Design Details: Front Fender Garnishes Edition

"Amoore100" (amoore100) 03/17/2016 at 22:20 • Filed to: Design Details, Front Fender Garnish, Saab, Saturn

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The front fenders of cars seem to be magnets for decoration. From fake vents, real vents, badges, and the like, manufacturers seem intent on making their front fenders as fancy as possible by venting the engine, venting the brakes, telling you what car it is, or just making it uglier. Today we look at some of the best and worst examples of what I will call front fender garnishes.

On the last 9-5, the small fake vent at the bottom of the fender was actually rather striking as it created a distinctive and rather elegant body line down the side of the car.

On the other hand, the Saturn Ion was an appalling example of what not to do with a side fender garnish. The minuscule badge creates a stupid looking swoop that ends awkwardly in the middle of the rear door. Not good.

So what do you think Oppo?

What are the best/worst/most front fender garnishes in the automotive world?

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > Amoore100 03/17/2016 at 22:25

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I don’t know if these are garnishes, but it’s cool how they’ve been used to channel the air better around the bodywork.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Amoore100 03/17/2016 at 22:25

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Judge me but I think the 2nd gen Vue’s fender vent was one of the car’s most attractive details.

It was a place for those two nice body lines to start and it housed the corner marker nicely. It wasn’t even chrome, it almost matched the wheel’s metal finish actually. I also think it actually had a tiny little bit of functionality, I remember little holes drilled in it for some reason.

GhostZ > Amoore100 03/17/2016 at 22:27

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Best:

ranwhenparked > Amoore100 03/17/2016 at 22:27

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The Saturn Ion was an appalling example. FIFY.

Amoore100 > Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap 03/17/2016 at 22:28

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It’s on the front fender and is definitely stylistic as well as functional so it gets a pass in my book!

Amoore100 > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 03/17/2016 at 22:33

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Agreed, it really makes the rounded Vue look a lot better by adding some angles. Had no idea it served (even a tiny) purpose besides housing the indicator, kudos to GM there! The Saturn definitely looks better than the contemporary Captiva which just shrouds it in body colour paint.

However, I think the funniest part of this saga is that on the EU Captiva, they didn’t use this housing for the indicator even though it’s mandated over there. Instead, they put it on the mirror and just put a lone vent on the fender. GM logic, apparently.

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > Amoore100 03/17/2016 at 22:34

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I also happen to be a fan of the trim on the Z3 and Z4

Especially how the side light on the Z4 is hidden under the badge.

Amoore100 > ranwhenparked 03/17/2016 at 22:34

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The Saturn Ion was an appalling example . FIFY.

Amoore100 > GhostZ 03/17/2016 at 22:35

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Chrome motifs are best motifs! Six portholes = 6 cyl, 8 portholes = 8 cyl?

ranwhenparked > Amoore100 03/17/2016 at 22:37

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That’s better.

GhostZ > Amoore100 03/17/2016 at 22:37

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They were all V8s or I8s. They switched from 3 vents to 4 vents after a few body styles.

Amoore100 > Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap 03/17/2016 at 22:38

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YES SO MUCH THIS. I love the “cheese grater” effect on the Z3 and the badge/indicator is such a marvel of design that I’m surprised no one else has done it before, although I guess just slapping a badge on the side of every car would ruin the styling a bit.

Then there’s the new one, which emulates both the Z3 and old Z4 while somehow losing the charisma of both.

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > Amoore100 03/17/2016 at 22:39

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Yeah.... They haven’t done a great job in the styling of the new one have they

not for canada - australian in disguise > Amoore100 03/17/2016 at 22:40

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Because, if modern musicians are going to bring back the music of the 80s, might as well have the word “TURBO” scrawled across the side of your car again.

Milky > Amoore100 03/17/2016 at 22:41

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Best fake vents around.

Amoore100 > GhostZ 03/17/2016 at 22:42

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Ah, got it. I recall the 6=6 and 8=8 rule from reading car magazines from the early 2000s as a kid when things like the Lucerne and LaCrosse Super were being made.

6=V6

8=V8

interstate366, now In The Industry > Amoore100 03/17/2016 at 22:45

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The 1999-2002 Honda Accord Euro-R had the trim badge on the front fender above the usual JDM turn signal.

Eight...more...years...

Amoore100 > not for canada - australian in disguise 03/17/2016 at 22:45

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Yay! Kia has followed in the footsteps of Saab there, perhaps this is a good sign for the future of Kia?

Amoore100 > Milky 03/17/2016 at 22:46

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But it’s annoying that they’re fake. It would have been so much more amazing if they were mesh. Still looks rather mean though.

Amoore100 > Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap 03/17/2016 at 22:47

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Well then they added a Bimmerang in 2014 to “update it”!

