Dagmar bumper

Dagmar bumpers (also known as "bullet bumpers") is a slang term for chrome conical shaped bumper guards which began to appear on the front bumper/grille assemblies of certain American automobiles following World War II. They reached their peak in the mid-1950s.

1953 Mercury Monterey with Dagmars

Derivation

The term is derived from the notable physical attributes of Dagmar, a buxom early 1950s television personality known for low-cut gowns and conical bra cups. She was amused by the tribute.[1]

History

As originally conceived by Harley Earl, GM Vice President of Design, the conical bumper guards would mimic artillery shells.[2] Placed inboard of the headlights on front bumpers of Cadillacs, they were intended to both convey the image of a speeding projectile and protect vehicles' front ends in collisions. The similarity of these features to the then popular bullet bra as epitomized by buxom television personality Dagmar was inescapable.

As the 1950s wore on and American automakers' use of chrome grew more flamboyant, they grew more pronounced. The black rubber tips they gained on the 1957 Cadillac Eldorado Brougham and other models were known as pasties.[2]

By the late '50s American car designers began to shed both rear tailfins and prominent bumper guards.

Use

Postwar Cadillacs began sporting conical bumper guards in the 1946 model year. In 1951 models, some were raised into the grille. In 1957 black rubber tips appeared. The element continued to become more pronounced in size through 1958, but were eliminated in the 1959 Cadillac redesign.

Mercury sported Dagmars in 1953 through the 1956 model year. Lincoln added Dagmars in 1960, with a black rubber ring separating the body from the chrome tip.

Buick added Dagmars on its 1954 and 1955 models, in '54 as part of the bumper assembly, moved into the grille in '55.

Packard included large Dagmars on the bumper in 1955 and 1956 models.

Full sized Chevys in 1961 and 1963 also had small rubber Dagmars on the front bumper, also 1962 ford Galaxie had small rubber Dagmars as an option.

Other Iterations

In 1974, British motoring press applied the name of statuesque British actress Sabrina to oversized pairs of protruding rubber bumper blocks added to MG MGB, MG Midget, Triumph Spitfire and Triumph TR6 sports cars to meet strengthened US auto safety regulations. The term, which was not common in the U.S., lingered at least to the mid-'90s in some areas.[3]

  • 1955 Cadillac Eldorado with Dagmars
  • 1955 Lincoln Capri with Dagmar bumpers
  • 1958 Cadillac Eldorado Seville with rubber-tipped pasties
  • 1958 Buick with Fashion-Aire Dynastar grille and Dagmar bumpers

References
  1. "Me & My Car: '55 Caddy Coupe embodies year's size, styling". The Mercury News. 2018-05-27. Retrieved 2020-08-31.
  2. 10-1-2006. Fitzgerald, Craig Dagmar Bumpers, Hemmings Motor News
  3. Clausager (1994), p. 25
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