Educate me (or maybe I am just blind) IROC/TURBO/ST Flares

[tdw28210]

I've spent about 2 hours searching various threads reading up on the various flare shapes from the late 60's - mid 70's. He is what I THINK I know.

• Real ST flares are metal, rare and expensive ($5 to $6k a pair) and look different than RS or turbo flares.
  
• '74 IROC flares are different than turbo flares, though the same size (9" and 11") And you will never find (or afford) a pair of factory ones.

What I need to know is:

• How are IROC and turbo flares different? Can you share a pic and be specific? I've read terms like "slab" and "rough" for the IROC flares but I just don't see it.
  
• Were the IROC front flares and/or quarters metal or fibreglass?

Thanks in advance.

[tirwin]

I'm really glad you are asking this question.

The next big phase of my Porsche addiction will involve building my own hotrod. This is one of the things to research.

The right flares are absolutely critical to the look of the car.

I'm going to be following this discussion closely.

[tdw28210]

Originally Posted by tirwin

I'm really glad you are asking this question.

The next big phase of my Porsche addiction will involve building my own hotrod. This is one of the things to research.

The right flares are absolutely critical to the look of the car.

I'm going to be following this discussion closely.

Sometimes you just got to man up, swallow your pride and risk the flaming.

[javadog]

It's been discussed here a zillion times, so you might want to do a little searching. An "ST" had different flares to start with, as there were a few years you could buy such a car (roughly '70-72) and they didn't share just one design, there were differences from year to year.

Looking at the RSR, IROC, '74 RS and turbo flares, they were all roughly the same size. They differed in two or three main details. The shape of the arch at the outside edge of the flare was different. Turbo flares are more of an even radius; the earlier cars were completely different, in that the radius near the top of the flare was much greater than that of the front and rear. The second thing is they had a different profile to the lip around the outer edge. That on the turbo was sharper and more even in width. Then, the lower parts of the flares tucked into the body more quickly on the earlier cars. At the top, the turbo flares blend into the fenders in a more gradual manner.

Keep in mind that Porsche was experimenting a little bit in those days with the shapes of the flares. They differed somewhat from car to car. They started out with metal but soon, fiberglass copies became available.

JR

[tdw28210]

Thanks Java. Helpful. I have searched/read/stared quite a bit here already. I think I just need to see these things in person.

[tdw28210]

OK, hopefully these pics below I've annotated will help all future questioners/inquisitors. Here is what I could easily see. In a nutshell, the IROC flares look like they were a somewhat crudely "wallowed out" version of an early turbo flares - especially in the front.