So there I was...standing at the door and looking lovingly at Ingeborg, parked there in all her glory, basking in the sunlight amid the cool breezes of Fall. By the way, she's a 81 242DL.

I admired her boxy lines, the igenuity of the Swedish engineering, and thought about a joy she is to drive. Then...

The bumpers.

It hit me like a ton of bricks (pun intended). These chrome bumpers are just awful-ugly. To use the terminology from another board I frequent, they're just "fugly"!!!

So.. I come to you, fellow Bricksters, Brickheads and Bricks-have-you, and ask if there are any options to making my beloved Ingeborg more, hmm, attractive? I don't care what your ideas or suggestions are, I'll entertain all of them. I just want to have bumpers that make Ingeborg a little more like eye-candy. Thanks, guys.

I would echo some of the respondents with a pro-commando bumper cheer.
These bumpers are probably one of the primary reasons these bricks
are so indestructable. I too have many stories to tell about other
vehicles being stopped dead in their tracks after coming too close
to those monsters, but I'll save it for a rainy day. Ignore the
cosmetics and enjoy the ride.
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-Cool Volvo- 1982 240 4 Spd OD w/ 233K, 1989 240 5 Spd w/ 223K. Past proud owner of 1966 122, 1968 144, 1970 145, 1972 144, 1980 245

I've had 240/245's with both the original commando bumpers tat would survive a Ford Crown Vic Taxicab impact at 15 mph with no damage to bodywork or occupants
nad ones with the post '83 plastic bumpers that won;t even sirvive a backup into a parking meter pipe without bending the rear hatch or trunk lid.

I remember being hit while at a dead stop by a GM early 90's A Body (Caprice)and getting out to find no body damage and seeing the taxi with antifreeze gushing from its totalled front clip, same with a Honda CRX that hit me at a toll booth in icy conditions on the Mass Pike.

If I could I'd retro a set of Black bumpers from a GT over the 92 -5mph bumpers.

They should bolt up shouldn't they? If the mounting bracket on the shock isn't the same, see if you can swap the shocks off an earlier model.
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Drive it like you hate it

Get yourself a good set of the newer plastic bumpers, then sand them back and smooth body filler over any imperfections. Once you've achieved a really nice smooth surface, paint them the same colour as the rest of the car.
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Drive it like you hate it

Thank you for all your answers.... I am leaning towards staying with the Commando bumpers (even though I live in Texas where it's not a big issue to have smaller bumpers). I am wondering if there were air dams made for the '81 models? It might make the car look more attractive and also allow me to eventually obtain Virgo alloys in due time. (The owner's manual states I must have an air dam in order to install alloys.) Well, which air dams should I look for? Is it difficult to install an air dam to a car that doesn't seem to have provisions for said modification? As always I appreciate your input. Keep on brickin'!

Here's an example of an air dam looking good with Commando bumpers. I'm thinking of getting the same grill with the foglights for my car.


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Drive it like you hate it

The airdam that would be the best fit would be the style used with those commando bumpers. It's different from the one used with the later plastic bumpers. Unless you want to mess with it and drill holes to line it up, etc. If your's came without, you still might have to drill holes for it.

Some early 240's with the commando bumbers came without spoilers. Others had small 2" ones. Or one from an early 242GT might be to your taste.

I don't have a pic or link to hand. Check out the gallery at Swedespeed to get an idea.

which means that when the feds went from requiring the 5mph bumper (Commando) to the prettier 2.5 mph style, the changes made were at minimum cost.

Probably, but no guarantee, used the same shocks, same mounting holes, same trim mounting holes and clips. Maybe different trim (all 3 pieces) and air dam attachment method.

Good Luck,

Bob

:>)

The shocks or 'impact absorbers' mounting holes are different from the commando to the 83-85 bumper attachment points. BTDT. '86-on are also different. Air dam is also slightly off. Easiest is to get the complete assembly. Also the 82 fenders would have to be drilled for the trim clips to be inserted or use alternative like double sided.

OK I'll give you my two cents. As rhaire said, I've had a little experience with this with my 83 245GL. The PO had replaced the 83 bumper with a 'commando style' after having a front ender. I switched it back to the 83 style but there was a small difference in the fender for the difference in trim, as he'd replaced the left fender. Nothing too hard to handle though. You'd want 83-85 bumpers and trim.

However, depending on traffic in your area, are you sure you want to downgrade to the less effective bumpers?

Also, there's an early 242 that I've seen on Turbobricks that looks great with the commando style bumpers, all polished up. I think they suit the car better too!

I'd say, keep them and polish them up!

Good luck with whatever you decide.

Being that I live in Brooklyn ,NYC I find that the "Commando" bumpers are a necessity. I have had to replace a tailight,front headlight bezel & grill & repair cracked sinal lights as it is.I like the apearance of the Commando bumpers as it goes with the cars Volvo "Mojo" anyhow.If I had an '83+ brick I would want to replace the inadequate front bumpers with a nice set of Commando's !

Yes, come to think the 24X T's had no trouble going from the tank bumpers to the 83-85 type.

Lots of bucks for shipping, but European bumpers were a lot smaller.
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(1975 164, 1995 854T, 1998 V70R)

I think the 83-85 bumpers and shocks will fit, no? Anyone confirm? I think CliveAlive has some experience with this. 86-on bumpers and shocks are different, but might work too although I have not tried.

My '80 bumpers appear to be the same size as the '84 bumpers. Maybe Cdn bumpers didn't change in '83?
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1980 245 Canadian B21A with SU carb and M46 trans in Brampton, Ont.

Geez, I dunno. If you've seen any opera, a Nordic gal named Inga should have big bumpers.

'86 and over had a reduction.
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1980 245 Canadian B21A with SU carb and M46 trans in Brampton, Ont.