VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND NEWER 1949-1954 Undercoating?

Undercoating???

Dealer installed option in 1954 or quick restoration cover up?

What is the real scoop on what I see here?

Undercoating was a big sell in the early 50s. When I bought cars in 1954 and 1956 they browbeat me until I caved in and had it done. First they steamcleaned all the bottom and before it had a chance to dry, sprayed the undercoating. Within months it was coming loose in critical places. Then the water got behind it and the trouble started.

I have a 1961 Impala Convertible that is undercoated and am already concerned about how to remove it someday.

AntiqueMechanic,

Don't feel bad over it, I bought a new 2007 and the salesman got me for the same thing!!! I have been buying cars for 27 years and I have always had my doubts about dealer installed undercoating.

But I would much prefer to see the underside of a '54 looking like this with undercoating than the photo seen above:

The last picture is about what my '50 looks like underneath. A nice light coat. The problem is , is the rust started in the enclosed body structure where the undercoat did not reach. Some of the undercoat guys thought that they were doing you a favor by appling a heavy coat, and that was the worst thing they could have done. The factory did apply a light coat under the rear wheel wells to help silence the stones as they were thrown and seal out water and dust leaks.
Actually undercoating was available from GM way back in the late '30's but didn't get popular until 1946 when the dealers loaded up the cars so they could make big profits.

My '51 Chevy 2-door sedan has dealer installed undercoating. Also, they installed sheets of fiberglass insulation on the hood and on the trunk lid, plus behind the cardboard trunk panels as well. All of the above has been there since new and in the time I have owned the car (some 48 years now.......it was my first car in high school) all of the above is still there and doing fine. No problems yet...but then again, I don't drive the car in the rain and etc. either.

:) :grin:

JYD,

Does it look anything like this what you describe?

Yes, but only in the fender wells and under the body. There are thick sheets of fiberglass insulation under the hood, under the trunk lid and behind the cardboard panels in the trunk.

:) :grin:

Our family has owned a bunch of early to mid-50s Chevrolets over the years. Since we lived in Michigan at the time all had some amount of undercoating. Many of the early 50s cars had undercoating under the hood as well as body and fenders. A few had so much under the hood that after a couple of years the springs hardly held the hood in the open position. Guess the dealers felt that the more the better.

My 49 has just under 35,000 original miles on it. The underside of the car has never been touched. It has undercoating, and not a lot of rust. Would the undercoating be from the dealer from 49??

Hi,

Most likely the dealer, however other independant shops also specialized in steam cleaning and undercoating.

My 51 has lots of undercoating and still lots of rust.Seems like the undercoating just served to keep the water between the undercoating and the floor.In the early 50,s I knew a fellow that worked at the OLDS dealer.His son had the cleanest car in town with little rust.Every fall his dad would steam the underneath and when it was dry he would spray it with crankcase oil and then let it drip dry.He also waxed the finish but did not polish it,just leaving it on until Spring when he would again steam the underside and now wash and polish the exterior.

There is no longer a need for automotive undercoating as the car companies have made substantial advancements in corrosion protection through the use of galvanized and galvaneal steel and improved paint products.