Anyone have the scoop on why they have them or better, how I could get a set of them?
928 International, though I was crazy.

SilverSFR

 

I like them too...



Rich

 

Do you have any pics of these Japanese fender flares?

 

I'd just get a set of the Devek flares...

http://www.devek.net/images/pro_body/flare1.jpg
http://www.devek.net/images/pro_body/flare2.jpg

 

The Japan flares are only for the front fenders. They have that "add on" look. The Japan Corvette also has them...

 

BC, I think SFR is referring to the front fenders.

Weissach, you beat me to it!

I personally don't like them, and think that they do not complement the car in any way.

The rear GTS flares are another matter.

I am quite curious to see the Devek "front all metal flares coming soon!"

 

I see that now.

Ugh.

No sir, don't like it...

 

agreed not a fan et al

 

Reminds me too much of something cheesy like this:

 

I would not own a 928, if it came witih those fender flares. They feels soo out of place on a car with such smooth lines.

Towards tne end of the production, Porsche offered wider front fenders in galvanized metal though their Exclusive department. They look almost exactly like the original fenders, just about 1" wider. I think that was the better solution than the one for Japan.

There are additional flares behind the rear wheels on the '89 and newer models for Japan. I guess they have some strict laws on covering the wheels. Maybe that helps prevent rock chips on cars that follow.

Here in the US you see lots of vehicles with hardly any wheel covering. While that might look cool, IMHO it is rude to the people following that vehicle. I cannot believe how many "craters" my windshield and paint have - I'd say it is more than twice as many as cars with comparable mileage would have in Europe. Go figure...

But we like the freedom we all have, don't we? What are a few rock chips, and the cost for replacing windshields and paint... it's all good for the economy. Sorry for sounding sarcastic!

 

I can just see the "porsche" mud flaps on Nicole's 928 now...



Actually, I like the look of big fat rubber.
But I had never thought about the rock flinging effect.
It never really crossed my mind.
Now I feel bad.

Well, not really.

 

I did see a set of pictures of one Japanese market 928 with very well integrated lower rear fender flares: they only covered the last 8 - 10" of the trailing edge of the wheel arch, and did not protrude beyond the upper edge of the wheel arch. With a set of spacers to bring the wheels out to 'the edge', the flares contributed to the appearance of a fuller, more agressive appearance - and were completely integrated with the flow of the 928's lines.
Now, does anyone know how to access them, short of flying to Tokyo?

 

http://www5b.biglobe.ne.jp/~IBISgts/

Similar real fender flares were used in Switzerland. In most countries there's laws that dictate how close to ground fender must cover wheel or how large percentage of wheels 360 decree circle can protrude outside fender line etc. As Nicole said, in EU they are usually stricter than US, Japan and Switzerland have even stricter still. Sometimes makers don't want to make models comply all these rules of hand, especially if main markets require much less.

Erkka

1992 928 GTS 5-speed, only Oak Green GTS without mud flaps that I know
Oak Green Metallic 22L
Classic Gray MX

 

This is the rear flare I mentioned above - not sure how the quality is in a hacked xfer from a bitmap to jpg file. Would you have these on your 928?

 

if you look at the 924GTR/GTS, flares are a Porsche thing. Just rivet them on .... also the 935 and such. No biggie. Personally, if I were racing I would do it, not otherwise. I think the 928 needs sleeker mods because it isn't a raw racecar, and can't live looking like a modern WRX-style car, which many of the earlier Porsche racecars did. So .... not for me. Front flares are pretty much a horrible thing, I have never seen a 928 with nice ones. I wish we had a source or at least a pic of the flares (front) which Nicole mentions ....