Packard Forum Index » Post-War (1946-54)

Yes, those areas are pretty bad. Mine is clean after the rear wheel but the small sections before it has few bubbles and bodywork. It might be the first place to corrode on those cars.

Maybe Packard never got far enough in rust-proof unlike some others. (but Studebaker.... the rust...)

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Being an Alberta my car was probably subject to some road salt at some point in it's life, pretty hard on these cars, not plastic like modern cars. I've also wondered if the areas around the rear wheels were trouble spots because the inside lacked of undercoating in this hard to access spot. Additionally maybe that rope like seal that was tucked between the fender and wheel well may have trapped moisture and caused it to rust faster.

The repairs on my car will be lots of work, and there's going to be more to repair than I can see. But when I'm done she'll be solid and look great! I can't wait to get the skirts back on her again.

Yours looks great, like it's only a year old. Very nice!

the rustproof on the '50s cars tended to be limited and particularly bad on some models.

given how Packard is constructed, even rainwater seems to pose a threat, let alone salt. Those cars seemed to be relatively early batch of those with double wrapped steel panels (contrary to the single piece of steel in the late '30s cars) and this naturally traps the salt/water anyway.

Thank you, we all try to keep those old Packards as nice as possible! It is never easy! And those cars are well past the date for protection with rust-proof, it is 6 decades late!

(I used to drive a '50 Cadillac Series 61 with Ziebart and it was sold new in Dearborn. My daily car Solara is still protected by Ziebart with Krown buying some more time, but cars driven in the winter and summer cars are completely treated differently)

I rebuilt a 66 Toronado about 30 years ago and had replaced the trunk and floor pans. When I was done I took it to Ziebart and had them give the car the full treatment. I drove it year round, and it was good for as long as I had the car, about 10 years. I think I'll do the same with my Cavalier when I'm done the body repairs.............in about 4 years!