kingrudy Posted February 3, 2021 Share Posted February 3, 2021 I am seriously considering purchasing some after market skirts for my car, but have read mixed reviews on these products. Has anyone gone down this road and what issues have you had. I realize that the new ones that are sold today are not 100% accurate and I am ok with that. Thank you, Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larry Schramm Posted February 3, 2021 Share Posted February 3, 2021 1 hour ago, kingrudy said: I am seriously considering purchasing some after market skirts for my car, but have read mixed reviews on these products. Has anyone gone down this road and what issues have you had. I realize that the new ones that are sold today are not 100% accurate and I am ok with that. Thank you, Mike What car are you talking about? Year, make, model? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kingrudy Posted February 4, 2021 Author Share Posted February 4, 2021 1940 Buick Super Coupe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
valk Posted February 4, 2021 Share Posted February 4, 2021 Great looking car. My car came with skirts but I can’t say which looks better, with or without them. I might go back to exposed wheels ‘cause I like the look but that requires relocating the chrome spears. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Harwood Posted February 4, 2021 Share Posted February 4, 2021 Friends don't let friends fender skirt*. *At least not on cars that weren't designed that way at the factory. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
valk Posted February 4, 2021 Share Posted February 4, 2021 So you are arguing going skirtless?? I agree the mustang with skirts is an assault on my eyes...the Desoto looks great though. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neil morse Posted February 4, 2021 Share Posted February 4, 2021 But Matt, I'm pretty sure that skirts ("fender shields") were a factory option for Buick in 1940, although they are not nearly as prevalent as on the '41's. Does anyone know the answer to this for sure? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Bruce aka First Born Posted February 4, 2021 Share Posted February 4, 2021 1 hour ago, valk said: Great looking car. My car came with skirts but I can’t say which looks better, with or without them. I might go back to exposed wheels ‘cause I like the look but that requires relocating the chrome spears. 1 hour ago, valk said: Great looking car. My car came with skirts but I can’t say which looks better, with or without them. I might go back to exposed wheels ‘cause I like the look but that requires relocating the chrome spears. Me thinks spears are different for skirts and fender. Ben Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
valk Posted February 4, 2021 Share Posted February 4, 2021 Are you sure, Ben? I didn’t know that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neil morse Posted February 4, 2021 Share Posted February 4, 2021 3 hours ago, Ben Bruce aka First Born said: Me thinks spears are different for skirts and fender. For what it's worth, here's what Doug Seybold told me: there are two different lengths of spears, 21" and 24". The 24" were originally intended for the fender and the 21" for the skirts. However, the 24" spears turned out to be a problem on the fenders because the long tips were fragile and tended to break off, for example, if they caught on a polishing cloth. So they started using the 21" spears at the factory for the fenders as well. So the 21" spears are "correct" for either the fender or the skirt. As I say, that's just what Doug told me and I can't vouch for its accuracy. (I got in trouble once on here because I posted something that Doug told me and a lot of people disagreed with it.) I'm just the messenger. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
valk Posted February 4, 2021 Share Posted February 4, 2021 Interesting. Conceiled behind my skirts are holes in the fender for the spears. I always assumed that they lined up with/for the spears on my skirts but now I'll have to check (and measure) them. Are yours 21 or 24? Thanks Neil. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neil morse Posted February 4, 2021 Share Posted February 4, 2021 Mike, I found this thread that has some more information on skirts for the '40. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Bruce aka First Born Posted February 5, 2021 Share Posted February 5, 2021 2 hours ago, neil morse said: For what it's worth, here's what Doug Seybold told me: there are two different lengths of spears, 21" and 24". The 24" were originally intended for the fender and the 21" for the skirts. However, the 24" spears turned out to be a problem on the fenders because the long tips were fragile and tended to break off, for example, if they caught on a polishing cloth. So they started using the 21" spears at the factory for the fenders as well. So the 21" spears are "correct" for either the fender or the skirt. As I say, that's just what Doug told me and I can't vouch for its accuracy. (I got in trouble once on here because I posted something that Doug told me and a lot of people disagreed with it.) I'm just the messenger. Well, dang, Neil, I thought it was the other way around and the longer ones were on the skirts!! Ben Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neil morse Posted February 5, 2021 Share Posted February 5, 2021 3 hours ago, Ben Bruce aka First Born said: Well, dang, Neil, I thought it was the other way around and the longer ones were on the skirts!! Ben As I said, I'm just passing along what Doug told me. I also checked Bill Anderson's "Restoration Facts" book on the '41, and he just notes that a chrome-plated "Speedline" ornament is placed on the rear fender or on the "wheel shield" on cars that are fitted with the shields (skirts). (pp. 84-85.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
