1984 Boxer 512BBi Rear Quarter Flares and Wing

I just bought a 1984 BOXER BBi from a Ferrari Chat member and he showed me a picture of another Boxer with the rear quarter panel flares. It looks absolutely stunning on the car and the Boxer I bought comes with an after market wing. Does anyone know who manufacturers the flares or have a boxer that has it done to it already? The car looks stunning the way it is but I would like to customize it without butchering the car. Also, can I install a glass targa top on the Boxer or will that be butchering and devalueing the car too much? I intend on keeping the car indefinitely. Whether the car goes down in market value to $50,000 or up to over $500,000 does not really matter. I am in these exotics for the pleasure of owning and enjoying them instead of flipping them and making a profit.

Gus
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The two are one and the same IMHO. Why would you want to mess with such a rare car, which as you said already looks stunning? There's so few of them already and they are getting less numerous every year.

A glass targa roof? :eek. That is definitely something that will without doubt devalue the car, but more importantly it will severely compromise the structural integrity of the car and make it twist. At the very least this will compromise roadholding, but at worst it may cause the chassis to fracture over time.

If you must install the flared arches (which is something that has been done to quite a few Boxers), at least keep the original panels so someone can restore it to its former glory.

I humbly suggest you leave it well alone. And congrats on the purchase, BTW.

Attached two pics. The black car looks nothing like as good as the red sibling, IMO [Fumacher and Mario Bernardi Automobile - I hope you don't mind me posting your pic here]



Onno
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Here are some 4 your picking and chosing. Im not a big fan of it anymore, But back in the day... WOW!!!!!
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Armen, is that the Mardikian Boxer Targa? Also the black car, is that a Koenig?

 

None of those is helped by the excessive ride height, but all those rear quarter designs are too bold and garish. Not an improvement over the more beautiful BB512LM rear flares/shape (sans wing and long tail) IMO. Done like this, it doesn't shout "modified" at you, and still reflects the original design -- just on steroids
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I'm not a big fan of modified Boxers, but that black car actually looks pretty good to me!

 

Yes, & Yes. Those are such old pictures.

 

The Boxer is the most perfect looking car ever made so i would say dont touch it, but it is your car and only you can decide, anyway here are a few pics of modified boxers that may help you decide
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gee I did that black mother and its flares.

 

I guess I will take your advise and leave the Targa alone if it does effect the structure of the vehicle. If I need to chop the old fender off and butcher the car to install the flares, I would destroy the integrity of the car and might make it worthless and make this car a custom car which is stupid for me to do. Thank you very much for the pictures and most importantly, the advise.

Gus

 

If you want to mod the car because it makes you happy I'd do it. Sure it won't help resale but it's your car & $.

Besides- if you pimp your car out it raises the value of mine.

Merry Christmas.

 

and my old girl

 

Thank you all for your comments. I do not like vehicles that are super flashy or have 3 Ft. wings hanging out of nowhere or ground effects that you cannot tell what species the vehicle is. Decided to leave the car alone and just order F40 wheels to give the car a more muscular look (18 in by 8 fronts, 18 in by 10 rear). The seller told me that the rear wing comes with the car and is currently not installed so I will see how the vehicle looks with the new rims and wing. The wing can also come off. The vehicle has aftermarket wheels now and does come with the stock rims as well. I do like the pictures you have sent of the car with the rear flares and the targa top version. Thanks again everyone for the pictures you have sent.

Gus

 

If you could find a used rear deck, the entire unit, from a burnt or front-end damaged car, then you could modify this spare deck and save the original.

If the purpose of the flares is to provide room for larger rear tires, then yes, I would create a glass targa. This would allow you to provide a visable drawer to store all of the bits from the differential carrier and assorted pieces that will likely exit the car at high speed. Admiring onlookers will gaze with excitement at the collection of expensive metal, even today, worth more than their weight in gold.

Jim S.

 

Gus, there was another thread on this a while back and if I remember correctly, the flares are an add on item that goes on with double sided tape or some minor adhesive and are removable w/o damage to original panel.

 

I see the black car has added the arches w/o gasket material. Here is another pic that shows the arches. Seems like someone on the board also has them and maybe they will show theirs.
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Hi Gus, is this the black BBi car that came out of long-term ownership in or near Atlanta? The wings and aftermarket wheels plus Fchat member sounded familiar. Just checking. I spent some time with that car, spoke to the previous owner, sent photos to the ultimate purchaser IF it's the same.

Back to topic - I enjoy the minor and ireversible mods on my car (Dinoplex to MSD, etc) but cutting the car or doing irreversible mods might ultimately make you regretful. In another car world, the Pantera crowd is intent on modding - many taking it to an art form - but mine is 95% stock other than the same 'type' of mod discussed here (I put 10" factory wheels on the rear). The values and appreciation are decidedly moving toward more originality even in those mod-insensitve environs. I'm glad I resisted for many reasons, not the least of which is "trends" change; classics do not.

No matter what, enjoy the car, remembering that we're ALL just temporary caretakers anyway.

