I think these cars look better with a painted bumper than with NO bumper. If the bumper on the car is to bent up to be replated, you won't be messing up a good core if you paint it. Then you could drive the car with a painted bumper until you find a great deal on a chrome bumper.

If you have a set of chrome bumpers and a set of painted bumpers along with a couple different sets of wheels you could change the look of the car from stock to custom / modified without to much effort. If you wanted to take it one step farther you could have two hoods, one with a scoop and one stock hood.