VD6 alloy bumper brackets

[Wallington]

There was a post a long time ago about this pre-crash, anyone on here have the VD6 option on their 77-81 vehicle? Still trying to determine their purpose. Similar vehicles with the option mention new crash/impact features for 80-81 or perhaps Canada, some mention the need to shed weight on a few under-powered vehicles that didn't meet published stats. This was further confused by past forum posts where someone had a Turbo TA with a set and the other had a base model, possibly a V6, but opposite ends of power spectrum. Another had one steel and one alloy, and believed original. There is next to no mention of the Firebird version in official documents.
I have 5 of them, why, don't know. Curiosity. And each time I've asked the seller, they weren't aware that they were anything unusual and couldn't really recall what they came from as were just parting out cars and the parts had been stocked for some time.

[b_hill_86]

I’ve never even heard of them to be honest. Not that it means much. There’s plenty I haven’t heard of lol

[Wallington]

Here's some pics.

Alloy bumper set circa 80-81 #10013708 + #10013707 in bare form.

Firebird front alloy bumper brackets VD6 10013707 10013707 stripped (3) by Ben, on Flickr

Firebird front alloy bumper brackets VD6 10013707 10013707 stripped (4) by Ben, on Flickr

Firebird front alloy bumper brackets VD6 10013707 10013707 stripped (10) by Ben, on Flickr

Firebird front alloy bumper brackets VD6 10013707 10013707 stripped (7) by Ben, on Flickr

Comparison to regular steel 77-81 bumper brackets #525759 + #525760. Alloy on right.

Firebird front bumper support brackets steel 525759 aluminium 10013707 RH (2) by Ben, on Flickr

Alloy bracket weight 479 grams.

Aluminium front bumper bracket 10013707 479g by Ben, on Flickr

Steel bracket weight 1394 grams.

Firebird bumper bracket steel 525759 1394g by Ben, on Flickr

Powdercoated alloy set ready to install.

Firebird 77-81 Aluminium front bumper brackets powdercoated 10013707 10013708 ( by Ben, on Flickr

[sreta]

Very nice! I plan to make aluminium bumpers, so having alloy brackets would be even more nice.

[Wallington]

The giant truck bumper out front would weigh some, especially as it protrudes so far forward.

[FormTA]

That is interesting, so did that weight savings do anything? Seems like such a weird part to lighten. Why not the crash bar itself? What benefit could you possibly het from those brackets?

[roadking77]

Not sure an aluminum inner bumper/crash bar would be that effective in case of an accident, I would surmise the brackets may just bend in but you still have the big chunk of steel as the first line of defense.

[Wallington]

Exactly, they weigh nearly 1/3 the prior pieces, but are still a tiny piece in the puzzle. So no idea. Just a curiosity, and because GM doesn't mention them. Nothing on the parts listings, even their VD6 options list starts at 1982, yet the parts listing features parts for other GM in 1980 with VD6. And a google search only brought up my own posts! Now anyway, used to be more. The only 5 I've seen listed I now own. I probably don't need a 6th. Maybe.