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > Amoore100 03/17/2016 at 22:51

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“Look. It’s got a whole new look to match our fast paced and ever changing world” - BMW PR (probably)

Milky > Amoore100 03/17/2016 at 23:00

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Yea you’re not wrong, Im still a fan though.

Birddog > Amoore100 03/17/2016 at 23:00

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Motor Trend has a good explanation and timeline on the Ventiports.

http://www.motortrend.com/news/buick-ven…

crowmolly > Amoore100 03/17/2016 at 23:00

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Birddog > Amoore100 03/17/2016 at 23:07

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I’m a big fan of the 1980-81 Z28 fender vents. They’re similar to the equally attractive 1978-81 Trans Am vents.

V12 Jake- Hittin' Switches > Amoore100 03/17/2016 at 23:13

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I have a subtle V12 badge on the front of the door

One of only 3 badges on the car other than the tri-star logo . No other indication that the car has a bi-turbo V12 hiding underneath.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > Amoore100 03/17/2016 at 23:20

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or a band one, depending on how you look at it.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > Amoore100 03/17/2016 at 23:30

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Datsun B210 Honey bee

and a car with no fender details. Just some badass box flares.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Amoore100 03/18/2016 at 00:34

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Only thing on my front fender is a simple rectangular turn signal.

RazoE > Amoore100 03/18/2016 at 01:04

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I always liked how the CTS integrated such weird angles, and made it work.

Amoore100 > interstate366, now In The Industry 03/18/2016 at 01:08

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Yes! Proof that reliability, practicality, and performance can be combined. Why is this something the United States can never have?

Amoore100 > RazoE 03/18/2016 at 01:09

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Ohh, yes, I always loved that one. It seems garish at first but the crease under the A pillar just makes it work.

Amoore100 > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 03/18/2016 at 01:10

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How very boring and German. ;)

Amoore100 > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles 03/18/2016 at 01:11

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Hah! I love the honeybee, especially with those honey comb wheels! What were they thinking?! The Starion is a winner any day in my book, because box flares are best flares and are most definitely a unique front fender motif.

Amoore100 > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles 03/18/2016 at 01:12

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Well either way it couldn’t go too poorly. If Kia starts becoming fun, fast, and FWD then we have a Korean Saab on our hands, and if Kia goes bust, then we no longer have to be confused by how Hyundai and Kia compete with themselves (Sonata v. Optima, K900 v. Equus, Rio v. Accent, Sportage v. Santa Fe, etc. etc.)

Amoore100 > V12 Jake- Hittin' Switches 03/18/2016 at 01:13

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Indeed, although a black S Class riding on AMG wheels is going to raise suspicion with or without V12 badges ;)

Brian McKay > Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap 03/18/2016 at 01:15

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The large, yellow, unnecessary badges on the fenders are superfluous garnish.

Amoore100 > Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap 03/18/2016 at 01:15

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“new look” “ever changing” =/= “fast paced”

This is definitely an ever changing new look, but fast paced the 2 Series
Active Tourer ain’t.

GhostZ > Amoore100 03/18/2016 at 02:18

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Thanks for contributing some images to the “Worst Fender garnishes” category.

Amoore100 > GhostZ 03/18/2016 at 03:00

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Yep, those were not good years for Buick whatsoever, although the modern rendition of ‘portholes’ is even worse.

They aren’t even on the fender! So instead of front fender garnishes, I will hereby refer to them as “hideous hood doo-dads”.

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > Brian McKay 03/18/2016 at 08:48

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On what? The Ferrari? Because I was talking about the air channels.

interstate366, now In The Industry > Amoore100 03/18/2016 at 09:45

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Planned ob$olencen$e

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > Amoore100 03/18/2016 at 10:25

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it makes about as much sense as GM having Chevy and GMC. At least Hyundai and Kia sell different products tho.

IanZ - limited-slip indifferential > Amoore100 03/20/2016 at 22:37

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It’s sort of between the fender and the hood so I don’t know if it counts, but I’d like to offer the chrome strip on the Citroen DS5. it serves no purpose other than looking bautiful, and I love it.

An example I know counts, though, is the Cadillac Series 62 Ghia Coupe. Those side strakes! gorgeous.

Amoore100 > IanZ - limited-slip indifferential 03/20/2016 at 23:39

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I’d say it counts, but my rules are generally pretty lenient. Personally I prefer the pre-facelift Citroen-chevron-grilled DS5's though since I have a 1:64 Norev from Jobjoris :)

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And the Caddy Ghia is just stunning...

BruceS85 > V12 Jake- Hittin' Switches 03/22/2016 at 00:56

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Fewer badges are best.