Are rear fender gills funcitonal

Some of the Spyder replicas, particularly Vintages, have gills on the rear fenders. Is this representative of a certain year build of the Spyder (added later, so 56 or 57?)? On the replicas, are these gills actually open, functional slits?

I'll give this a try. The 550 was from about '53-'55. In 1956, the 550a/1500rs had gills, and they did open. Carbs and oil tank were accessible this way. I believe the 550a did not have a rear hinged bonnet, so unless totally removed, some sort of access was needed. The 550a weighed 100-150 pounds less than the 550 due to space frame and lighter(thinner) body with more attachment points. The 550 had a ladder frame. The doors are smaller(shorter) on the repros and do not open unless specially modified(PIA, IMHO).

The gills don't open and they are not functional. They are part of the rennsport body package. The bodies are available with or without them.
-=theron

The slits in the gills are cut open on Vintage.

Thanks for all the feedback and background.

And thanks to Daniel for giving such a precise answer to my question, with pictures too...

BTW, that's not my car, I don't remember whose it was, but that was around June '02. Anyway, mine looks the same.

Daniel,
Correct me if I'm wrong, but those rear gill doors don't open like the originals.
Correct?
-=theron

They only open if specially modified. I don't think Greg is doing them anymore, too much of a PIA. They are shorter than original though. My point was that the slits are cut out, along with oil cooler grill slits and functional brake ducts. These are not standard on other makes like they are on Vintage, as far as I know.

That's what I thought, just wanted to make sure I had it right.
-=theron

Greg has done a bunch of them that do in fact open but it is a very expensive option that I am pretty sure he would be happy to never have to do again.

greg made mine functional.
dont use them at all, but make the car
more autthentic looking.

has anyone worked out how much air they typically admit to the car interior - it seem to me that the are on a part of the bodywork under high air pressure on a 550 shell