In looking at older, classic trucks 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, steering boxes, 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?

 

Most times when a vehicle is advertised as rust free it means that there is no body metal rust through, commonly called 'cancer'. You will always have some rust in the normal places like frames, springs and various other parts exposed to the weather. Unless extremely severe rust is evident where metal is actually flaking off, normal exposure rust does not get counted. IF metal is 'flaking off' where you can easily scrape or peel the metal or the painted coating is bubbled with rust under it, it shouldn't be called rust free. I own a 95 F150 from the west coast where road salts are rarely used and my trucks body is rust free still after all these years. Good maintenance and garaging a vehicle helps keep it in good shape. Be careful to check in hidden places like wheel wells, cab corners, around all outside edges where the is a edge, like windows, name badges, lights. Also carry a refrigerator magnet with you, if you have doubts, magnets don't stick to plastic body fillers.

 

To me it means that theres no body rust , no bondo or anything , the frame and all major components are solid with no deteration , on a truck thats driven theres going to be some light surfice rust , on a show car that never sees the road may be a different story , every year or so i have a good look at mine , some cleaning & paint , thats about it , the main thing is to keep it clean if you don't want rust , and it helps not to live where it snows and they salt the streets , theres plenty off rust free trucks in south florida....Lew

 

No rust or rust repaired on the body. Surface rust on things like the frame, leafs, almost anything "cast", like the master cyl, drums and so on. Unless the vehicle is listed as "mint", "show", etc it's impossible to have the under body, bare steel totally "rust free".

 

Rust free, means no extra charge for rust in these parts.

 

Would be false advertisement if I said my 4x4 Diesel truck is rust free?

 

My, but the metal termites sure are hungry in your area.
You do know that'll just buff right out.

 

Rust free to me means NO rust on the body. As stated above. ANY vehicle will get surface rust on any bare metal, just from moisture in the air.

As for garage kept? This is kinda a joke. People drive their vehicles in the snow and salt then park it in a warm garage. They would be better off leaving it parked out in the cold. Salt does absolutly NOTHING below 20*. But when you park your vehicle in a garage that is even 30* the salt just starts eating the metal. My buddy has his wife park her 03 supercrew in the garage. he cant figure out why the doors are rotten 2" up but his 97 that sits outside all the time has very minimal rust

 

It's there it's just hiding unless the vehicle is from the desert.
Tony

 

One word - ARIZONA!!
It always amazes me how many 67-72 ford and chevy trucks are driving around my town as daily drivers - most unrestored in fairly decent condition (not to mention my '69 which doesn't see the pavement much these days.) Then there are the 87-96's - too many to count (it's kind of a Ford place around here.)

 

It's just one of many terms that allow you to grossly overprice your vehicle for sale on the local Craigslist.

Terms such as: "rust free", "garage kept", "one owner", "low miles", "mint", or "cherry".

Seems the general thing to do is add $1500 to the price for each of the above terms you can sneak into your add, regardless of whether or not it's true. If you can add 3 or more, double the bluebook price for your vehicle.

 

i bought a rust free mustang out of alabama.. it was literaly rust free there was nothing anywhere....you could have taken any peice of this car and considered it showroom. it had 140000 miles on it too... the only draw back was the paint fade..it was black the day it was new and grey when i got it..