 

Blame it on the Countach

 

Thank you for trying to give me option in ruining the value of my Boxer, but I have decided that a new set of 18in F40 rims and a AAA buff and detail will make a world of difference. Gene, the seller who has also sold me a 2006 orange Lamborghini Murcielago Roadster, told me that the car has not been detailed in many years. When I first saw the vehicle, it looked awful. There was no luster on the paint, the interior was two toned with tan and dirt, and the kicker was it had Ghetto Cadillac Gold/Silver Rims. All along Gene was standing by me extremely proud of how great this car it was and how original it was. I do not need original dirt and faded paint. I will take my chances in the car losing value by either getting it really scrubbed and buffed or repainted and have the original rims installed. I would like to thank everyone in this forum for all of the honest responses and their opinions. I have a 1988 Lamborghini Countach and really like the flares that are on them and the older 930 Turbo Porsches look much better with the flares than the regular 911`s. As for the targa, I really thing the 328GTS is an awsome looking vehicle, especially with the top removed. It was just an idea. It is not worth it answering questions in the future from Boxer enthusiasts on what kind of drugs I was on when I decided to chop the top off.

Gus

 

I think we are talking about the same car. I bought the vehicle from Gene Bern who recommended signing up to Ferrari Chat which I am learning a great deal and have met many friends since I signed up. I think we are talking about the same car. The black Boxer has tan interior with inserts and I think it has aftermarket Cadillac gold and silver rims. The car came with a wing and does have the original stock rims. The vehicle has 17,000 km and is in need of a major detail or paint job. The car also needs a major service. My preference was to purchase a red/tan Boxer but being the salesman he is, Gene sold me his Black one. Gene told me if these Boxers have a potential to be million dollar cars, it will only apply to original black and tan interior ones. I decided to leave the car stock and purchase a set of 18in F40 polished rims. I am going to really scrub and buff the car and see if the black paint will somewhat come back to life and if it does not, I will send it to the best body shop money can buy and have it totally restored. I would greatly appreciate if you have an extra set of pictures and the history of this car. If I ask Gene, he will say it is an upgrade and charge me an arm and a leg (Gene became a really good friend and I am just kidding about him in the event he is reading this reply). It seems Gene and I both lost our minds because we are competing with each other on who can purchase more vehicles. In the past three weeks Gene has purchased a 1986 Porsche Turbo, a 2005 Porsche Carrera GT, and is about to pull the trigger on a 1993 512TR. I, on the other hand in three weeks, I have purchased a 1956 Corvette in need of restoration, a 2006 Bentley Continental GT, a 2006 Ford GT, the black Boxer, and a 2005 black Porsche Carrera GT. I really need to stay away from Gene and not talk to him anymore. He picked up his Carrera GT last Friday and has been calling me numerous times daily and sending me pictures on how great the Carrera is and how glad he is for dumping the orange Murci Roadster to me and getting the GT. I could not take it anymore so I found one on the internet for $389,000 with 8,800 miles and will be wiring the funds this morning. Again, thank you for your response and look forward in hearing from you.

Gustan L Cho (Gus)
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847-774-8246

 

Yes that is the same car, since it was Gene to whom I was referring. He and I spoke about my car briefly, but mine wasn't for sale, so this one came into the picture shortly thereafter. I spoke to the elderly gentleman who owned it, had great stories of reliability and long trips. I believe he put the wing on it in the 80's when such things were fashionable (trend vs. classic again) and the gold wheels. The first time I saw that car, I half envisioned Eric Estrada pulling up on his CHiPS motorcycle to issue a citation for obsence elegance.

The paint had micro-blistered at the surface, so your detailer will have a ball with that. I'm sure a skilled person can make that car a standout. A good interior cleaning, plus the new 18s (or original 15s) will make a dramatic difference.

Then you can put the gold wheels in the "Pimp my Ride" section of ebay, while offering the spoiler in the "Picnic tables and accessories - fiberglass" section. Enjoy your car.

 

I've been watching this thread and understand how Gustan feels about the flared arches. I am in the UK and a great advocate of genuine patina on these older cars. I bought a great 365BB in early 2003 in black with black leather and it looks fantastic. I saw the pictures of the black German BB with the flared arches a few years ago and just loved it, it looks superb!

I am also a great eBayer and am constantly watching all the auctions for any specialist items that appear. I was lucky enough to buy a set of these exact flares about two years ago from a guy in the States. Of course, I just had to buy them and ship them top London. They fit by being pop riveted on to the inner edge of lip of the wings. Easy to fit and easy to remove, with very little damage.

I must admit though that I have not fitted these yet as they would definitely need wider wheels to make the car look fantastic. I have also never seen another set for sale anywhere.
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hi simonc,i am in the uk & own a 365 that had those mods done in the mid 1970's-its having alot of renovation work done at present but i will post some pics hopefully in the new year.the car looks very purposeful but still elegant & true to the original design.

 

Looking forward to seeing soem pics. What work is it that you are doing to your car?

I'm currently working in teh Middle East and mine is locked away safely in storage in teh UK. I do miss it :-(

 

When I read the title of this thread my first answer was NOOOOOOO.

But then I saw the black car and....amazing!

I'm not sure if I'd do it to my BB, but I wouldn't be discouraged about buying one that was professionally modified in that manner.

LS