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Front Bumpers Consul or FX4? Having managed to sort out my Chrome Hubcaps (see The Little Bits) the Bumpers (Blades) were left looking even more ragged than before (if possible!) so I was left with the option of having them rechromed (about £155 +VAT and any dents needing removed). The downside to taking the Bumpers into the electro-platers were not only confined to the cost (some things you grin and bear) but also the 12 week turn round time in this area and the limited number of firms whose tanks were big enough for the job. The idea therefore came about that I should attempt to gain a spare front and rear bumper (regardless of condition) and then I would have a spare set to keep on the car while the others were being reconditioned. While I already had a spare front given to me by a local motor factor no matter who a phoned a rear seemed to be an issue (still chasing a possible one via an exchange scheme run by one on the MKII International Club contacts). During this chase I came across the discovery that the Austin/Taxi International FX4 was fitted initially with Consul bumpers, and working on the principle that there are a lot more FX4's on the road or in the scrap yards this seemed to be the option to pursue. Contacting various dealers throughout the country I was eventually directed to a company in Merseyside who not only had a front bumper, they had three new bumpers still covered in the protective tape - at £45 + VAT and Delivery this seemed too good to be true. (Unfortunatey this company has since been bought up and no longer stock this item - but might still be worth looking around for other suppliers).  So for about £100 less than a re-chromed bumper I have one new and sparkly chrome blade ready to go on the car and this took 48 hours to arrive not 12 weeks - however I am still chasing the rear and I may have to admit defeat and hand this over the an electro-plater. But so far so good! Epilogue: Having looked at the Blade it turned out to fit the rear of the Consul, this either means I was sent a FX4 rear blade or the front blade off the FX4 is the same the rear off the Consul. Worth checking if anyone else if following this route. The holes are also not the same as on the Consul but I managed to overcome this problem with the use off some Catnip steel and by creating some new brackets to hold the bumper on - this combined with a little bit of Chrome Polish and a new set of Number Plates from Vintage Plates has really improved the rear view of my Car (see picture below). Now to sort out the front! 
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