Fitting P5B over-riders to a MK3 P5.

[enigmas]

I'd lost, misplaced or perhaps just got rid of the original MK3 3 litre bumper over-riders about 25 years ago when I first started rebuilding and modifying my MK3 coupe.

For whatever reason (perhaps a need for some added bling) I decided to fit a pair of over-riders to the rear bumper bar again. I prefer the look of the P5B versions so looked around and managed to purchase a pair of rear over-riders from Mark Richmond in Ballarat, Victoria. (Mark is Scott Richmond's of 'Scott's Old Auto Rubber' brother)
The pair I acquired came from a wrecked P5B Mark was dismantling and are in fair condition. This suited my purposes as I invariably end up modifying most things I acquire.
For those of you who aren't aware P5B over-riders don't simply bolt straight up to a MK3 rear bumper bar. I imagine the same holds for all the 3 litre P5s.

As far as I'm aware the P5B has a 2 bolt fitting for the rear over-riders and the 3 litre versions have a 1 bolt fitting. Having discovered this a little bit of modification/fabrication was required. A plate was made and a hole drilled at centre then tapped. The 2 outer holes are irrelevant. The plate was then welded on top of the original mount. The rubber 'snubber' securing bolt was removed and 2 holes drilled through the over-rider and into the metal portion of the rubber snubber. Two hex headed self tapping screws were then used to secure the snubber to the over'rider. I also made a small bracket to distribute the load on the bumper bar when tightening the over-rider securing bolt.

The pix below illustrate the changes made so they can be adapted to my MK3.

[Phil Nottingham]

Neat,  but later bumpers were made to fit P5s and P5Bs and they do or as Rover stated "retrospective fitment"

[enigmas]

Well...I didn't know that Phil! I'd been looking for a set of P5B over-riders for a number of years (in OZ) when I eventually queried Mark Richmond...but initially he had nothing either. I also didn't want to purchase another bumper bar (most likely from the UK).

No one on the Forum picked it up but I also had to cut off the lower ears of the rear over-riders (these are underneath and not seen) as the bumper on my car is bolted to a tow bar that was integrated with the original rear mounting irons. The 'ears' simply wouldn't clear the bracketry of the integrated tow bar mounting if left on. This arrangement was in place when I purchased the car. Both items, the bumper bar and over-riders will eventally be rechromed.