Flares - a question from ignorance and curiosity

[Otter74]

What is the difference in shape between '84-'89 Carrera flares, SC flares and midyear Carrera flares? Until I read someone's comment yesterday, I had no idea SC flares and late Carrera flares were any different. I have a good eye for surfaces, and if I had examples of the cars sitting next to each other and I could look at them in person, I could probably answer my question. But, y'know, my local Mart o' Carreras is closed Perhaps it is too subtle to easily pick up in photos. I was just curious. I don't think I knew Carrera RS flares and Turbo flares were so different, but it was pretty obvious to me when I looked at the RS clone photos posted to the show-me-your-middie thread yesterday.

[88911coupe]

I've wondered this as well, I see reference to 7" or 9" flares and don't really know what they are referring to...maybe it's reference to the wheel size they are compatible with? Really don't know.
Good question.

[Mick_D]

I always interpreted it as what size rim you'd need to be filling the wheel well properly under the flare. 7 inch flare requires a 7 inch rim, 9 inch needs a 9, 11 inch needs an 11, etc. DISCLAIMER: I reached this 'rule of thumb' conclusion on my own so I have no corroboration on it.

[moneymanager]

Try a search. This question has been addressed/answered many times.

[javadog]

Bottom line, '73 Carrera RS and some early 2.7 Carrera flares have one shape, everything after that has a slightly different shape. The differences are in the shape of the opening and the profile of the fender lip.

JR

I did this comparison about 100 years ago. The top is a 78 - 89 flair. Bottom is an RS/early Carrera flair. The lip turn down width is different.

[Bill Verburg]

Originally Posted by Otter74

What is the difference in shape between '84-'89 Carrera flares, SC flares and midyear Carrera flares? Until I read someone's comment yesterday, I had no idea SC flares and late Carrera flares were any different. I have a good eye for surfaces, and if I had examples of the cars sitting next to each other and I could look at them in person, I could probably answer my question. But, y'know, my local Mart o' Carreras is closed Perhaps it is too subtle to easily pick up in photos. I was just curious. I don't think I knew Carrera RS flares and Turbo flares were so different, but it was pretty obvious to me when I looked at the RS clone photos posted to the show-me-your-middie thread yesterday.

The flares used on Carrera from 'sometime in '74 or '75 up are the same, the '73 RS through at least some of the '74 Carreras had a subtly different shape. There is a thread from years ago w/ all sorts of pictures. I know for a fact that my '76 Carrera flares are identical to those through '89 911


from '64 not counting race and rally cars there have been only 4 basic fender sizes
shorter w/b
'64-68 6/6 wheels these cars came w/ almost slab sides and used 6" max wheel width

longer w/b
'69- 77 regular 6/6 wheels these cars have a bit more flare but still the same 6" max wheel widths oe though 7/7 could be fitted, These are often called 7" fenders

'73-74 Carrera 6/7 wheels w/ 7/8 options, these have a 2" wider rear fender than above and can be fitted w/ up to 9" wheels in back, fronts are the same 7" flares as above rear would be 9" flares

'75-89 SC & Carrera, 6/7 wheels, 7/8 option, these have the same fenders as above, the contour of the rears was subtly different in '73-74 but all accommodate the same 7 & 9" wheels

'75 -89 930 7/8 & 7& 9 wheels, these have the very wide fenders similar to those seen on the '73 RSR, the RSR used 9 & 11" wheels, so the flared are called 9" front and 11" rear.

[TRE Cup]

Plus a few more detail differences:
1965-1968 torsion bar hole placement was closer to the wheel well opening Short wheel base (swb)

69-86 torsion bar placement was the same dimension as 65-68 BUT the wheel well opening was a bit further away than the earlier cars as these models have the longer wheel base (LWB)

1987-1989 torsion bar opening is a larger semi circular panel with corresponding cut out on the flare in front of the wheel well opening. If backdating an earlier car (65-77) to RS inspired look, these flares are not desirable because of this large opening and cover

1989 (964)-1994 have the same shape as the other Carrera flares (not RS of course) but have an even larger opening and indentations for fastening the plastic "shark fin" covers of the 964 rocker set up

[Otter74]

Thanks, Bill. This answers everything I was wondering about perfectly. Mark Wilson's photos above also make the difference from pre-'74 flares very obvious.

Originally Posted by Bill Verburg

The flares used on Carrera from 'sometime in '74 or '75 up are the same, the '73 RS through at least some of the '74 Carreras had a subtly different shape. There is a thread from years ago w/ all sorts of pictures. I know for a fact that my '76 Carrera flares are identical to those through '89 911


from '64 not counting race and rally cars there have been only 4 basic fender sizes
shorter w/b
'64-68 6/6 wheels these cars came w/ almost slab sides and used 6" max wheel width

longer w/b
'69- 77 regular 6/6 wheels these cars have a bit more flare but still the same 6" max wheel widths oe though 7/7 could be fitted, These are often called 7" fenders

'73-74 Carrera 6/7 wheels w/ 7/8 options, these have a 2" wider rear fender than above and can be fitted w/ up to 9" wheels in back, fronts are the same 7" flares as above rear would be 9" flares

'75-89 SC & Carrera, 6/7 wheels, 7/8 option, these have the same fenders as above, the contour of the rears was subtly different in '73-74 but all accommodate the same 7 & 9" wheels

'75 -89 930 7/8 & 7& 9 wheels, these have the very wide fenders similar to those seen on the '73 RSR, the RSR used 9 & 11" wheels, so the flared are called 9" front and 11" rear.

[Kemo]

and if i remember correctly...somebody posted a picture of the "Nature Boy" Rick Flair