Pre-Production Front Bumper?

GT500P71

GT500P71

New member
Hey guys,

I mostly post on CVN, but figured this would be a better place to get more info on this.

I recently purchased an MM bumper cover, and unlike the production bumpers, this one has an indented channel running the whole width, very much like the crown vic bumpers. The channel is the same height as on the CV bumpers as well, ~.75".

14034215522_7f52f0f233_b.jpg



It is clearly all one molded piece, and it has a Ford part number on the inside. The writing reads as follows:

3W3D-17D957-A
(PUR) POLYCON LITE
POLYCON INDUSTRIES M300P
MADE IN CANADA


14057433483_e8df1310bb_b.jpg



I searched the part number on Google, and got nothing. From a quick browse of MM photos, it looks like it might be the same bumper that is on this car:

H2sBN9t9L30LS9vyRvJ0lAkkunuaVUdr588Tv2dYDBrnkx1ZkQvNqTv7AO9INPeUEsK9t1y-iiSo9QHiaJKNethZGYWejI9hCz_ArsJISCSfV7frMHDkBeGVFk_BbWo=s0-d-e1-ft



Any info on the bumper would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!
 
From that reply I'm guessing it's a crappy reproduction or something?

I know very little about the after-market reproduction bumpers for these cars, hence the thread.
 
GT500P71 said:
From that reply I'm guessing it's a crappy reproduction or something?

I know very little about the after-market reproduction bumpers for these cars, hence the thread.
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I don't think anyone knows what it is, if its not two bumpers grafted together then you might have something really rare.
 
It is most definitely one piece. There are no glue joints, or any signs that it was ever grafted together, and the whole thing is the same color urethane as well.

it's all one really smooth, uniform surface.
 
PuntyMario said:
ford parts have ford emblems on them dont they?
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Fair point. I assumed it was a Ford # based on the number format (number, letter, number, letter - 5-6 characters - etc....), but there is no concrete thing linking it to Ford I can find.


Blown3.8 said:
Where did you buy it from?
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I bought it from a long time CVN / CV.ca member, who bought it a few years back off craigslist from a guy in Detroit.
 
Did some spelunking and you definately have a official (and rare) Marauder front bumper cover ...
  • Guelph, ON (location of Polycon Industries) is just up the road (401) from St Thomas, ON (plant assembly line location).
    .
  • there is a 02Nov2003 post at CrownVictoria.net regarding that part # (3W3D-17D957-A) as being for the Mercury Marauder front bumper cover. *That post also referenced a MercuryMarauder.net post though the URL is now not found.
    References:
    • Code: 
      http://www.crownvic.net/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=294500
    • Code: 
      http://www.mercurymarauder.net/modules.php?op=modload&name=FAQ&file=index&myfaq=yes&id_cat=5&categories=Basic+Informationuder+Marauder+Part+numbers
  • the production part # for front bumper cover is 3W3Z-17D957-BA
    .
  • the part # that is noted as 3W3Z-17D957-AAA (unpainted) in the MercuryMarauder.net FAQ
    .
  • that front bumper was on the Marauder shown in the November 2001 Hot Rod article
    hotrodmarauderconceptfrontbumper-r.jpg
  • that front bumper cover was on the pre-production Marauder that was introduced at the 2001 Chicago auto show ...
    concept200201.jpg
 
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clintons4 - This one at the Chicago auto show does not have fogs :confused:. It looks like the one in the magazine.
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It also has the Crown Victoria side marker light(s).

But then the CV or CV-like parts shouldn't be a surprise since the Marauder program started in 1998 based on the CV platform. The earliest public rendition that I have is from the 1998 SEMA (Specialty Equipment Market Association).
.
 
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Joe, thank you for the info! The part numbers are interesting to me, especially since they seem to go up in revision "Letter" from my bumper to the production unit.

Surprisingly I have never seen the article by HotRod, but that is most definitely the same style bumper as the one I purchased. I wonder how many were made? I am surprised this one managed to find its way into private hands, as most prototype / initial sample vehicles end up being crushed.

I wonder who snuck this home from Ford!:) More importantly, I wonder if the rear bumper still exists, as it looks like it carries the same Crown Vic style molding channel, ending at the embossed "Marauder" logo. Also, take a look at the corner lights, it looks like there is a ~1/2" strip of black paint covering the outer rear edges. It is a subtle, but good looking change, as it hides the portion of the light where the housing meets the lens. It would be cool to source all of the original parts off the initial prototype, and create a tribute.


That photo you posted of the concept car from the 2001 Chicago show is interesting in its own right. It appears to be a stock Crown Vic header panel, with a Mercury "Waterfall" style grille in the same shape as a stock Crown Vic grille. The bumper looks to be a modified Crown Vic unit as well, with no "kick-downs" in the bottom grille opening towards the edges.

Thanks again for the info, I find it all very interesting!
 
Also, I'm not really looking to sell it, as I just got it!

My original intent was to paint it Performance White, and mount it on my 2000' Grand Marquis, however since it has a fair amount of rarity associated with it, I may reconsider.

I think a wall decoration would be cool though! The bumper, a header panel, and the headlights / corners painted like the photo above. You could make it look like one of those "wall crashing" sculptures.
 
GT500P71 said:
Also, I'm not really looking to sell it, as I just got it!

My original intent was to paint it Performance White, and mount it on my 2000' Grand Marquis, however since it has a fair amount of rarity associated with it, I may reconsider.

I think a wall decoration would be cool though! The bumper, a header panel, and the headlights / corners painted like the photo above. You could make it look like one of those "wall crashing" sculptures.
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I would not put it into use...it truly is a one off at this point. We could ask Steve Babcock about it, he has been awesome with info on production changes and the reasons why.
 
Curless said:
I would not put it into use...it truly is a one off at this point. We could ask Steve Babcock about it, he has been awesome with info on production changes and the reasons why.
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Yea, I don't really plan on it at this point. I appreciate the history of these cars more than how much better my car would look.

That said, anyone want to trade? One pre-production bumper for a good condition, well painted, Performance White MM bumper + fogs? :D
 
Here is a pic of the bumper mounted on a car from a previous owner (not who I bought it from):

23680870002_large.jpg


I actually really like the strip going all the way across, it adds something to the bumper, makes it less plain in my opinion.
 
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