Hey guys,

I have been playing around and created some dirty sketches of some fender flares that I am considering making. I want flares for the reasons everyone else does: wider tires and better grip, eventually building up to be a fun autocross car... but I am not happy with L88 flares being pretty much the only option out there. The reason I have always been drawn to C3's has always been about the aesthetics. If all I cared about was going fast I would have stuck with my C5. With that being said, I am a young guy and am also drawn to the alternative aesthetic of modern time attack and drift cars. I want to create my own take on a C3 with those aesthetics in mind. I know people can be quite sensitive to modifying their cars, but I have a 1980, so there isn't much point in keeping it stock. I have attached some quick renderings I did of two different types of front flares, and three different rear flares... Fronts are 2" and are vented, and the rears are 4", and will have a more gradual flow through the flare instead of the drastic change of the L88's. The intention is to bolt the flares onto my car, either leaving them black or painting them body color. The bolt holes will be properly recessed into the flares, and the fit and finish will be quality.

I also attached a rendering of my eventual vision... Custom flares, front splitter, rear diffuser, rear spoiler, and 6" cowl hood. I would have put 18" wheels, but I figured that this was an exercise in designing flares. Let me know what you think... my flame suit is on!

 

Looks like a nice new look,, and you likely already realize, they are just for looks, maybe to keep stones off your windshield, but you can make a brick go fast with out flairs,, ,, build your car for time attack handling and speed first, then spend leftover time and cash on what it looks like, , Looks like your ideas have a 21st century spin on the C3,,,, Enjoy your build,

 

Just copy what some professional racing teams have done with C3's. They have been designed for speed and lower wind resistance already. Why 're-invent' what others have already done well?

P.S. Nothing wrong with your designs, if you mainly are going for the 'appearance' aspect.

 

Well, the thing about it is that doing the body modifications will cost me significantly less than anything mechanical because I can do all of the work myself (minus paint). My background is in sculpting, so building the flares will be more fun to me than working on mechanical bits alone.


I admit that a major part of this decision is for looks, but looks are part of the reason I love cars. There are very few cars ever made that I couldn't find anything I would want to change aesthetically.

When I was doing research the only flares I saw were L88, or they were complete widebody kits. I do not care for widebody C3s, and as I stated, I want something different from the L88. As far as aerodynamics are concerned, there is not much to model off of for 1980-82 C3s as most people that race C3s are using the earlier body style. The shape and structure of the 80-82 front bumper and lower valance panels does not leave much that one can do without recreating the bumper and flattening out the surfaces, which totally destroys the look. Plus, if the car ever gets to a point where I am going fast enough to worry about optimizing aerodynamics then I'm sure I'll have the luxury of doing it again.

My goal is to accentuate the already substantial wheelhouse structures of the C3 which is what I feel is the best and most distinctive design aspect of the C3.

Once again, this is a design exercise. If anyone sees anything about the designs that might be structurally deficient or cause issues with installation, please let me know.

 

Just Google "Images Corvette racing cars 1968-1980"

 

As I stated, I do not care for full widebody 80-82 Corvettes. The widebody kits completely ruin the aesthetics of the car by creating lines and shapes that were not part of the original design that I love so much, IMO. They are pretty much creating a new car with a semblance of a C3. The goal of my flares is to accentuate the natural curves the C3 already has. The only drastic change in direction or shape might be the front fender where I am considering curving the area behind the wheel inward towards the wheel well, as opposed to how it flares outwards in stock form (but I also plan on creating a set that has a traditional continuous flared wheel arch). If my design is executed as cleanly as I am hoping there should be little to no drastic change in fender angles the likes of L88 flares (if they were glassed in).

I guess the only thing from here is to go ahead and draft a set!

 

Here's some food for thought-

Out of all the flares I have seen - they really don't encompass the rest of the body-

Till I saw these- a new take on flaring the car-

 

I absolutely love that car, but it still doesn't address the stark transition from the stock fender to the flare. Unfortunately, there isn't much real estate in the front of both the front and rear wheel arches to create a smooth transition, but there is plenty of space behind the wheel arches to make a smoother transition... ala teardrop shape. Other than the aesthetic of bolting on the flares instead of fully glassing them in, the goal is to make the lines mostly flow like they could be factory with some slight exceptions.

I guess you could say that the flares I want to make are a combination of flares and widebody fenders because they won't technically "flare" out, but instead are almost full quarter panels.

 

This statement caught my attention. I am sure a lot of folks told Chip Foose not to change things on some of the cars he was messing with early on. Yet he did and now he is one of the best in the industry. I recently watched a video of him doing a sketch on a 75 AMC Pacer. Started with one of the ugliest cars I have ever seen. In the end, I would own the car he sketched in a heartbeat. Not because his name is attached to it but because it looked pretty awesome!

You have said several times its about the aesthetics for you. I say go for it then. Have a blast doing it. Who knows, you might be the next Chip Foose!

 

I think your just hung up on the name "wide body" Black72GTS,,,, Go ahead and make what pleases you, you have shown a great idea in your illustrations, Show everyone your skills, build what you love, call them what you like, it may start a trend that many will follow, and that's a great compliment,,
I cant wait to see your finished product,
,,,,teddy,,,,