QOTD: Can We Inventory the Worst Bumpers of the 1970s?

The TTAC Slack chat got to talking about Datsuns this week and, among mentions of the 280ZX Black Gold and 260Z, Datsun vault of knowledge Chris Tonn posted a picture of a late-Seventies 280Z.

It looked utterly terrible with its gigantic bumpers, and I soon became nauseous. But once that went away, I was left with a relevant and overarching question: Which car models were most negatively affected by the giant American bumpers of the 1970s?

Most of you lived through it, but some of you whippersnappers (and me) were not so fortunate to experience the Malaise starting shortly before the Carter era. A quick summary:

The large and in charge vehicles of the 1960s carried minimal bumper protection for the sake of styling, which lead to increasing repair costs in minor fender bender accidents. Much to the dismay of everyone beside insurance companies, the government decided to step in and offer up some regulation.

Beginning with model year 1974, 5 mile per hour bumpers were required on all new vehicles. The regulation said that at an angled 5 mph impact, the bumpers must ensure no damage occurs to a car’s lights, engine, or safety features. Awful bumpers ensued.

The regulators decided this wasn’t enough protection, and for 1979 the standard was raised to state that zero damage could occur in the same impact. Bring out the battle bumpers!

As the Malaise cooled, so did the regulators fervor for bumpers, and in 1982 the law was scaled back to 2.5 miles per hour. That’s where the regulation still rests today. All the cars you see here were made between 1974 and 1980, and I’m sure you B&B can make us a nice list of those most disturbed or ruined by bumper regulation.

Have at it!

[All images via their respective sellers at ClassicCars.com]