A
quarter panel (
British English:
rear wing) is the body panel (exterior surface) of an
automobile between a rear
door (or only door on each side for
two-door models) and the
trunk (boot) and typically wraps around the wheel well. The similar front section between the door and the
hood (bonnet), is called a
fender, but is sometimes incorrectly also referred to as a quarter panel. Quarter panels are typically made of
sheet metal, but are sometimes made of
fiberglass,
carbon fiber, or
fiber-reinforced plastic. A quarter panel is typically a welded-on component of the
unibody structure. Replacement of a sheet metal quarter panel typically requires it to be cut off the vehicle and a replacement part to be welded (or sometimes bonded) to the vehicle. Due to the high amount of specialized labor, a quarter panel may often be repaired rather than replaced by hammering the damaged area to a relatively flat surface and then applying a body filler to smooth out the damaged area to match the original surface. The panel is then usually painted and often
clear coated.