I think the 60's was perhaps the decade with the attitude to add as much bling as possible to cars. I also think that my '62 Parisienne was the poster child for that philosophy as I don't know any other car with more square inches of chrome. I took a lot of photos of the bumpers and side chrome, included a measuring tape for scale and went to Maritime Chroming and Anodizing for a quote. Turns out he sends stuff like this to Laval, QC. Last night I got the quote and I'm still trying to breath, $2,500 per bumper and $5,000 per side for the trim, that's $15K plus tax and doesn't include tail lights, head light bezels, grill etc. etc. I'd like to get it done but simply can't afford those prices.
Seems to me I saw a thread somewhere on this site where chroming was discussed, so sorry to be repeating it but can't remember where it was or if there was a consensus on a reasonable solution. Does anyone know if it is cheaper for me to take this stuff somewhere in the States to get it done, or perhaps a good contact in Canada. I don't mind a road trip if I can save a chunk of cash.
Be thankful you don't have a 58 Olds. ninety eight, or a 58 Buick " Limited" "way more" chrome on them & would need a 2nd. or 3rd. mortgage on home??? Some Provinces have the most strict emissions on Plater"s & the cost is passed on to customer!!!! Have heard western Prov. aren't as bad but then your into shipping costs. Years ago I had small piece on hood of 51 Merc P/up done & was close to $ 400 !!!!! Maybe "look" south of border?????
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Some times I wake up GRUMPY, but today I let her sleep in !!!!!!!!BLACKSTOCK Ont.
Clenn I just finished my wife's 1950 Pontiac Silver Streak, I had a bunch of chrome re chromed at Cambridge Custom chrome In Cambridge Ontario, including hub caps , and buffing of SS trim such as water falls. dash bezel, bumpers etc. I know all about the guy in Laval QC, we stopped there on our way west and got the same quote for our stuff $ 15K , my wife and I drove another 6 hours to Cambridge Ontario. the outcome was not disappointing our car looks great with their end product.
Yes it does! Has your car been a feature car on this site Dale?
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Prince Edward Island
'64 Parisienne CS "barn find" - last on the road in '86 ... Owner Protection Plan booklet, original paint, original near-mint aqua interior, original aqua GM floor mats, original 283, factory posi, and original rust.
Also you could talk to Jim/Hawkeye. His guy does a very nice job.Ive heard a few horror stories about Cambridge.
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"The pursuit of perfection is frustrating and a waste of time because nothing is ever perfect. The pursuit of excellence is commendable and worth while. Therefore strive for excellence, not perfection"
Just what I expected, people want to spread there so called stories about their so called story of what someone else's story is !!!!/, Instead I stated my own factual accounts. I hate negativity, continue with your pursuit of excellence, let me know when you achieve It.
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New Brunswick , 1950 Pontiac Silver Streak 2 Dr Sedan, 1967 Beaumont, 1985 Sierra 1500 One Owner
A few years ago I talked to a guy about the chrome grill in his pickup. The factory grille would have been aluminum but his was chrome plated steel. He had the painted grille chromed for a very reasonable price, but it was gone for almost six months! He found out that the body shop that gave him the deal sent it to China to be plated. The grill looked excellent and he is happy but it was a long wait. If I remember it cost him $250.
I have not heard much good about chroming in Canada;
I have seen vendors at the PDX swap meet that had reasonably priced re-chromed stuff, and did good re-chroming at a reasonable rate - but invariably, they were all based out of California...
Maybe that's something to consider (dealing with a state-side plater);
I actually opted to just buy a new rear bumper rather than be in it for quadruple the money... and potentially be disappointed with the quality if done locally.
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1970 Formula 400 Carousel Red on black (std) interior "no drivetrain option" car (same base drivetrain as GTO) 1:411 1970 Firebird Formulas originally sold in Canada
I'd consider buying new but 1962 is a one off year, nothing else will fit, so there's no money in it for the parts people to justify making them. I'd also be interested in the California company if you have a name or contact info. I just could never bring myself to painting the bumpers black or leaving the any chrome off as we saw in the case of the '66 pictured above. Mine has what I'd call mild pitting on the white metal side chrome pieces. The bumpers aren't disastrous either and can be put back on. I am taking everything else about as far as you can go and would like to do the chrome if it's affordable.
Saw them doing paint chrome on a Restoration show a couple nights ago in TV. It was impressive. I also saw a paint display at Sema 2 years ago. Pretty nice. Im going to take some smaller pieces down to California this winter and see what they charge me.
I used Cambridge back in about 2007, their work was very good. They did my 4 bumpers on the vette plus a 1 piece rear on the el Camino. I have heard others on here not have the same good experience with them. Paid about $2000 for all at that time. I used the local hfx chrome place before that, crap job. Theyve had new owners several times in the last 20 years.
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63 Parisienne sport coupe (The Big GTO), black, maroon interior, 409 4 speed; former owner of a 59 El Camino, 63 Corvette SWC, 62 Chev Bel Air SC. 1963- Pontiac top selling car in Canada
Mahone Bay, NS Still not old enough to need an automatic
We have similar problems here. I had both my bumpers re-done 15 to 20 years ago, at a cost equivalent to 1350 $CAN. Allowing for inflation that's not far short of the numbers above. Because, even back then, they were not allowed to use the chemicals that were really required, the rust came back in the same areas within less than 5 years. I'd have them done again, if my income hadn't been decimated.................
