In looking at older, classic cars for sale, I often see the seller brag that the vehicle is "Rust Free," or "Garage Kept."

Then when I take a closer look, I almost always find some slight rust here and there. Does having surface rust on parts like the engine block, master cylinder, headers, brake lines, exhaust system. etc. not count? I don't mean to be too picky here, and slight rust in these areas don't really bother me, but I don't see how any vehicle can be completely "Rust Free."

I find these same "rusty" areas in vehicles that sellers claim have been "Garage Kept." I have never owned a "garage kept" vehicle before, so I wouldn't know, but is it normal for a vehicle that has been "stored in a garage since new" have undercarriages that have turned light brown from rust?

Wouldn't just one single trip in the rain cause some slight rust on the parts mentioned above, even if it has been "Garage Kept" all its life?

What Does "Rust Free" REALLY Mean?

 

Good question. I always figured when someone said their car was rust free, they were talking about the body. I would think you could go to a new car lot, and find some form of rust on the new cars somewhere. So in reality, there may not be a thing as rust free.

 

i swear i already responded to this thread but now my response is missing?

 

I don't think flash, or light surface rust of raw steel really counts.

Any deep pitting, hole or blister would be rust to me.
Can you even imagine a driveshaft, rotor or caliper without some rust?

 

It means you can't see it yet.

 

Rust free generally refers to non-replaceable body sections, like quarter panels, floors, subframe, roof etc. Like the Eagle I have, one fender has bondo over a dent and some rust under that, but in the replaceable panel. The body and structure of the car has -zero- rust, actually the first one I've seen like this.