VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - GENERAL Body - Sheet Metal, Paint & Wood UNDERCOATING OLD CARS

I WAS JUST WONDERING, IF ANYONE KNOWS WHEN THEY STARTED TO UNDERCOAT CARS. I HAVE SEEN A COUPLE OLDER CHEVYS WITH UNDERCOATING TO THE UNDERSIDE OF THE FENDERS,BUT DID ANY OF THE FACTORIES IN THE EARLY DAYS DO IT. :) :) :) :)

I know that some as early as '51 were undercoated. I am not sure if it was factory or dealer installed but think they were available from either.

My 1951 Chevrolet was undercoated, and in this case it was done at the dealer and not the factory. Also, there is insulation under the hood and in the trunk behind the carboard panels and etc. :eek:

I TALKED TO ONE OF THE OLDTIMERS AT THE CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP, AND WHAT HE REMEMBERS IS THAT,BACK WHEN PEOPLE ORDERED THEIR CAR, THEY WERE OFFERED TO HAVE THE CAR UNDERCOATED FOR A EXTRA FEE. HE SAID SOMETIMES THE DEALERS WOULD MAKE A SALES PITCH AND WOULD THROW IN UNDERCOATING TO MAKE THE SALE. SOME OF THE OLDER CARS THAT I HAVE SEEN, THE UNDERCOATING WAS PUT ON VERY HEAVY, AND THOSE CARS MUST HAVE BEEN VERY QUIET ON THE HIGHWAYS. :) :) :) :)

My '53 was undercoated by the dealer ( found some dealer invoices) less than $50 and it is quiet, the hood was also done. It makes doing anything to the brake and fuel lines a problem but there don't seem to be any rust under it. the under floor is ok there was some rust on the inside floor, looked like a leaky heater hose or core in the past and the sill plates are corroded. :love:

Undercoating was one if my first jobs at the local Chevrolet agency .This was 1954 and it was dealer installed . The stuff was like a black top road without the gravel .Here in the rust zone if it was too thick it cracked ,water and salt in the winter got behind it and great holes would appear.Thats when i moved into the body shop,a lot cleaner too.Back then it was strictly a dealer option ,and was used a lot of times to make a deal.

MY '57 HAD HEAVY UNDERCOATING AND I'M GLAD IT DID. WHEN I RESTORED IT, IT WAS A ROYAL PAIN TO GET OFF (HEAT AND SCRAPE) BUT UNDER THE COATING WAS PERFECT METAL. UNDER THE HOOD WAS COATED ALSO, AND YES IT DID RUN QUIET.

I have an original unrestored 1950 Special and when you say heavy undercoating I have it on this car, in fact the underside of the hood was so heavy that you have a hard time keeping it open.
Thanks to this undercoating the body and under side are in very good condition.