Clamshells vs cycle wings
Discussion
Robert Green said:
The turning circle is larger with cycle wings, not smaller
I agreeI had clams on my S4 but changed to cycles. Turning circle is bigger, but I like the looks better. The clams are as people have said, better at protecting the occupants from waterspray and stones etc.
I have been on track with both and could't realy feel any difference
Clams were available in the UK up until 1996 I believe when they were quietly removed from the shopping list on your new car.....French cars (and other markets?) had them as an option through until about 2000 I think.
Clams are/weremore expensive to make (more material...), more expensive to stock (easier to keep a load of cycle wings stacked on a shelf than clams..,) and more expensive to shift/post/ship. All these points doomed the clamshell from a business standpoint before you even discuss the clams vs Cycles on a car debate.
Personally, I love the clamshell wings, more out of an aesthetic appreciation than anything else. To me cycle wings look 'wrong' but as has been mentioned they were the original series one fitment. My first child memory of a seven was a red/ally one with clams hairing around the roads at Repulse bay in Hong Kong circa 1974 and that's when I set my sights on getting one.
As for the front end going light on a seven with clams.....I love folklore....I imagine on a track at 130mph or so you may get some lift but in the real world absolutely no difference to cycle wings....and clams do protect you and your passenger better.
Oh, and crossflow engined clamshell cars are on the rise price-wise (throws that in to try and push the market up a bit ).
Clams are/weremore expensive to make (more material...), more expensive to stock (easier to keep a load of cycle wings stacked on a shelf than clams..,) and more expensive to shift/post/ship. All these points doomed the clamshell from a business standpoint before you even discuss the clams vs Cycles on a car debate.
Personally, I love the clamshell wings, more out of an aesthetic appreciation than anything else. To me cycle wings look 'wrong' but as has been mentioned they were the original series one fitment. My first child memory of a seven was a red/ally one with clams hairing around the roads at Repulse bay in Hong Kong circa 1974 and that's when I set my sights on getting one.
As for the front end going light on a seven with clams.....I love folklore....I imagine on a track at 130mph or so you may get some lift but in the real world absolutely no difference to cycle wings....and clams do protect you and your passenger better.
Oh, and crossflow engined clamshell cars are on the rise price-wise (throws that in to try and push the market up a bit ).
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