TheCorvetteKid

Hey guys,

Call me crazy, but I've heard that GM installed FRONT fender flares on european-model Corvettes in '96. These flares where similar to the GS rear flares. I've seen one picture of these flares, but I can't find any information in the GM parts manuals for these.

Anyone got any information regarding these? Any truth to this? Pics?

Thanks.

YLO Z06

I have seen the flares as well, but they are NOT like the GS flares -- they are black unpainted plastic, like on a Jeep Wrangler. At the time, GM had two styles of flares -- one type for Europe and one for Japan. The European flares were at all 4 corners and were not painted, as mentioned above. The Japan flares are the GS flares, and these cars also had a Japan-only rear fascia that had integrated flares in it (that is why the GS flares seem to end abruptly at the rear fascia). Japan cars did not have front flares. I think I have some photos of the Europe car in a old Corvette Quarterly mag. I'll look when I get home. The GS flare info was from an article with Jon Heinrichy, who was in charge of the GS project.

BAM92

Eckler's carried them a looonnng time ago. Probably around 96. 450 I think was price. In the picture the front fenders had a flair to them also but it was stated that this was for the "eyebrow type flair only" not the fenders or bumpers which continued the flair down.

JasonL

With all due respect, I can't help but question some of your info. Maybe a year ago, there was a forum member in Germany(?) with a yellow '94 LT1. It had add-on fender flares front and rear and were painted yellow.

Here's the interesting part. On the rear, there were actually three pieces per side, the big piece above the tire, a small piece in front, and a small piece in rear. You're correct, that's why the GS flare ends a bit strangely.

I don't remember how many pieces were on the front flares, I think it was just two pieces. Above the tire and behind the tire.

I also remember a Car & Driver article with a yellow C4 (95 model?) in Japan. I think it also had add-on flares, because I remember thinking they looked ugly (at the time). This was probably the same article where the Supra Turbo had its rear wing torn off in a drive-thru car wash :lol: They took the Vette, Supra, and a Skyline through the mountains and the city.

At any rate. Two years ago when I ordered the rear flares from Jeff Kopp, he said his computer showed front flares, so they are probably still available.


[Modified by JasonL, 3:28 PM 8/7/2003]

scorp508

The fronts are still available last I knew (not too long ago) and all the ones I have seen on euro cars are painted to match. :yesnod:

JasonL

Here's the euro Vette. I was slightly mistaken, there are only two pieces per rear flare. But they are all certainly painted.

http://www.mycorvette.de/

TheCorvetteKid

Hi Jason,

Thanks for the link. Yup, that's the car I saw with the front fenders.

Funny, now that I see them, i'm not so sure I like them. From some angles, I think they look great, yet other angles make me think twice...

Am I alone here? What do other think of these?

BTW, anybody know the reason why GM put these on the front? The front tires don't look wider than 275/40-ZR17 to me, and they fit under the stock fenders perfectly.

JasonL

There may be funky Japanese/European laws that say the fender must protrude over the tire by some amount... just a guess.

As for looks... I think it looks pretty cool from a novelty perspective. But I will pass on the front flares on my own car, although I wouldn't complain if they were there. Like I said, novelty :cool:

YLO Z06

Whoops! I was wrong :spam. Per this article from Corvette Quarterly, the export flares were painted. But I swear I remember some other flares that were just black plastic :confused: . That's what happens when I just spout off from memory :bb :nono:

JasonL

Great article... thanks for posting!

Darkness

This one was in the Tech section!

stinger95

I kinda like the way they look. Some angles are better than others though.

allyearvette

I have a set, not for sale but for who wants to have a look. They are original GM

MrJoelieC

Wow a zombie thread.... But Cool though...LOL

ghoastrider1

I THINK Brett in the c-1 section makes these. he has a shop and is the best restorer in the country for 53,4 and 5 corvettes. Bowling green had his 53 on display for a long time. His shop is called Blue Flame restorations I think. Out of Indianapolis (actually a small town near there). Last week he was racing his c-4 here in Indy at the speedway track for Bloomington Indy corvette whoop te do,