868 mile 1984 Saab 900 recovered!

[Sam]

This was the car I posted about in the classifieds. Glad someone got it, as I had replied to the listing months ago and ended up buying my spg. I’ve seen many cars sit like this for years as people get too old to drive but can’t let go. I don’t know the specifics on it but the person I wrote to said that they had inherited the car.

[Geoff]

This whole thing is mind boggling to me. A car that was apparently bought new, driven less than 1000 miles, and left outside for 30 years? The property looks pretty overgrown, was it abandoned for that long too? I really am surprised that it isn't more rusty. I've had those cars sit outside for a few years and the rotors have gotten so rusty that I had to beat the calipers with 15lb sledge to get them off the rotor.

[DeLorean]

I really am surprised that it isn't more rusty. I've had those cars sit outside for a few years and the rotors have gotten so rusty that I had to beat the calipers with 15lb sledge to get them off the rotor.

I am going to say much of that is due to a "normal operation" north-east car. Even clean cars that have been driven say 50K will have minerals and salts on them from being used that basically will never come off regardless of how many times they are washed. They are inside areas you cant get to or see, but they still act on metals from there, and will creep. I am thinking a car that has seen use is going to rust from sitting a lot worse than one that's basically never been exposed to minerals & salts.

Having said that, tall moist grass / weeds I would think would be pretty rough for any car, given that much passage of time. Could it be that maybe it was in a garage for 1/2 the time it was sitting, and it was only fully exposed to the elements for the other 1/2? That might account for condition a bit more?

[Luke]

I really am surprised that it isn't more rusty. I've had those cars sit outside for a few years and the rotors have gotten so rusty that I had to beat the calipers with 15lb sledge to get them off the rotor.

I am going to say much of that is due to a "normal operation" north-east car. Even clean cars that have been driven say 50K will have minerals and salts on them from being used that basically will never come off regardless of how many times they are washed. They are inside areas you cant get to or see, but they still act on metals from there, and will creep. I am thinking a car that has seen use is going to rust from sitting a lot worse than one that's basically never been exposed to minerals & salts.

Yep, and I think that also explains why pacific northwest cars, although constantly wet, don't seem to hardly rust at all...

[Topcat12]

I also wonder if that paint will buff out.

Looks like a candidate for restoration in a bottle, remember those commercials of the guy in a junkyard making the heaps look concours? LOL...Or ...maybe "clay magic" would do the trick?