Picture request: flared fenders on a '78-'82

[MaineShark]

I'm sort of curious what the later body style looks like with fender flares. Nothing I'm really planning on, but if I end up going a bit nuts on the motor, I might need wider tires to keep it on the ground, so I figure I should get an idea what the flares look like.

Alternately, does anyone make replacement quarter panels that are simply wider, overall? It would still give the car a more agressive appearance, and accomodate wider tires, but I think it would be more subdued than flares. You might look at it and say "wow, there's something about that car," but you probably wouldn't be able to figure out exactly what it was. I like that sort of thing...

Joe

 

[1BAD80]

Vanacore corvette has them on their site.
I just put on the offset trailing arms for a 2" wider tire underneath the car. No flares needed. I havent got the new rims and tires as of yet.
http://vanacorvette.com/

 

[Twin_Turbo]

It looks GOOD (as long as you don't have the mudflap design).. it's not a late one (rear) but I thoight i'd post it anyway.

 

[MaineShark]

Vanacore corvette has them on their site.

Yeah, they have the flares, but no pictures on them installed.

Twinnie: Yeah, it ain't quite what I'm looking for, but I don't mind the eye candy

Joe

 

[patsnitrovette]

i like it:cool

 

[Last Ride]

I would be interested to see them as well. I have been thinking about them, but I am not sure they would look right.

 

[matchframe]

Vanacor

I have Vanacor's catalog. I looked to see what they had in the way of flares. They show full quarter panel w/ ZL Flares, Complete front fender and quarters w/ built in flares for $160 each, and rear mold-in type ZL flares. It also says "More coming soon!"

They do not show what they look like installed, just the raw pieces.

They are a few hour's drive from where I live, and I plan on going over there in a few weeks to pick up an L-88 hood. They have those for $425 plus shipping.


Thought this might help!

Bill

 

[69autoXr]

I have a picture at work of a 79 with original type L88 flares that I will post tomorrow. I didn't even think about it earlier when I read the post.

 

[69autoXr]

a pic of a flared '79

 

[69autoXr]

didn't work the first time, I'll try again...

 

[MaineShark]

That ain't bad looking. I'd really like to see one in person. I got a few years before I re-paint, so I don't have to worry about it until then.

Hopefully between now and then, I'll get some good pictures and in-person views, to make my decision.

Joe

 

[Last Ride]

I think it looks pretty good as well. My question now is would it look good on a silver car? I also have to think about the pinstriping on my car as it is a B2Z silver anniversary. I am in the same boat as Joe, though. I am still a few years off from painting. I am also trying to find quality fiberglass replacements for my hood and bumper covers. I am also filling my antenna hole to smooth the lines a bit. Maybe I will just do all that and drive around for a while in primer gray rather than silver anniversary!

Bryan

 

[69autoXr]

My car is not a 79 body style, but it is silver and flared. You might get an idea by looking at a pic of my car.

 

[1BAD80]

I like the flares, It must really help with the stone chips,what size tires are you using? I think I mite put the smaller flair's on my next paint job in a few years. I just put the recessed training arms, I haven't found the rims that I wont yet . Their supposed to take 2"s more under the car. I want to see how much flare will be needed with the new rims & tires.
I have Cooper Cobras on the rear, 295/50/15 on rite now, they fit if you take off the emergency brake hose retainer's, They have new brackets for relocation. Mine were really frozen, I removed the E/brake system since I never used it, and since I had to redo the rearend, I put on brakes with carbon metallic pads, and
slotted caliphers.
After buying fiberglass parts from various Vette catalog business's, I found Vanacors to be the best quality parts that fit better and prices in kit form are cheaper. PICS in my album, all the parts are cherried together.
http://vanacorvette.com/

 

[groovyjay]

Like Twinnie I like the early style flares better, BUT I have to admit that these mudflap style flares looks so darn cool on this red 76 coupe:

 

[69autoXr]

My tires are 275/45-16 on 16 x 11" wheels, with a 5/16" spacer used in the back. The wheels and tires don't fill the rear flares completely, but these are my autocross tires, so form follows function.

If I bought street tires, I'd buy something that lined up the outside of the tires with the flares. In a perfect world, I would have endless money, and I would buy 17 x 12 wheels with 335's for the back, and 17 x 11 with 315's for the front. But I never drive the car on the street, so I have no current plans for any street tires.

I think that the "mudflap" style flares, as they've been referred to, don't stick out as far from the body as the original L88 style, so it wouldn't take as big a tire to fill it up.

 

[MaineShark]

Alright, it seems we have three different flare styles, as well...

L88
ZL
Mudflap

Does anyone have a good comparison of the three?

Joe

 

[Last Ride]

I think the mudflap design would look fine on the later-model C3 as that is the way they look from the factory.

Jay-- Can't say enough how much I love that pic of the red C3!

Bryan

 

[Robin7TFour]

69autoxr, where did you get the headlghts and covers?

 

[Bob Chadwick]

OT Best Flares on a C3