Flares on an Elan

[Davidb]

I have been agonizing over fitting 26R type flares to my car for the past year. The problem is that my car has a fairly decent paint job and small, but not very attractive flares already. I am aware that this is big job hence my hesitation-the car is running and driving very well but that 26R look is so good...

One question for those who have done this job-Since I installed 26R style covered headlights last winter and went to a huge amount of trouble making sure the plexi covers fit nicely I am concerned that I will have to do it again if I go the 26R flare route. Is it possible to do the 26R flares without touching the headlight opening?

Col Croucher has just come out with a timely article on doing flares:
http://elantrikbits.com/lotus-elan-blog ... -to-flare/

[elj221c]

Try this 'small' thread.....

lotus-elan-f19/elan-flairs-the-good-the-bad-and-some-ugly-ones-t16400.html

The mod does look good but you then need wider wheels for the 'Look' which means smaller diameter rear springs and.....so on!

[Davidb]

Thanks, i should have added, I already have 6 inch rims on 26R hubs so all that is done.

[elj221c]

Looking good!

Hey, you have a nice TR to go around in while you do the Elan!

[Davidb]

Not mine! I thought the two cars looked good together and took a photo.

[Davidb]

The original question seems to have become obscured:
Does the headlight aperture have to be cut out in order to fit 26R flares to the front or can they be left it place as is shown in Col Croucher's article (see first posting) although he was not fitting 26R flares?

A current photo of my car:

[paddy]

I do not believe you need to go near the headlight aperture. I can get a torch up inside the wheelarches tonight to have a look.

Paddy

[Davidb]

Thank you Paddy!

[paddy]

Hi,

I can get a torch up inside the wheelarches tonight to have a look.

I did have a look.

From the underside it's not too clear exactly where the join is, at the forward end of the arch near the bumper and headlamp, because it's concealed by the inner arch piece. Around the top of the arch the join, insofar as you can see it from the underside, is at most 2.5" inboard from the outer edge. The piece that has been added doesn't look anything like as extensive as the pieces shown in the Col Croucher article.

However, I did find these photos from the PO's collection from the time the work was done.

Hope this helps.

Paddy

[paddy]

You get the impression from the TTR part that it's more extensive than what was fitted to mine, and does extend into the headlamp aperture:

https://www.tonythompsonracing.co.uk/pa ... ht-weight/

Paddy

[Davidb]

Many thanks Paddy. Anybody else feel like commenting?

[groucho]

I don't have 26R flares but I do have pretty decent-sized ones and I don't believe they required any headlight changes, but mine are a little more pronounced. I have an old photo of them being permanently attached; my understanding is that they were a little loosely attached originally.



After paint, this is what they looked like then:



They look essentially the same today and have held up well; I also may be biased but these are definitely my favorite flares that I've ever seen on an Elan - and I've never seen them on another Elan. According to Tony V (the original purchaser), they were made by one George Eby and installed some time in the early '70s after the original fenders were cut off to fit bigger tires by some unnamed assailant to good taste. Regardless of the story (and the offended purists), on a purely physical basis, I love 'em; it makes the car look like a baby Cobra!

[Davidb]

Thanks Groucho--they do look quite tasteful. Similar to the flares that Col Croucher installed-(see first post on this thread)

Anyone who has done 26R flares care to answer my question-
Do the headlight openings have to be cut out to install 26R flares?

[MrBonus]

I don't have 26R flares but I do have pretty decent-sized ones and I don't believe they required any headlight changes, but mine are a little more pronounced. I have an old photo of then being permanently attached; my understanding is that they were a little loosely attached.



After paint, this is what they looked like then:



They look essentially the same today and have held up well; I also may be biased but these are definitely my favorite flares that I've ever seen on an Elan - and I've never seen them on another Elan. According to Tony V (the original purchaser), they were made by one George Eby and installed some time in the early '70s after the original fenders were cut off to fit bigger tires by some unnamed assailant to good taste. Regardless of the story (and the offended purists), on a purely physical basis, I love 'em; it makes the car look like a baby Cobra!

I just purchased my first Elan (A '67 Coupe Super Safety) and my car has the same flares. They were used to accommodate a larger 15" wheel and 195 tire. I do love the look too as it makes it look much more aggressive.

[Davidb]

MrBonus (great name) Somehow I missed your posting. I agree, the Elan really benefits from more aggressive flares/wheels. Yours and Grouchos are the kind of look I like. How do you find the comparison between the Elan and the 911. I used to own an 83 911 and loved it for its steering and handling. The trouble was, I found I had to be doing 100 mph before it got interesting...


I found the answer to my question by doing a search-how surprising!
Photo #8 answers my question and photo #13 is how I feel about doing the job-photos 14-17 show why it should be done:
lotus-elan-f19/progress-far-t14299.html