ok, this is so stupid, but it hit a nerve with me, only because of my bro-inlaw being a complete smartass, border line jackass. What is the correct term for the front sides of a car? frontquarter panels or front fenders?

 

With modern cars it's:
Front = fenders
Rear = quarter panels

Many years ago cars had removabable rear fenders but not anymore. Basically a fender is a panel that covers a wheel. You could technically call the rear quarter panel a fender but usually the term fender is used fora removable panel. Newer cars do not have removable rear fenders. The section that covers the rear wheel is a panel that is the rearquarter of the car. Hence the term, quarter panel.

Either way, the front are fenders, not quarter panels.