BritishV8 Forum

General Category => Bodywork, Paint, Interior, Trim, & Wiring => Topic started by: Keith on November 11, 2008, 02:15:55 PM

Title: Mk1 Golf (aka Rabbit) fender flares
Post by: Keith on November 11, 2008, 02:15:55 PM
Poking around, I came across this car:
http://www.entune2000.co.uk/et2gals/gall17/index.html

It apparently uses fender flares (in the rear at least) from a Mk1 Golf. Here's all the information I have:
"replacement steel arches as fitted to the VW Golf GTI, Passat or Bora"

Does anybody know of this modification? I like the looks of them.
Title: Re: Mk1 Golf (aka Rabbit) fender flares
Post by: Bill Young on November 11, 2008, 03:44:57 PM
Keith, it's pretty much the same as using the Dodge Omni flares, just cut them from the VW body and weld into the B panels. They come from the early 80s Rabbits and Golfs, pretty much the same as the Omnis. You've got to go pretty far back, before the full front and rear plastic bumpers to get flares that reach all the way down to the rockers front and rear. IIRC the VW flares have a bit wider outer lip than the Omni items, but not by much. Repair panels for the rear arches are stocked by this company http://www.rustrepair.com/app2/onlinecat.htm?p=sm&OVRAW=rust%20repair%20panels&OVKEY=rust%20repair%20panel&OVMTC=standard&OVADID=920515022&OVKWID=4581228022 but I don't know how large or compele they are. I'd say the parts for the 2 door bodies would be better for flares. They don't show anything for the Omni.
Title: Re: Mk1 Golf (aka Rabbit) fender flares
Post by: Keith on November 11, 2008, 05:38:46 PM
rustrepair.com has Mk2 and Mk3 parts, but I couldn't find any Mk1 stuff. I think I'll begin with picking up a couple of junkyard fenders that are here in town and cutting them up.
Title: Re: Mk1 Golf (aka Rabbit) fender flares
Post by: MGBV8 on November 11, 2008, 05:43:59 PM
Nice!

(http://www.entune2000.co.uk/et2gals/gall17/(1).jpg)
Title: Re: Mk1 Golf (aka Rabbit) fender flares
Post by: rficalora on November 11, 2008, 11:34:41 PM
Jim Adams has/had Omni flares on the rear & Rabbit flares on the front.  Don't know what version of rabbit the flares came from but they looked good to me...  I think the rabbit flares are a little smaller than the omni ones...  I jave Jim's contact him; just let me know.

sadiesandaccident011.jpg
sadiesandaccident006.jpg
sadiesandaccident008.jpg
Title: Re: Mk1 Golf (aka Rabbit) fender flares
Post by: jbarila on November 14, 2008, 07:18:04 AM
When fitting the flares, are they butt welded or overlapped and spot welded?
Thanks,
JB
Title: Re: Mk1 Golf (aka Rabbit) fender flares
Post by: rficalora on November 14, 2008, 10:47:59 PM
I'm doing this stuff for the first time, but I'm seam welding mine.  If you spot weld I'd think moisture would get in over time.
Title: Re: Mk1 Golf (aka Rabbit) fender flares
Post by: Keith on November 17, 2008, 12:24:17 PM
I picked up some Rabbit fenders over the weekend.

(http://www.slowcarfast.com/MG/images_lrg/img_0526.jpg)

I'll cut them out and do a rough fitting soon. The rears looked really good, but the yard wanted $100 each to torch them out!
Title: Re: Mk1 Golf (aka Rabbit) fender flares
Post by: rficalora on November 17, 2008, 03:26:19 PM
What's the spread at the bottom?  I'm using Omni/Horizon flares... they came from a mix of cars & a couple were NOS replacement (non-OEM) fenders & found that there was a lot of variability... some measured 27" across; others 28" & one was close to 29".  Front & rear were closer to 28.5" on my car so the 27" ones required more work to get them to fit well.  Curious what you find with the Rabbit flares.  Also, how much they end up extending past the body edge.
Title: Re: Mk1 Golf (aka Rabbit) fender flares
Post by: harv8 on December 09, 2008, 07:02:35 PM
Carl, any idea what spoiler was used on the rear deck of the MGB with Rabbit flares?
Title: Re: Mk1 Golf (aka Rabbit) fender flares
Post by: ema on August 24, 2009, 08:12:33 PM
Well, good luck on that. I also think that it's a good mod that your car could have. Meanwhile, you can check out this How to Replace Fender (http://www.automd.com/how-to/how-to-replace-a-fender/) DIY to guide you through out that modification.