Flared or cycle wings?
Sevens are available with two different types of front wing (“fenders” in American English). The “flared” wing (or clamshell wing) is a long curved piece of glassfibre which stretches from behind the windscreen near the bottom of the car to the front of the car, covering the wheel. The cycle wing is similar to the mudguard on a bicycle – it only covers the wheel. On most cars, cycle wings are made of glassfibre; early Sevens had ones made from aluminium. Also on most cars, the wing turns with the wheel, so that the wheel is always covered; on early cars the wing remain stationary with respect to the body, so that when the wheels were turned, they peeked out from under the wings. Which is best? It depends what your priorities are. Many claim that flared wings keep you drier in the wet, and that they protect the side of the car and the rear wings from stone damage, but they’re not called wings for nothing. At high speeds they generate a lot of drag; sometimes it seems more like lift. Man
