"Daniel J. Stern" > wrote in message
n.umich.edu...
>
> Just this past weekend, I saw a completely unrusted *1978 Plymouth
> Caravelle "woodie" wagon*. That is a Canadian-market badge-up of the
> F-body Plymouth Volare/Dodge Aspen.

I don't believe Caravelles came out until after Aspens and Volares were
discontinued around 1981. Aspens and Volares were known for their
tendency to rust, especially on the fenders. My '87 Caravelle doesn't
have one speck of rust on it and the paint is all factory original. Of
course
I'm on the west coast, and salt is seldom used...

> These cars, while they weren't *quite*
> as bad as the Chevrolet Vega, were practically made out of compressed
> rust. One seldom sees such a car as this in any condition here in Toronto,
> which sees heavy road salt four to five months out of the year.

Although the sheet metal on these cars was thin and easily dented, it only
rusted if salt and water got to the steel. If the paint job was given a
fresh
waxing every year, and the bottom of the car was sprayed with used oil,
and sprayed inside the doors and fenders once a year in the salt belt,
there's
no reason why an 80's Caravelle shouldn't still be solid. The thing about
these cars is that most of them were neglected and left to rot because
they are not worth much when it comes to resale. I see a lot of them and
identical Dodge Diplomats with unrepaired fender benders chugging around
town, billowing black smoke out of their tailpipes...

> There was a "Rustproofed with Waxoyl" sticker in the lower left corner of
> the windshield; the condition of the car is quite a high recommendation
> for that product.
>
> FWIW, of course.

The car? It's not worth much but there's a good proven drivetrain under
that square bodywork and it's one of the most trouble-free cars I've ever
owned. Waxoyl[TM] eh?

-'dreas