The13Bats

No...this isn't one of those what should I do, it's my car I will end up doing it my way...and if you don't like flares then not the thread for you...

But I am really pondering the flares...

I am not interested in one off custom made flares but rather the ones that are off the shelf of places like ACI and Ecklers.

There are two types of aftermarket flares the L-88's which cut in tight at the rear they were just made to cover the wide wheel tops not keep mud off,
There are so many different ones, people even modded ones to better suit their taste, mine "look" like the ones ACI now sells, ( I wanted the Ecklers style )





Then the ZL-1 flares which best I can gather that "ZL-1" tag was just given to them by Ecklers they are what some people call "mud flap" flares as they give the kick out on the lower rear and keep water and crud from getting tossed as badly.
Pretty much these were 2" or 4" over stock and Ecklers sold them on part of the fender for easier installation.




Last is this larger screw/rivet on L-88 flare that I can't find who sells them so I don't know if they are plastic or fiberglass, if they were priced within reason and fiberglass I would buy a pair.




I am leaning towards the L-88's as I really like the old school road racer look, I really wish my L-88's were 1" bigger....However the ZL-1's have a whole different striking look...

What I am asking for is which do you like better and moreso why?
Have some on your car please post pictures, I'm looking for food for inspirational thoughts....if you know who makes the larger L-88s with screw dimples please clue me in....

7t2vette

None of the above.

The flares made by Custom Image Corvettes are soooooo much better looking!!!

Mod75

Mr. Bats. Here are the Ecklers ZL1 flairs/Mud flaps.

For a street ride/driver one needs the mud flaps, living out in the country the roads will eat up the paint job real bad with the other racer look flairs.

Just my opinion tho.

Check out this link for your decision tho, dam, so much stuff to look at.

https://www.google.com/search?q=l88+...45%3B575%3B376

The13Bats

Mod75 ...thanks.....I hear what you are saying....
I have both style flares so

qwank

this style:

Mod75

Have see that ride before...real nice...super custom flairs

3JsVette

Perfect! The L88 flares have to be "worked" in order to follow the tire. Otherwise there is a large gap behind the tire. These are a great fit.

Brack c

Like the ZL-1 style ...to me , just gives it a more complete, full look

GPGG70

This looks Nasty!! I'd do those flares.

jr73

brent319

I thought the same thing. :-)



I prefer the look without the mud flaps, but that part of the car takes a beating without them. I added a coat of 3M paint defender on the part of the flares below the bumper line. It is hard to notice, but has done a good job protecting the finish.

kenba

The ones that came on the Corvette from the factory.

bj1k

The answer to your question is none. The stock flares which the factory added on my 72 are perfect . They help to keep the stone chips down and that is all I need.

brent319

Here is a collection of photos of some nice vettes to look through.

https://plus.google.com/app/basic/ph...26sview%253D25

The13Bats

I can't resist...do you mean the stock ones or the L-88 flares that GM tossed in the car if you bought an L-88,

I think the stock 72 flares are great if that is what you desire, I dare to be different to the flock.

I have really looked hard at the CIC flares and I have looked at enough different L-88 flares to know they do have a heck of a lot of custom work and fitting to look that good, a package deal, made to fit the wheels on it which I don't really like, but the car as a whole is stunning and show the 68-69 side inserts Mike made.

The problem with many/most L-88 flares you can buy today, they are just the flare, no fender, the builder has to get them in the right place then flow them into the car make the radius look right from one side and from the rear, not all that easy even for otherwise good bodymen,

CIC does offer theirs like Eckler did, with lots of fender you basically install them like replacing a bad fender, saves time and work and the techs at CIC made everything look right, of course it's up to the builder to run a rim and tire that works with it and doesn't hurt it,
They get 600.00 a pair for the rear not bad at all and you know how cheap I am but the 200.00 plus shipping pretty much ruins it for me...
I have always be pissy about shipping fees.

I would still love to know where the larger screw on L-88's are coming from,

Also I think mod75's car looks every bit as good as the CIC red car just a whole different look....I would love to see your car from the rear and low....

Mod75

Will get some pics in the Am

gdh

That black vette looks stunning as it seems to have retained some of the mud flaps. The CIC cars are incredible but if I were to add flares I would want mine looking more like the black one.

The13Bats

I scrolled back through and the flares, the whole build on Brents car is also every bit as nice to me as the CIC car.
Not taking anything away from CIC I believe what makes their cars so stunning is careful attention to things flowing and fitting right, like I said before custom made to fit the flares wheels as one example.

On the black 80 look car I like it a lot and admire the build and all the work that went into it but it's look is not what I am wanting I want more of an old school meets restro road race.

Josh owner of CIC told me his flares are a custom made by he and his dad idea, they didn't like the off the shelf L-88 and went from there, like I said I would by a pair mostly because of the fact they are on fenders not just a flare needing to be fit,

I do not believe I gave enough info on my end, I have a nice nos pair of Ecklers mug flap flares for the rear and also a pair of L-88's that are about what ACI sells,
If I had Ecklers style L-88's I would use them, When I bought the flares I of course got good prices on them and planned the L-88's to go on a GT-40-ish kit car I have,

I do not want a bunch of trash and crud tossed up on the car but I also like the L-88 look,
I toyed with making my own custom flare something of a L-88 with a slight mud flap flip out...but it's so much easier to buy something like CIC's and be done with it.

rene040269

This car is so beautiful everytime i see it. For those who don't know, these are not flares but "fat fenders" meaning the whole fender is worked and bulges out. The way late C3's should have been made and definately the way my 1980 will be made with the 19x12 C6 Z06 wheels i have bought for my baby.

The13Bats

To me it's stunning with top shelf workmanship and if a person loves the 8-82 style this could be a dream car, not what I desire I already built a 81 wide body which I like better than this, but what a lot of people do not see is just how much wider this car is, I wonder if the zo6 wheels will fill it up and look right....it's all personal taste.

I posted this thread in hopes of seeing some motivating pictures of old school style flares and wheels on a old classic c3....