When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Just dropped off some 65 pieces at a shop that was highly recommended by a friend who has restored many nice cars.
Total was $3285
Deal or no deal?
How much have you guys been paying?
What shop? I just paid $1000 at Tri-City to do a '65 Vista Cruiser rear bumper, and it's beautiful. I have another at the same price "on deck" with Tri-City. They are down to just five bumpers per day, versus their heyday of 20/day.
TriCity had been running $750-800 for a bumper, but the rear bumper for my 69 H/O ran $1050 last year (and it was pretty straight to start with), so 1400 for two bumpers is great. Prices on pot metal depend entirely on the amount of pitting that needs to be repaired, This is insanely expensive to fix correctly.
Chrome is EXPENSIVE and some places will not do pot metal. Those prices sound VERY reasonable if they do quality work. Be sure to post pics of the results and the name of the company. As a comparison, my buddy's dad has been building a 64 nova SS for the last 20 years at least. He buys the nicest stuff he can find for it and still pays to have it redone. Librandis chrome in Harrisburg, PA just gave him a price of $3200 to re-chrome a rear trunk molding. Keep in mind he paid $1200 for the NOS molding but it was not up to his standard.
Last edited by Loaded68W34; Apr 15, 2024 at 05:15 PM.
I REALLY wanted to go with Tri-City…but he quoted me $1200 a bumper and I was delivering it myself.
It just seemed like too much.
The pieces I gave him had VERY FEW pits at all. Theses were already great pieces, But the chrome had flaws or slight crazing.
The hood lip was NOS. So hopefully it all turns out ok.
Mr. Vorhees recommended Ogden Chrome to me years ago. I'll do Tri City for bumpers. What do you do for 67 OAI air cleaners? I know the chrome was not awesome on those to begin with, but I might as well go for "bitching."
I don't think anyone flash chromes anymore. I may play with some SSIs going to an industrial place to see if they can hard chrome the inner.
Mr. Vorhees recommended Ogden Chrome to me years ago. I'll do Tri City for bumpers. What do you do for 67 OAI air cleaners? I know the chrome was not awesome on those to begin with, but I might as well go for "bitching."
I don't think anyone flash chromes anymore. I may play with some SSIs going to an industrial place to see if they can hard chrome the inner.
You do know "hard chrome" is different than "bright chrome" ?
You do know "hard chrome" is different than "bright chrome" ?
Of course. Hard chrome is a tooling finish that is not used for looks, but still looks kind of neat. If I recall, black oxide is softer than case hardening, which is softer than heat treating, which is softer than hard chrome. That's the hardest I've used at the plant, but there's nitriding and other stuff.
My point was that hard chrome looks a LITTLE like flash chroming, and is a lot more durable and more common. Neither has anything to do with triple nickel show chrome, or whatever the best is now.
Agree with the others. Just going by the bumper prices, you got a good deal. Anyone who is competitive with Tri City's prices is reasonable. An example: I had a 50 Caddy bumper done by Frankford, in Philly (high end stuff), for my 47 Chevy Kustom. 15 years ago, it was $3000.
This place for white metal and flash chroming.
I've used them many times in the past.
Excellent service.
The process is getting way pricey but the service and quality is excellent. https://the-chrome-shop.com/
I had the front and rear bumpers on my 71 98 rechromed years ago by Northstar Plating in Brainerd, MN for that price. They did a mediocre job.
When finishing my 1970 Vista 6 years ago, the body man said he would be sending all my chrome to North Star Plating. I was dubious. But he assured me he had worked with the salesman many time before, and he guaranteed the work to be well-done.
The body man passed his North Star invoice through to me without markup. It showed $600 for each bumper. The front had been NOS and the rear was a refugee from the shopping-mall wars.
The result was show-quality. I was amazed, but the body man said that in the early teens, North Star began doing much better quality work--equivalent to what they had done years before when they forged their reputation.
He said the "consumer" price was nearly double what he was charged.
Mr. Vorhees recommended Ogden Chrome to me years ago. I'll do Tri City for bumpers. What do you do for 67 OAI air cleaners? I know the chrome was not awesome on those to begin with, but I might as well go for "bitching."
I don't think anyone flash chromes anymore. I may play with some SSIs going to an industrial place to see if they can hard chrome the inner.
John, on my 66 shroud I had Atlas chrome in Houston do it. It had several small rust holes, they patched it and plated it for 800.00. They did a phenomenal job.
The result was show-quality. I was amazed, but the body man said that in the early teens, North Star began doing much better quality work--equivalent to what they had done years before when they forged their reputation.
Interesting. I had my bumpers rechromed probably close to 15 years ago (I'd have to check my receipt). As I mentioned earlier, the chrome on my bumpers is mediocre. That's giving North Star the benefit of the doubt. When I sent my bumpers in the chrome was acceptable for a 50+ year old car. Now I'll just eventually have the bumpers wrapped.
When finishing my 1970 Vista 6 years ago, the body man said he would be sending all my chrome to North Star Plating. I was dubious. But he assured me he had worked with the salesman many time before, and he guaranteed the work to be well-done.
The body man passed his North Star invoice through to me without markup. It showed $600 for each bumper. The front had been NOS and the rear was a refugee from the shopping-mall wars.
The result was show-quality. I was amazed, but the body man said that in the early teens, North Star began doing much better quality work--equivalent to what they had done years before when they forged their reputation.
He said the "consumer" price was nearly double what he was charged.
I think Northstar Plating was bought be LKQ or LQK a few years ago. I met a Rep at one of the big car shows up here and he seemed to be aware of the poor quality issue before. I talked to the Rep. and said I would like to do a "walk through". So far, I have not made the time for a visit. I have several cars that need bumper chroming, so will check them out this summer.
I think Northstar Plating was bought be LKQ or LQK a few years ago. I met a Rep at one of the big car shows up here and he seemed to be aware of the poor quality issue before. I talked to the Rep. and said I would like to do a "walk through". So far, I have not made the time for a visit. I have several cars that need bumper chroming, so will check them out this summer.
LKQ bought northstar / keystone etc.
Bumpers northstar did for my car do not fit and now NO Warranty
I think you did pretty good Pete.
I just had Space Coast plating do 7 Dual Gate handles for me. 1 week turn around. $560 with shipping. They are about an hour drive from me.
They did an excellent job.
This place for white metal and flash chroming.
I've used them many times in the past.
Excellent service.
The process is getting way pricey but the service and quality is excellent. https://the-chrome-shop.com/
Noted, thanks Paul.
Originally Posted by Andy
John, on my 66 shroud I had Atlas chrome in Houston do it. It had several small rust holes, they patched it and plated it for 800.00. They did a phenomenal job.
Noted, thanks Andy.
Originally Posted by rickw30
I think you did pretty good Pete.
I just had Space Coast plating do 7 Dual Gate handles for me. 1 week turn around. $560 with shipping. They are about an hour drive from me.
They did an excellent job.
