Midyear Corvette flare ID help please
 

Looking for some historical background info on some Midyear Corvette flares, if there is any to be found…

Take a look at the pics to see if these style flares are identifiable in some fashion. This is a 1966 Alan Green sold 427/425Hp car that made it’s way to Southern California in the early 70’s. The flares were added back then by some shop in that vicinity as well as the paintwork you currently see. A few other mods were made at that time too: original silver interior swapped to black, engine was changed to a 396/425HP (which I removed roughly 25 years ago to put in my ’65 B/B roadster), etc…..

Several years back a random person driving by stopped and excitingly asked if this car was flared by some shop in So Cal, more specifically in Simi Valley. Evidently there was a flare guru located down there that was well known for his Corvette flares. Does that ring a bell to anyone?

Just trying to discover a bit more 70’s history on this car. Any info or speculation would be most appreciated.

Thanks, Charlie

Charlie-maybe this guy?


https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-...314-story.html


Has a phone number....article is from 1993.... :beers:

Maybe kind of a reach...but you could reach out to Mark Smith-the original owner of this Vette...from the Southern Ca. area, too?


Has flares that are kind of the same? He might recognize who did them...or even the car?


https://www.msn.com/en-us/autos/clas...age=BB105WqJ|1
:biggthumpup:

I'm usually not a fan of flares, but those look good.

Tognotties in Sacramento did flares, but theirs looked more like the front ones.
I'd love to know more about this car.

Great tips Bruce ! We're off to a good start on this quest...

The car hasn't really changed since the body mods were done, so someone might actually remember it from the past.

And I typically don't care for flares on most cars myself. These ones seem to blend with the body style better the most.

My old '65 B/B roadster (pictured below) had bulbous flares and I never liked them. Most flared cars have been returned back to original by now. This '65 is now beautifully restored to it's factory red exterior with red/white interior and amazingly (not by me) has it's "matching numbers" engine once again...

Here's a pic of the '66 hood. It has a unique paint affect around the raised area that might help trigger some memories of this particular car as well...

Wow, that's a beauty. Is there a correct L72 in it now or...?

----You don't often see a set of 8 inch knock-offs anymore. I had a set on my old 70 SS 454 Chevelle convert and they looked great!.......Bill S

Currently has a locally built perky 454 that replaced the 396 I pulled out so long ago... About six months ago I ran across a completely rebuilt period correct properly dated L72 on SYC and that engine is sitting in my garage ready to be installed. FYI - no numbers matching games to be played here. The OEM engine stampings will remain on that block.

The 454 will be removed in a few weeks and the engine compartment will get a freshen up to be more correct. The new L72 sounded amazing on the engine dyno. Can't wait to hear it in the car. Out of all the B/B's I have been lucky enough to own over the years, the L72's have always been the most fun!

I know messing with C2's and/or not taking them back to factory is sacrilege these days, but I have always loved the custom flared C2 look. Stock C2's are just beautiful cars, but some of the period custom C2's just looked so period perfect, it was hard to fault them.

Congrats on such a cool old school Vette.

I agree with Mark...I love the vibe on this Vette!:headbang:

I love 66 L72 Coupes. a Nassau Blue over Bright Blue or lets dream here... Black over Bright Blue is on my bucket list... Silver silver is HARD TO BEAT AS WELL!!!

LOVE THE CAR!

A black with a bright blue interior would be my order if I could go back in a time machine and specify what I wanted...

Although my last L72 Roadster was a Nassau Blue on dark blue leather combo, and that was very sharp!

Updates: Per the previous unknown visitor, supposedly there was a shop in Simi Valley in the early 70's that specialized in putting C3 L88 flares on C2 cars... The guys name started with a B? With all the modified C2 Corvettes out there, maybe someone has heard of this before?

That just might be the best mid-year flare job I’ve ever seen and it would be a crime to un-do it after this many years. It has spent MANY more years flared than un-flared so it deserves to Survive in it’s current state. Please preserve it like I hope you’ll do! I was once told by a one-owner flared ‘67 BBC roadster that it was mainly the BBC Corvettes that got flared because they were in such desperate need of more rubber on the road!

Some fun tidbits and a question…

First the fun tidbits:

Drove the silver ‘66 to the local Cars and Coffee this morning. It now sports a fresh period correct 427/425HP engine under the hood so it’s a tad more correct than before (not going for a full resto) and she runs like a banshee.

My 17 year old nephew brought his flared silver ’63 split window to the gathering. That car still runs it’s born-with 340HP engine. He leaves for boot camp for Space Force tomorrow so this was his last chance to take her out for quite some time.

Both these cars were part of his grandfather’s Corvette collection long ago and have not been parked side by side for roughly 20 years, so it was cool to see them that way again. The flares were added to these Corvettes decades ago and it was just coincidental that Grandpa owned two flared silver midyear coupes at the same time. Built by different people so the flares are similar but aren’t the same.

Now for my question:

Ran into a guy who said his friend owns a ‘66 with the same exact flares on it and that the flares were installed in the 70’s by Motion Performance. (Phone numbers were exchanged so we can compare these cars later). Would there be any way to research any work done or parts supplied by Motion in the past? Maybe they had a catalog showing some of the kits or services they offered or advertised. We are still trying to track down the history of the flares on the silver ’66….

Charlie

----Over the years (mid to late 70's) buying Corvettes out of California I seem to remember a place called Bruno's Corvettes which would go along with your "B". Don't know much more though, sorry!.....Bill S

'

You're right on track Bill, here's a link w/ some Bruno's Flared cars..
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...corvettes.html
:beers:
~ Pete

.

Yep, that was the first link I posted "Roger Brunelle" aka Bruno :headbang:


I love this silver Vette just the way it is!!

Thanks for all the tips and suggestions (and compliments) guys...

I keep getting more feedback and information about Bruno's and it's looking like a good direction to go for this one. Very possible they performed the installation, regardless of what flares were physically used.

One comment that gets frequently mentioned by onlookers is about the quality and condition of the flares, especially considering their age. Very nice inner lips, no cracks, solid quality installation by whomever did the work. I sure appreciate the craftsmanship from the days of old...

Always open to more ideas or comments, and will share anything conclusive that pops up along the way.

Charlie

----All the nice finish work would be typical of a shop that did good work and that sort of makes a case for Bruno's! All that points away from the fly-by-night guys......Bill S

After seeing the picture of the silver 63'/66' with flares side by side, I couldn't help myself to post these pictures that haven't been seen anywhere, I took them 3 years ago when I helped a very good friend of mine extract this 63' from a 40 year slumber, not a barn find as he has known this car since 1966 as it belonged to his big brother. My friend made these flares in about 1969 when he was just 15 years old. They were re creating a Grand Sport Corvette.
This car is Steve McQueen cool and is currently undergoing a mild restoration mostly just updating the engine, brakes, suspension and detailing.
The patina and road racer look will be in full swing and he is no amateur when it comes to Corvettes.

I will try to get the Michigan flare guru to join the site, and let him tell the story and details.