Interpretation ID: aiam2476
P. O. Box 4307
North Charleston
SC 29405;
Dear Mr. Watson: Your letter of August 16, 1976, asking whether the 1972 Pontia Bonneville was equipped with a safety bumper has been forwarded to this office by the Federal Trade Commission for reply.; The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), which i responsible for developing motor vehicle safety standards, promulgated Standard No. 215, *Exterior Protection*, to protect certain safety components when a vehicle is involved in low-speed front and rear collisions. The standard, in its initial form, became effective on September 1, 1972, and provided that passenger cars be capable of sustaining 5 mph front and 2 1/2 mph rear barrier impacts with no damage resulting to lighting, cooling, fuel, or exhaust systems, or to doors and other closures. In order to comply with the required performance level, manufacturers had to strengthen their vehicle bumper systems.; The standard only affects cars manufactured after September 1, 1972 and the start of the 1973 model year. It is therefore unlikely that any 1972 model vehicles would have been produced under its authority. Before September 1, 1972, the Federal government imposed no safety requirements affecting motor vehicle bumpers. Thus, vehicle manufacturers were free to equip their automobiles with any type of bumpers they chose. The NHTSA cannot comment on the safety qualities of the 1972 Pontiac Bonneville bumper since it was not at that time involved in regulating that aspect of vehicle performance.; Sincerely, Frank Berndt, Acting Chief Counsel