I recently found a 48 Buick in Missouri that I'm interested in and would like to know if salt is used during the winter months on the roadways. Do the cars get the typical rust issues that are prevalent in the northeast? Any commentary giving me some education in this area would be appreciated.
Yes we use lots salt but most cars not as bad as in New York. I would get as many pictures of the bottom side as you can.
Dude, you are in Arizona and you want to buy a Missouri rust bucket? Aren't you in the prime hunting grounds for vintage tin?
Yes we use salt as statted above but I am not sure when thay started useing it but it is humid up here also.
most parts of mo did not salt till late 70's---but st louis and kc started much earlier---it's something you need to check
Thanks for the reply everyone. I think I'll have to request additional photos just to make sure there aren't any real serious rust issues. I was told there was some in the rocker, but it didn't sound that bad. Maybe once I look at the photos, I'll be unpleasantly surprised. Thanks again to all those that responded.
Ground moisture ... That is the real death of any car sitting outside above earth and not resting on a slab. The moisture coming up is what rusts the frame and the car. Jim
Iowa and the whole upper mid west has salted since the fifties at least. For that very reason, even tho I was born and lived in Iowa until 1986, I would never buy a car thats been in those areas most of its life, especially older than the 80s!! Believe me!
it's funny to look at opinions on this. I lived in Iowa for a while (I'm orignally from NC have lived in NC, TN, SC, IA). I would gladly buy a car from about 55 back from Iowa/MO/Nebraska* Newer stuff that saw the real salt year's I'd avoid like the plague. I bought several really good solid cars cheaply in IA and brought them back to NC and made a reasonable profit on them even after transport costs. then there are folks that think southern cars are great--or FL, or ........ I think it's really a gr*** is greener scenario. Personally I avoid cars from coastal areas and prefer to stick to the drier climates, but it's really c acase by case thing. BTW--one of the nicest bodies I ever purchased was a 35 ford sedan from just over the iowa border in Nebraska---it was an abolutely rust/dent free 4 door sedan body and rolling ch***is (no front clip/rear fenders/running gear) i paid $400.
I lived there for 46 years and if a car, any year, mostly older, was in Iowa most or all of its life and was driven almost daily they all had rust, period! The rear of the frames on GM cars rusted in two etc. Most of the problem was caused by debris(dirt, gravel, leafs) getting caught in joints of the body or frame and salt and water would sit there and eat rust holes thru the car. Newer cars definitely have better rust resistance!! I worked in a body shop at a Pontiac, Cadillac dealership and had to cover up the rust on trade ins so we could dump .em at the auto auction to unsuspecting people from N. Car.
Ha ha, being from Dexter (right down the rd from you) and now living in Buffalo,NY I would take a Mo. car any day over one of the rust buckets from here. It's all in perspective from where you live.
Not much salt used here in S/W Mo. mostly sand & chat,Wheres it located maby one of could go check it out for ya,get & pics
I'm just saying there's still good tin there--certainly better than many other places around the country and based on my experiences it can be bought cheaper too. In the two years I was there I brought back the 35 sedan, a good solid 59 cad coupe, a stubby 57 chevy and a pretty good 52 cad 4 door. just like anywhere you have to pick and choose. @ dirtbag--if it wasn't so dang far I'd be looking at AZ cars too
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