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I'm sure a lot of us remember when those big (and ugly, in my opinion) bumpers first appeared on new cars, starting with the 1973 models, because of a standard the NHTSA set on April 9th, 1971.
I think the same standards for bumper protection parameters still exists, but I'm glad we haven't seen those big bumpers on new cars for about 3 decades now.
Below is one example to remind us older folks, and those who were not around back then, of how standards and regulations have changed automobiles back then. Of course I won't mention the emission controls and gas economy standards that made many automobiles, (like the Chevette) from the mid 1970s, through probably the early 1980s not worthy of the title of Classic Cars. I remember being 16 at the time when I first saw the "New" 1973 Chevrolet Impala and I thought... They need somebody new in GM's styling department.. Of course I didn't learn about the new bumper standards imposed on all auto makers until late 1973.
They were ugly, but they were better than some of the "tin can" bumpers on cars before them--especially when some of the cars were designed so that the hood would hit an object before the bumper. How dumb was that?
The worst thing about the '73 cars (and for a lot of years afterward) is that the emission controls made them perform badly, run horribly, AND get ridiculously bad fuel economy. That really didn't change until the mid- to late-1980's when electronic fuel injection became the norm. In those regards, the decade from 1973 until 1983 was pretty much a lost decade for cars as far as I'm concerned. I have no nostalgia for most any of the junk that I drove during those years.
They were bumpers and not these things they call bumpers now. then you could hit something with them and they would not dent, try that now and it is a $500 repair.
I'm not a fan of the big bumpers....most of them look like a shelf you could sit on.
However it seems overnight the feds were changing the way autos were built and it didn't leave much time for auto makers to scramble to make something appeasing. Some cars such as the Camaro and the Firebird, were introduced with slant noses for the 1974 year, in an attempt to "hide" the big bumpers....while cars such as the LTD kept them on.
As for performance, that's another issue in itself....so it seems overnight auto makers were "forced" to find ways to make cleaner burning cars, and at the time didn't have the technology to do so, hence the leaned down carburetors, the retarded timing, the reduced compression ratios, shorter cam profiles, rear end gears that ranged from 2.29:1 to 2.56:1....all of which caused the engines to be severely underpowered....while the added safety gear tacked on....only made the cars get slower....probably didn't save much fuel trying to force a 180 hp V8 to push around a 4000 lb car.
They were ugly, but they were better than some of the "tin can" bumpers on cars before them--especially when some of the cars were designed so that the hood would hit an object before the bumper. How dumb was that?
The worst thing about the '73 cars (and for a lot of years afterward) is that the emission controls made them perform badly, run horribly, AND get ridiculously bad fuel economy. That really didn't change until the mid- to late-1980's when electronic fuel injection became the norm. In those regards, the decade from 1973 until 1983 was pretty much a lost decade for cars as far as I'm concerned. I have no nostalgia for most any of the junk that I drove during those years.
My first car after college and just getting my first job was a '73 Luxury LeMans. It had those big bumpers on them and you are right. Mileage was awful. Of course it had a 400cc V8 which would go around everything except the gas station. And, of course, I bought it right before the Oil Embargo. My brother drove it around San Diego and got 8 mpg with his lead foot and A/C on. LOL
I'm not a fan of the big bumpers....most of them look like a shelf you could sit on.
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That shelf came in handy at times!
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Of course I didn't learn about the new bumper standards imposed on all auto makers until late 1973. 
