[Spits] Front Bumper

[popeye444 at comcast.net (David)]

I've been lurking on the list for a really long time but I now have a great
72 Mark IV that I just acquired so I expect I might be a bit more active
now.  I chose to get one that I could drive and not just another fixer
project.  This one was lovingly restored by someone else and I got it in
really great condition.  I think it's the first Spit I've ever seen with NO
rust.

The problem I'm experiencing that I could use your help with is the front
bumper.  I think when it was reassembled they put the front bumper on wrong.
Maybe it's even the wrong  bumper, did they change between the Mark IV and
1500?  I only have the one Spit so I don't have another one to compare it
to.  There is a large gap in the front between the center front of the
bonnet and the bumper just above where the license plate goes.  It is MUCH
wider than it should be and get narrower as it works around to just in front
of the tire.  The gap between the front valance (passenger side) and the
front wheel well of the bonnet is super tight (touching) when the bonnet is
closed.  The driver side has a more normal gap in the same place.

I don't see any way to adjust the bumper higher in the front.  It seems like
if it were raised in the front center that the trailing end of the bumper
just in front of the tire would lower like a teeter totter.

I tried to take some pics to show better what I'm talking about.  See link
below
https://picasaweb.google.com/112760723054893641051/72Spitfire

It seems like something was simply assembled incorrectly after it was
rebuilt.  I believe the car was fully disassembled during the restoration.
It really is a beautiful job but the bumper just looks wrong.  I could
probably figure this out if I could just look at another Spit and compare.
Anyone near Shelton Washington with a square tail that wants to meet up and
compare?

Maybe someone can look at the pics and give me an idea of what went wrong.

David Gates
'72 Spitfire w/1500 engine and OD