Bob-G

I believe we all "love the spats" Anyone know of anything better (carbon fiber or ?) that is available to replace the stock spats?

Rave

Your belief may be a bit misguided.

Steve_R

Splats???

Bob-G

The "extentions" for lack of a better word that curve around the top of the front fenders of the GS' to compensate for the wider tires.

Clspht

Ok... I'll help... First of all its SPATS

A number of forum vendors have them in carbon fiber, painted in carbon flash or body color... Others take them off, sand em and paint them themselves.

Steve_R

They're commonly called spats, not splats.

Borntorun04/17

The ones I like most are the APSIS integrated spat/splash. They come carbon fiber or carbon flash.

Bob-G

Thanks for the vendor info!

Steve Garrett

I fixed your "Splats" for you......

OnPoint

Corvette Mods sells factory spats painted carbon flash black that matches the carbon flash black on all the rest of the car's trim.

I'm going to be getting a set of them myself soon.

Clspht

Bought a new OEM set and having them painted at a local shop. Have seen some pre-painted ones with paint issues and dont want that kind of hassle... I figure I have a little more quality control getting them painted close by... Its not about the money, but it actually turns out to be less than buying them already painted.

JerryU

Thought "Spats" looked like a "cheap" add-on when the Z06 was introduced, reminded me of my CJ5! OK on a Jeep to cover the larger tires but a Vette?? But when ready to get a Grand Sport, Tadge provided the answer as to why they are used versus wider front fender or molded into the fenders.

Since I believe in "Form Follows Function" I now think they look fine!

Tadge answer:
"All Corvette exterior features and surface shapes are designed for maximum performance and great aesthetics. Around the front wheel openings, both the C6 (Z06, GS and ZR1) and C7 (GS and Z06) feature what you are calling spats arcing down the forward edge. These features create high pressure on the front/top and low pressure on the back/underside resulting in down force and evacuation of hot air from the wheel opening. The aerodynamic studies for both C6 and C7 independently proved their value. To work, they need to be a very specific shape - specifically a sharp break in the surface where the spat meets the fender.

I have been asked many times why we couldn't just form that shape from the front fender so it would be all one painted piece instead of looking "tacked on". We looked at that and decided it looked pretty bad when painted bright colors. Your eye is immediately drawn to that feature and it does not look integrated or graceful. Naturally the question is, "If it is so important, why don't we see it on the C7.R race car?" The reason is that the race car sits so low to the ground it can take advantage of even more efficient aerodynamic features such as an "underwing" that sits beneath the front splitter. "Ok, then why don't we see it on other street cars?". Well, actually you do. There are several, typically very serious performance cars that have similar features such as the Porsche GT3RS."






Spats were fine in my CJ5 but in a Vette? Not until Tadge provided the reason!

demasterz

Check these out:
https://www.rpidesigns.com/shop/item.aspx?itemid=5326

LIStingray

I have these on my 2018 GS - they look great.

Jaylars

Nice color..you're missing the front splitter though. Or just off for the spat install?

Bob-G

Really Steven, I looked at my car this morning and they still look the same. Thanks for the fix.

proexpert

That answer from the engineer dude is corporate BS. I'm a mechanical engineer and I'm not buying any of that. If that were true, the Stingray would also have them.

Bob-G

I like these, thanks.

brettmess24

APR Performance carbon fiber spats! Fit and finish is spot on.

drs

Jerry, you look pretty nice in that bikini