minor crashes early on and the body shops just put on '74 style bumpers)


SGA,
Does your '73 have an early VIN or a later one ?  Do you know what the approximate build date of your '73 is? (as found on the door sticker)

[RUSTY Cuda]

I have both 73 & 74, they are definatly different, the mounting brackets are different also, the bumperetts hold the inner brace to the bumper on the 73 & they bolt right to the brackets together with the bumper bolts. On the 74 there is an extra hunk of metal on the inner brace , inner mounts to the brackets & the bumper bolts to the inner brace & not directly to the mounting brackets, the angle of the brackets is also different.
Not great pics but something
 pic 1 73 bumper in primer, 74 in beat chrome
 pic 2 extra metal on reinforcement
 Hope that helps,Rich.

[SGA]

 360 Cuda and Rusty Cuda,  Thanks !   My 73 was made in 3/73.

[hooD]

360 Cuda and Rusty Cuda,  Thanks !   My 73 was made in 3/73.

My '73 was built OCT 1972   Maybe Plymouth did a mid year change on the bumpers as 360cuda mentioned.