valk Posted February 5, 2021 Share Posted February 5, 2021 The spears on my skirts are 24” but were added later so not from the factory... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kingrudy Posted February 5, 2021 Author Share Posted February 5, 2021 18 hours ago, neil morse said: Mike, I found this thread that has some more information on skirts for the '40. Thanks Neil, I am probably going to go with Chevs of the '40s aftermarket which are supposedly good for all of the torpedo bodied cars of 1940 (Chevs, Pontiac, Olds, Buick etc). There is a company out there called Fender Depot which merged with another a few years back. I don't have to worry about the spears as 1940 did not have them. The original skirts were an option on my car, but they are very hard to find (Ken Greene) has a pair, but unless you are a '40 Buick guy who will know and I am past sweating the small stuff. Thank you all for the input. Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Harwood Posted February 5, 2021 Share Posted February 5, 2021 I might be able to help you if you want skirts. I have a set of teardrop skirts that came off a '36 Roadmaster 81 sedan. They're steel, they have the correct mounting hardware, but they are not correct for a '36 so I yanked 'em before it was even off the trailer. Before you buy some aftermarket/repro skirts, let's figure out whether these will fit your car. I believe they're period pieces not reproductions. The car from which they came was over-loaded with accessories and I'm removing most of them, but the owner was meticulous and a stickler for detail so I bet they're right. Here's the car from which they came (which will be available once we go through it and clean it up): Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kingrudy Posted February 8, 2021 Author Share Posted February 8, 2021 They are beautiful. I will take some measurements of the rear fenders and where they attach and PM you with the info. Thank you, Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kingrudy Posted February 15, 2021 Author Share Posted February 15, 2021 On 2/5/2021 at 1:10 PM, Matt Harwood said: I might be able to help you if you want skirts. I have a set of teardrop skirts that came off a '36 Roadmaster 81 sedan. They're steel, they have the correct mounting hardware, but they are not correct for a '36 so I yanked 'em before it was even off the trailer. Before you buy some aftermarket/repro skirts, let's figure out whether these will fit your car. I believe they're period pieces not reproductions. The car from which they came was over-loaded with accessories and I'm removing most of them, but the owner was meticulous and a stickler for detail so I bet they're right. Here's the car from which they came (which will be available once we go through it and clean it up): Beautiful car Matt. I am interested in the skirts that you removed from this car. Please send me a PM with some pics of the back side and what you would be asking for them. Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buicknutty Posted February 15, 2021 Share Posted February 15, 2021 (edited) I have a '41 Roadmaster Coupe, much the same colour as the '40 Super Coupe pictured above. I was very happy with the look of my car without skirts until I visited Doug Seybold a few years ago. He had a car like mine, only with skirts, and I then wondered that perhaps I'd like to put skirts on my car. However, it gets complicated and expensive. The Speedlines are a different length, though the mounting holes are the same, so the ones on my fenders could be used on the skirts, at least for the time being till one got the correct ones. It is getting the skirts, plus the mouldings if they are missing which are not cheap. Then filling the holes in the fenders and repainting them. So kinda complicated, and I'm not sure it's worth the money! Skirts on a Mustang, no one will convert me to that! Edited February 15, 2021 by Buicknutty (see edit history) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kingrudy Posted February 15, 2021 Author Share Posted February 15, 2021 11 hours ago, Buicknutty said: I have a '41 Roadmaster Coupe, much the same colour as the '40 Super Coupe pictured above. I was very happy with the look of my car without skirts until I visited Doug Seybold a few years ago. He had a car like mine, only with skirts, and I then wondered that perhaps I'd like to put skirts on my car. However, it gets complicated and expensive. The Speedlines are a different length, though the mounting holes are the same, so the ones on my fenders could be used on the skirts, at least for the time being till one got the correct ones. It is getting the skirts, plus the mouldings if they are missing which are not cheap. Then filling the holes in the fenders and repainting them. So kinda complicated, and I'm not sure it's worth the money! Skirts on a Mustang, no one will convert me to that! Thanks for the reply, I have anticipated the repaint of the skirts and possibly the fenders as I am still not sure as to how they attach to the fender. I see the lever in the center and it appears as though there are tabs on the leading and trailing edges. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
valk Posted February 15, 2021 Share Posted February 15, 2021 The lever is not an engineering masterpiece. It is awkward to engage and if the lever ends up on the wrong side of the fender, it will scratch the hell out of your paint as the previous owner of my car discovered. The cover hides any damage but I’m going to have to repair scratches if I go without covers. So just be real careful installing these things. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kgreen Posted February 16, 2021 Share Posted February 16, 2021 On 2/5/2021 at 11:54 AM, kingrudy said: unless you are a '40 Buick guy who will know and I am past sweating the small stuff. Thank you all for the input. Mike I'll be watching you... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2carb40 Posted February 17, 2021 Share Posted February 17, 2021 5 hours ago, kgreen said: I'll be watching you... Whew! Now I dont hafta! 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now