Quarter Panels

What Is a Car Quarter Panel and Where Does It Sit?

A car quarter panel is the rear outer body panel that runs from the door jamb to the trunk and wraps the rear wheel arch. It meets the tail pan at the back and, on many cars, the roof at the top. Because it ties into so much surrounding metal, quarter panel rust or damage rarely stays in one spot.

Full quarter panels are sold with or without the upper section, so check where your repair ends before you order. If the damage reaches past the quarter itself, you can shop these related categories:

• sheet metal and body panels for complete replacement body sheet metal
• roofs and sail panels for rust at the upper quarter or roof seam
• tail light panels for the area where the quarter meets the rear of the car
• cab corners and rocker panels for rust that spreads below the doors

Full Quarter Panel vs Quarter Panel Skin: Which Do You Need?

A full quarter panel replaces the entire outer quarter, while a quarter panel skin replaces only the outer surface below the body line. Full quarters include the top section up to the trunk and door jamb, and some versions include the sail panel. Skins stop below the body line and come with partial flanges.

The tradeoff comes down to removal versus finishing. A full quarter takes more removal labor, but it needs less welding and finishing afterward. A skin takes less removal, but you'll spend more time welding, blending, and finishing the seam.

If the inner structure is solid and the damage sits low, a skin can make sense. If rust or damage reaches the upper quarter, a full panel is often the cleaner path. Options in this category come from brands including Auto Metal Direct and Golden Star. The Part Type filter lets you narrow results to full panels or skins. For cost, installation, and prep details, read our body panel replacement guide.

Quarter Panel Patch Panels and Partial Sections for Rust Repair

If rust is limited to one area, a quarter panel patch panel or partial section lets you replace only the damaged metal. It's a smaller job than a full quarter or skin, and you keep the original upper quarter in place.

This category includes several partial sections:

• Lower front quarter panel sections for the area behind the door
• Lower rear quarter panel sections for the area behind the rear wheel
• Tail pan to quarter panel sections for the rear corner of the body
• Wheel arch patches for the rear wheel opening

Before you buy, measure how far the rust extends. If it runs past the edges of a patch, step up to a larger section, a skin, or a full quarter. For smaller repairs on other parts of the body, browse our full range of patch panels. For more project help, see our restoration tech articles.

Steel vs Fiberglass Quarter Panels, EDP Coating, and Gauge

Choose steel quarter panels for restoration and street repairs, and fiberglass quarter panels for circle track racing. Steel panels weld into the original body, which suits restoration and rust repair work. Fiberglass race quarter panels in this category are built for Late Model and Sportsman cars.

Steel panels vary by gauge and coating. JEGS full quarter panels use 18-gauge steel with factory contours and mounting points. JEGS rear quarter patch panels use 20-gauge (0.036 in.) steel. Key Parts panels come with a black EDP coating and direct OE fitment.

EDP, or electro-deposit primer, is a shipping and storage protectant. It isn't a finish coat, so you'll need to prep and prime the panel before paint. Plan your body and paint schedule around that step.

Use the Material filter to separate steel from fiberglass, and the Finish filter to compare coatings. The Brand filter helps you compare OE-style steel options from makers such as OER.

How to Choose the Right Replacement Quarter Panels

The right replacement quarter panels depend on your year, make, model, side, and body style. Start with the Add a Vehicle tool and enter your year, make, and model or your VIN to narrow results to parts that fit.

Then confirm these details before you order:

• Side, since panels are sold as left (driver) or right (passenger)
• Body style, using the Body Type filter to match your car or truck
• Position, using the Position filter to pick front, rear, or lower sections
• Coverage, since some panels include the upper section and others stop below the body line

Vehicle coverage includes the 1964-1969 Chevelle, 1968-1972 El Camino, 1968-1972 Nova, 1970 Mustang Fastback, and 1966-1977 Bronco. Truck owners will find 1979-1987 pickup panels, truck rear fenders, and 1976-1986 CJ7 and 1987-1995 Wrangler YJ side panels. For truck-specific advice, read our truck body panel guide, then shop quarter panels for your build below.