Saw them doing paint chrome on a Restoration show a couple nights ago in TV. It was impressive. I also saw a paint display at Sema 2 years ago. Pretty nice.
'64 Parisienne CS "barn find" - last on the road in '86 ... Owner Protection Plan booklet, original paint, original near-mint aqua interior, original aqua GM floor mats, original 283, factory posi, and original rust.
Just what I expected, people want to spread there so called stories about their so called story of what someone else's story is !!!!/, Instead I stated my own factual accounts. I hate negativity, continue with your pursuit of excellence, let me know when you achieve It.
Sry I twisted your panties in a knot,hope you didn't get a rash.
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"The pursuit of perfection is frustrating and a waste of time because nothing is ever perfect. The pursuit of excellence is commendable and worth while. Therefore strive for excellence, not perfection"
Saw them doing paint chrome on a Restoration show a couple nights ago in TV. It was impressive. I also saw a paint display at Sema 2 years ago. Pretty nice.
I would like to know if the California re chroming shops are actually doing the work themselves or getting the job done in Mexico. I have heard the Mexicians do a really good job at a reasonable price in just a one week turn around. California has the most environmental restrictive laws in north America and sourcing the job to Mexico which has little if any restrictions would be very profitable.
The last 3 piece front bumper I had rechromed from a company just outside Montreal was $1800 with no shipping cost added. When I previously attended the Barrie flea market I would drop the parts of in the spring and pick them up in the fall. The companies booth was directly across from ours which made it easy for me.
The quality of work was excellent.
Also you could talk to Jim/Hawkeye. His guy does a very nice job.Ive heard a few horror stories about Cambridge.
To be fair i have heard a few horror stories about every popular chrome shop in Ontario. The only thing i can say about Cambridge Chrome in Cambridge, Ontario is that they did (ALL) of my chrome on my 57 Pontiac back in 1997 and to this day in 2019 my chrome is still perfect and i get countless compliments on my chrome at car shows. I suppose no matter where you go......... you win some, you lose some but to paint a shop with a broad brush is very unfair. Cheers.
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1957 Pontiac Pathfinder Deluxe sedan restored 261 six
1974 Chevrolet Caprice Estate wagon low mileage original 400 V-8
I live on West Coast and we have a lot chroming done by the California shops. Rumour has it that they take everything across the line to Mexico and do the work there but that is just a rumour. There is a about four chromers that regulatory attend the US swap meets across the border at places like Puyallup, Monroe, Portland etc. We take lots of bumper cores. grills, etc to them and pick them up at the next swap meet or have them shipped to our shipping boxes near the border here in Vancouver and them pick them up there. They do anything including bezels, marine parts or anything else you can think of.
Some seem better then others but three of the companies are all family related. Sister and two brothers each operate as their own shops. One example is the, Bumper Shop, out of Florence California. They usually have stock of most common chrome parts but really want the old stuff as cores. example is they would have a 66 Chevelle but would need a core to redo a Beaumont of same year if you want original with latch hole. Typical bumpers seem to run about $275US. Some good success and some poor quality results. They are always there and you can order ahead of time to ensure they bring what you need or give them a core and turnaround is usually about a couple weeks shipped or pick up at next swap meet. Works good out west but does not really help the east coasters unless you want to pay some shipping.
A couple of Vancouver chromers do good work but are EXPENSIVE!
I appreciate all the feedback I've been getting on this one and plan to follow all leads! I just checked for info on the Bumper Shop and came up with this: "This shop is "OUT OF BUSINESS"! A guy by the name of Carlos has their old phone number, leading you to believe that the Bumper Shop is still in business. All he is doing is taking your bumpers or other parts to Rangel Plating in Hawthorne, Ca......" there is another post also suggesting the shop is out of business. I know posting online can sometimes be the rantings of an unhappy customer which is unfortunate but all we have to go by. Has anyone here been in touch with them this past year and had a good experience?
I just search for shops in the New England states and see some there, the closets being in New Hampshire. That's an easy day's drive for me, even closer than Cambridge, ON. Has anyone tried any of these shops?
I've used theses guys in Kelowna for my bumpers, good to work with
BUT expensive. 800 ea. for show chrome. Been on the car for 9 years and still look good.
But i'm sure Jerel has comments on them.
All positive comments I hear except for the one that catches a lot of guys and that is the price. Beautiful work. Years ago they did all the chrome work for Western Star trucks.
We know Carlos well and I think we think we saw him in Monroe Washington last month along with his sister who has the, "The Bumper Depot?" last month. Defineatly saw Janet and her crew. There is usually a couple others there and I can not remember who all was there because we are planning on taking our cores in Feb. to Puyallop and picking them up later in the year probably in Portland in spring or Monroe.
I think Carlos had his display with examples of his stages of chroming including the bumpers in copper. Maybe he has changed names?, as there is quite a competition between the family members and confusion when they had similiar names, Bumper Shop, Bumper Depot, bumpers bumpers bumpers..... When I get a chance I will try to look up who I got my rear bumper done by last year for my 71 Le Mans Sport. (Enduro front so only needed chrome rear)
