Will a 72 front bumper fit onto a 71 without changing the header panel or grilles? Prefer the 72 look but may be buying a 71 and am curious if the change can be made?

 

not sure ...but im looking for a 71 pasenger side headlight bezel......if ya have a spare one kicking around....

 

Not a chance. While the basic look of the full-sized Oldsmobiles from '71 through '76 was the same, there were minor year-to-year styling changes, and the bumpers were one of those areas. Compare the front end of a '72:





with that of a '71:





If nothing else, the turn signals are IN the bumper for the '71 while they're ABOVE the bumper for the '72. There are other major differences as well. No way they would interchange unless you swapped the entire front ends.


If you like the look of the '72, BUY a '72!

 

As Jaunty pointed out - no you can't just change the bumper. One other thing you need to take into consideration - the 72 bumper had a different energy absorbing system than the 71. To be honest I don't know if the header panels are even compatible. I know 71 is all metal and 3 piece construction and from 72 on is fibreglass 1 piece upper.

 

Didn't know the header panels were constructed differently, noticed it in the pics...doesn't matter, deal didn't come off...thanks for the info for future comtemplation!

 

I HAD a '72 Ninety Eight a long time ago...how did I forget that '72s had turn signals in the panel not the bumper...jeez!

 

Easy, like you said - it was a LONG time ago