yes, they're different.
the front one is much more curved,
the rear one is only slightly curved.
There are lots and lots of good front chrome bumpers
around............because, the visibility and view out the front of a
vanagon is excellent, therefore  they don't run into things much ........but
they sure Back into things !   Rear ones are somehow just mangled up a bit,
quite commonly.
Scott
turbovans

----- Original Message -----
From: "Dug Smith" <dug@DUGBERT.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Sunday, January 18, 2009 7:45 PM
Subject: Re: Rear Bumper Needed - 1987 GL non-Wolfsburg (regular chrome
w/rubber strip)(Northern California)

>> I managed to smash in my rear bumper yesterday!
>
> I have a chrome(ish) front bumper from my '85 in my garage in Roseville -
> is
> there a difference between the front and rear bumpers?
>
> toodle pip,
> --
>       Dug Smith         | Terry Pratchett: It's almost
> (mailto:dug@dugbert.com) |  impossible to ride a rock and roll
> (http://www.dugbert.com) |  motorbike and stay on for three verses.