MG Sports Cars

Earlier this month we added Paul Schils' MGB to the photo gallery... it features Huffaker-style flares. Incidentally, Huffaker fiberglass flares generally come in two sizes. Paul's flares are the earlier authentic Huffaker style, which are a little bit smaller than what British Leyland sponsored Huffaker Racing racecars used in the later 1970's. Both sizes are still available. Then, we added Earl Dickeson's car... and it has Sebring-style fiberglass flares. They're called Sebring flares because the MG factory team used similarly shaped flares on cars that raced in the Sebring 12-hour endurance race in 1968.

Now, we've also added new photos of Bruce Mill's MGB, which he has updated with Dodge Omni flares:

Check it out here: Bruce Mills' 1974.5 MGB roadster with Rover 3.5L V8

Wow! Mustang R wheels look mean with the flares. Excellent!

Bruce

How did you cut the louvers in the inner fender panels?

Jim

Hi Bruce -- looks great; good update. This pic sort of makes it look like you put an MG dash in a cessna ;)

Thanks for the update Curtis.

Jim
I had the louvers punched and then cut and welded them in. The highest temperature I have been in was 120 (last July) in Baker NV. No A/C. The car did a lot better than I did. Also I have sat in 90 degree temp for 45 minutes waiting to cross the boarder. It got up to about 3/4 on the gauge but came down quickly as soon as we got going again

Rob
Got a good laugh out of your comment. Never noticed it before but you are right

Bruce, where did you purchase your front bumper? I've tried numerous times to order one from MorSpeed but I've never got an answer. I like the "stand alone" look of the front grille. As a personal preference, I also think that the Omni fender flares give out the best look. If my ride comes out looking as good, I'll be very happy, congratulations!

If this is Flare Month we need more pics of flares!

VW Rabbit flares:

Another possibility, Miata flares:

Carl, thanks for posting a photo of something else than Omni, do they fit as good and how about the front fender flares? It seems like a great option to the becoming hard to find Omni flares.

Jacques
I got the bumpers from Tim at [www.morspeedperformance.com] Upon checking the web page I noticed "Until further notice I am not taking fiberglass orders - I may be able to make hood skins only that you can bond to your existing steel hood frames.
However, I am still taking orders for Wind Blockers. Please check back every couple of months."

"thanks for posting a photo of something else than Omni, do they fit as good and how about the front fender flares?"

Jacques,

I can't answer your question. Although I have seriously considered it, I have not flared my fenders. I would love the wider track, but I like the stock lines as much as the flared look.

Just throwing out alternatives.

Here's the Huffaker flares:

Here's the monstrous Sebring flares:

VW rabbits work as well as Omni; I've seen a couple done. They're a hair smaller. Here's a pic of Jim Adam's car which had omni on the rear & rabbit on the front.

The miata ones in the pic above appear to be bolt ons; don't think i'd like that look but maybe they could be bonded on & blended in.



Truth be told, now that I've done mine, I think metal flares like the omnis or rabbits can be pretty easily fabricated. I made a cardboard template to extend the omnis in the rear of my car. Once I had that done, the metal was formed with a slip roll. You can see the black omni flare & unpainted portion I added in this pic. Wouldn't have been much harder to make them the full width & then add the lips...





Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/22/2010 08:16PM by rficalora.

Rob,

Would you like to make a few sets..... ;-) Body mods are a ways off for me but definitely something to be done before she is rolled out and painted.

Here are flairs made for a sprite , wonder what they would look like grafted to an MGB?
They have that real rounded look that I have heard some of you wish you had for the rear !

Anyone know a good place to buy flares? I'm sure someone will say try the local wercking yard, but I don't really live in the best area for wrecking yards. Any online sites I could be pointed to?

Car-part.com is a nationwide search. A lot of wrecking yards will ship fenders, I just had a hood shipped. Try to find one closest to you for less cost. Check for Dodge Omni/Plymouth Horizon 4 door sedan front fenders. Or Early 80's VW Rabbit or Ford Escort front fenders. Use them backwards and opposite on rear.

Perfect. Thank yoU!!!!

Incidentally, here's another approach... very tricky yet subtle.

(from an article about Mike Zappa's MGB racecar, published earlier today)