I nailed a deer last weekend which wrecked my bumper. Luckily, it didn't get the grille/headlights. I'm looking to get a replacement and the closest thing to original I see are the black painted ones. I figured I would just have to paint the steel and lower plastic part white and call it good. But, they say it will not fit a sport package. My bumper looks exactly just like the other bumers on the non-sport models of similar vintage, except mine is painted white. Is there really a difference in these bumpers?

 

I think my 98 sport is supposed to have a painted one, but this is what was on it when I bought it. For what it's worth my grill inserts said they wouldn't fit a sport model. Come to find out it's 99 and up, so maybe bumpers also?

 

In 97 they all used the same front end. It wasn't until 99 or later that the Sport actually had a different front end. You should be good to go with any Ram bumper.

 

The parts were the same mechanically, but not in appearance.

The Sport models' bumpers before 1999 were all one color, matching the paint color of the rest of the truck.

 

2000 Sport model here. Looks color matched to me.

 

That's the answer I was hoping for. I appreciate the help!