How to Choose an Aftermarket Ford Mustang Bumper for Style and Safety

Part of the joy of owning a muscle car is getting to modify and enhance it. Every car enthusiast and gearhead knows the joy of making their vehicle more powerful, more stylish, or more safe and building it into their dream car over time. That’s especially true for Ford Mustang owners. Modifying Mustangs has been a core part of the vehicle’s identity ever since it rolled off the lot in the ‘60s. While engines, exhaust systems, and wheels get the bulk of the attention, bumpers are one of the most important and common aftermarket additions for Mustangs. Whether you have a vintage ‘Stang or a new one, you should consider purchasing and installing an aftermarket Mustang bumper. It’s a great way to enhance your car’s style and safety.

How to Choose an Aftermarket Bumper

When it comes to purchasing a new bumper for your Mustang, there are a lot of different factors to consider. As with all aftermarket components for your vehicle, it’s important to think through the factors and priorities, so you can make an informed decision that’s right for you and your car. Here are the main things to take into consideration when choosing a Mustang bumper.

Replacement vs. Repair

Before deciding what bumper to purchase, it’s important to decide if you need to buy one in the first place. If you’re not trying to make a bumper upgrade, but just replace a damaged bumper, then it may be tempting to repair it instead. But unless the damage is extremely minor, you’re probably best off replacing the bumper. Plus, then you can actually improve your Mustang, rather than returning it to the status quo.

Balancing Style and Safety

Bumpers are a critical part of your Mustang’s style and an equally critical part of your car’s safety. Most aftermarket bumpers will enhance both the style and the safety, but some lean more towards one than towards the other. It’s important to consider if style or safety is more important to you. Are you in search of the bumper that will offer you and your vehicle the most protection if you’re involved in an accident, or are you looking to outfit your muscle car with the most aggressive and stylish add-ons possible? Or are you seeking the perfect middle ground? The answer to that question can help you decide what design and materials you opt for when picking a new bumper.

Matching the Front and the Rear

We’re not breaking any news here, but cars have both front and rear bumpers. While front bumpers get more attention and are more commonly modified, rear bumpers are important as well. We always advocate for keeping the big picture in mind when making modifications, and matching components so that your vehicle looks and performs at its best. We suggest that you either upgrade both bumpers at once, or pick an aftermarket front bumper that works well with the rear bumper your Mustang already has.

Matching the Safety Features

If you’re driving a newer Mustang, then chances are your bumper has safety features that are integrated into the bumper. Those are crucial safety elements, and you don’t want to give them up when you add an aftermarket bumper. Make sure that the bumper you’re purchasing is compatible with your exact Mustang, and make sure that it is properly installed.

Stylistic Details

If you’re hoping to boost your Mustang’s style with a new bumper, then you need to consider which aesthetic details are important to you. Do you want chin spoilers? What about lip extenders? Maybe some splitter rods? Do you want to match your bumper’s color to your vehicle’s exterior, or opt for carbon fiber, or a matte black finish? Your Mustang will look better than ever after installing an aftermarket bumper, and this is your chance to add some customization.

Ease of Installation

If you’re installing the bumper on your Mustang, then it’s worth taking into consideration how easy it is to install. If you have a lot of experience working on cars, then this probably doesn’t matter to you. But if you’re fairly new to being a muscle car enthusiast, make sure to pick a bumper that is within your skillset, and that you’re comfortable installing.

Budget

And finally, arguably the most important factor for choosing any car part: your budget. We sell a wide variety of aftermarket bumpers for Mustangs, so there’s a little something for everyone. Decide what your budget is for this part and go from there. Whether you’re looking to maximize safety or enhance style, you’ve come to the right place. We have a large inventory of Mustang bumpers to choose from, and sales techs standing by to answer all of your questions and help you pick the right one.