When did the flares, blisters, spats or "eyebrows" cease to be fitted to the front wheel arches of Japanese specification RV8s?

For some time now Jim Dolbel (Woodcote Green 1705) in Sydney Australia, who runs a specialist website at www.mgrv8.com dedicated to the MG RV8, has been trying to establish the exact change point when the front wheel arch flares (sometimes referred to as blisters, spats, extensions or "eyebrows") ceased to be fitted to Japanese specification RV8s. So we are trying to help him identify the VIN when the change was made. Initial research by the V8 Registrar suggests that as with most things MG, the change point is not likely to be a precise point in the VIN sequence because the RV8s were not sent down the production line in a precise VIN order.

The research by Jim Dolbel established that the front wheel arch flares ceased somewhere between VIN 1232 and 1256. He then contacted Victor Smith, the V8 Registrar, who examined the RV8 photo library and made a few enquiries. He reported that Nightfire Red 1228 owned by John Bolt in Buckinghamshire does not have flares, Woodcote Green 1238 owned by Peter Garton in Germany does have flares (see this in the banner photo of his car at the head of this page), but on contacting John Kavanagh in Essex who has Woodcote Green 1256, he confirmed his RV8 does not have flares. So although the change point was thought to be somewhere between 1238 and 1256, the checks made by Victor Smith indicate that it is not so certain because John Bolt's car (VIN 1228) does not have them. We have since confirmed with John that the car came back from Japan without flares, although he has since removed the Rover decals from the front wing.

Gavin Brown (Nightfire Red 1221), who runs the MG Centre in Tasmania (a specialist RV8 import and maintenance operation) with his father James contacted us on 2.9.02 to say "I have just read the page on the V8 wheel arch flares and found the conflicting information interesting. Just to confirm what I know. VIN 1232 as shown on a Japanese enthusiast's website and does have wheel arch flares and VIN 1250 which I saw at auction in Japan did not have the wheel arch flares and was not listed as a repaired car. I note Nightfire Red 1228 is shown as not having flares and but see from the photo that it does not have the Rover badge on the side of the wing. So could it be the Japanese owner or the UK reimporter have removed these badges to make it look more like a home market car? I also have Nightfire Red 1221 which does have the wheel arch flares". By the way the Japanese enthusiast's website is found at:
www.jtw.zaq.ne.jp/tribeca/MG%20RV8.htm

On 24.9.02 Jim Dolbel reported he had been contacted by Gerard Jansen in the Netherlands who says his RV8 (VIN 1240) does have the wheel arch flares.

On 27.9.02 Gordon Rhodes reported his car, Nightfire Red 1224, does have the flares so the change point, or band, has still to be identified. It looks as if it beyond VIN 1240.

On 2.10.02 both Colin Shea (Tokyo) and Gavin Brown (Tasmania) reported that Woodcote Green 1242 has been seen at auction and it does have flares.

On 14.10.02 Chris Watkins of HS Imports sent in a photo of Nightfire Red 1218 on the dockside in Japan during early October awaiting shipment to the UK. Clearly it does have flares.

On 7.11.02 Gavin Brown sent in a photo of Woodcote Green 2134 which clearly does have flares fitted together with non standard road wheels. It seems the original owner might have had an inclination to modify the car and Gavin feels the flares may well have been a retrofit.

Colin Shea in Tokyo regulary sends the V8 Register photos of RV8s from the auctions in Japan and mentioned on 20.12.02 that he has found his Japanese colleagues have become excited over the flares research. Colin says that as his colleagues move through the auction car parks looking at the stock for target RV8s, he suddenly hears them say "Colinsan, no frares!" or "Look Colinsan, frares!".

On 6.2.03 Colin Shea sent in a photo and details of Nightfire Red 1214 at auction in Japan which does have flares.

Jim Dolbel is continuing his "flares research".

Many thanks to Colin Shea, Gavin Brown and Jim Dolbel for contributing photos and reports for this research project.

So if you have a Japanese specification RV8, do let us know whether or not your car has flares fitted to the top of the front wheel arches. Contact:

jim((atat))dolbel.com
victorsmith((atat))v8register.net

Summary of the flares research

RV8 front wheel arch flares research project photos

Woodcote Green 0810 owned by Graham Bartholomew is an early car still complete with its AC system which clearly does have front wheel arch flares.

Woodcote Green 1118 seen at auction in Japan in December 2002 which does have front wheel arch flares.

Woodcote Green 1210 owned by Godfrey Dance in Surrey - you can just see does have the flares over the wheel arch

Nightfire Red 1214 seen at auction in Japan in early February 2003 does have flares.

Nightfire Red 1218, dockside in Japan waiting for shipment to the UK for preparation and sale by HS Imports, does have flares.

Nightfire Red 1220 going to auction in Japan in early September 2002 clearly does have the flares.

Nightfire Red 1224 owned by Gordon Rhodes in Lancashire which does have the flares. (Photo: Gordon Rhodes)

Nightfire Red 1228 owned by John Bolt in Buckinghamshire which does not have flares. However as the "Rover" badge on the wing has also been removed, Jim Dolbel and Gavon Brown feel the badge and the flares have been removed.

Woodcote Green 1230 seen at auction in Japan in mid December 2002 which does not have flares. However as the "Rover" badge on the wing has also been removed, Jim Dolbel and Gavon Brown feel the badge and the flares have been removed.

Woodcote Green 1232 seen on a Japanese enthusiast's website which does have the front wheel arch flares.


Woodcote Green 1236 at auction on 13.4.04
does have front wheel arch falres.


Woodcote Green 1238 owned by Peter Garton in Germany which does have flares.

Woodcote Green 1242 seen on 3.10.02 at auction in Japan and later on the dockside awaiting shipment to the UK which does have flares. This car is being reimported for Geoff Lloyd in Leicestershire.


Woodcote Green 1253 - Gavin Brown in Tasmania sent in details of this car saying "just reigniting an old topic, here is car 1253 going through auction at Japan without the wheel arch flares. (Photo: Gavin Brown 19.3.06)


Woodcote Green 1257 seen at auction in Japan on 5th November 2003 does not have falres. (Photo: via Gavin Brown)

Woodcote Green 1267 which does not have flares. (Photo: Clive Wheatley)

Woodcote Green 1311 seen at auction in Japan in early December does not have flares.

Oxford Blue 1592 seen at auction in mid November 2002 which does not have flares.


Oxford Blue 1595 owned by Lance Bennett in Japan which does not have flares.

Now a photograph of a late RV8 with flares which introduces a complicating puzzle so far as Jim Dolbel's flares research project is concerned!

Woodcote Green 2134 seen at auction in Japan in early November 2002 which clearly does have flares fitted but Gavin Brown feels they are likely to have been a retrofit. As the original owner has fitted a non standard road wheel, this might suggest an inclination to modify the car. (Photo: Gavin Brown)

More photos to follow as the flares research continues. Photos from RV8 members will be very welcome.