Re: Rust bucket ?? (archive)

Well, from the perspective of someone who has restored numerous coupes, along with all manner of european cars from the same era, I find that the e-9 coupes are a little more suceptible to rust than its concurrent bretheren.

As with any old unit-body car, check the usual spots, rocker panels, floorpan, spare tire well, these are all suspect, and all readily rust.

One of the more commmon places for coupes to rust is up under the front fenders where they are spotwelded to the innner fender/stiffner assemblies. Paint/primer coverage up under here was nil, and there is a convenient ledge for accumulated muck and grime to sit and stay wet for weeks on end. The amount of metal that is lapped and welded here is pretty substantial, and hence, the problems.

And the pillarless design of the coupe certainly does not lend itself to structural rigidity, so really any deterioration of the rocker panel assemblies is not to be taken lightly.

Perhaps just as important is to look for evidence of repairs. Bodged repairs are the real enemy!

Check carefully, it may be worthwhile to enlist someone knowledgeable in these cars to do an inspection. Beats getting burned anyday!

Feel free to call me, I can speak faster than I can type!

Matt
SportsCar+GT Restoration
Connecticut
(860) 677 8885

I'm hearing from the posts that coupes are quite susceptible to rust.

Before I waste a day checking out a coupe,

1. Where are the obvious places rust will form?

2. Where are the not so obvious places?

3. IS most of the rust that seens so popular cosmetic or does it eventually lead to structural rust that would make the car unsafe to drive??

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