Living near the Coast - should I be worried about rust ?

[dram]

Guys

Excuse my lack of mechanical/bodywork skills !

Looking for advice from Triumph and MG classic car owners living near the coast..

I am about to move nearer to the coast [ house about 300 metres as the crow flies from the sea ], and am worried that the local 'sea air' could encourage rust in older cars ..

I will have a decent wind and watertight garage to store any potential future purchase of a classic - 1960/1970s Triumph/MG probably - I'm looking now for a proper restored car ..

Are my concerns valid ? Used to have a couple of TVRs and with fibreglass bodies they would have been alright in this situation..[ chassis were also decent ]

Also posting this in the MG forum..

Thanks
Brian

[TriumphVitesse]

As long as you keep it garaged you should be ok (I think!). I just remember that when I was a kid walking along Whitley Bay seafront...all of the metal railings were rusted to buggery!

I guess that as long as its not getting sprayed with seawater 'mist' then it should be ok.

[dram]

Geordie

Thanks for your reply

Also got some advice from the MG Forum - suggest the purchase of a Perma Bag type carccon which provides additional protection inside the garage and costs about £400 dependant on car size.

I am going to make sure that the seals on the garage doors and windows are ok for peace of mind

Thanks again
Brian

[jellison]

TVR's have Terrible chassis if drive in the rain alot or live near the coast outside - they just disintegrate!

You could get a TR with bombproof separate girder chassis and pop mainly plastic outer panels on it (all over) have a nice respray - leav off the awful looking bumpers, then have a car that will not rust, lots of hamerite on the chassis and will be a good bit fater with all that weight saved (and more mpg ).

[Tow Vehicle Rqrd]

dram said:

Guys

Excuse my lack of mechanical/bodywork skills !

Looking for advice from Triumph and MG classic car owners living near the coast..

I am about to move nearer to the coast [ house about 300 metres as the crow flies from the sea ], and am worried that the local 'sea air' could encourage rust in older cars ..

I will have a decent wind and watertight garage to store any potential future purchase of a classic - 1960/1970s Triumph/MG probably - I'm looking now for a proper restored car ..

Are my concerns valid ? Used to have a couple of TVRs and with fibreglass bodies they would have been alright in this situation..[ chassis were also decent ]



Also posting this in the MG forum..

Thanks
Brian

Yes! I lived in Cornwall for a couple of years and the salty air was the final nail in the coffin for my beloved, ever faithful TR7-V8. Invest in a jet-washer, be prepared to use it frequently, and use that garage EVERY bloody night mate, no matter how tired you are! Good luck with it though!

Edited by Tow Vehicle Rqrd on Monday 21st June 22:09

Edited by Tow Vehicle Rqrd on Monday 21st June 22:11

[arfur daley]

also id be worried about the house dropping into the sea.

[johnxjsc1985]

Ilive right on the coast and the air is often damp and worse salty you can smell it.Constant washing under the car is a must and if its off the road in the winter I spray gallons of WD40 under neath it on everything.

[Cerberosa]

i live on the coast an owned a spitfire for over 2 years and never got anything more than surface rust as normal with these cars, just keep it covered and clean all over and underneath, waxol it. i drove mine all year round too

however! i wasn't parked directly next to the sea front

previso on the all year driving, dont do it. nothing is worse than loosing your car to a spin on ice
i miss my spit

cerbs