rust proofing - does it work and impact on value

[Shoestringracer]

Hi,

I have a Mk1 Golf GTi which has never been welded, something of a rarity as they rust like a Fiat. It is a second car, mainly for competition work but also has to do the occasional run to work, whatever the weather, when my wife is using our other car to ferry the kids somewhere. This means that it could quite reasonably do a run to work in snowy conditions, with salt all over the roads, and then put away wet and salty for a couple of months. Due to me being tired and busy at the end of a day it not going to get any kind cleaning after each use, so don’t suggest that, please. It is kept in a dry and fairly warm but not heated, garage.

Mk1 GTIs are, apparently, going up in value at the moment with people asking £6k+ for them at places like 4Star Classics. I realise that advertised prises are not the same as actual but I want to protect my investment so I was thinking about a firm such as http://www.rustmaster.co.uk/, recommended to me on here by Breadvan72. However, the whole black arches / underside thing seems a bit “Practical Classics” and not very sophisticated and might actually put me off if I was looking at one. But what do I know? Maybe I’m just being a snob.

Three questions
1) Does it work – ie does it stop it rusting?
2) Would the people paying 6-7k see it as a good thing or a bad thing?
3) Is there one that could be painted over in body colour (red) in the future?

Thanks

[S0 What]

90% of the "very good condition" 70/80's classics i've seen/owned/trransported were rustproofed at some point in thier life, the other 10% lived in a garage and were hardly driven, compaired to "good condition" non treated classics they have way less rust so yes rust proofing works, no idea on that particular method/type though.

[cptsideways]

Definitely adds to sale'ability, a clean rustproofed car is always a good thing, Make sure its done in clear wax not black as that hides the nasties.

[alpinemauve]

Yes and yes

[Shoestringracer]

S0 What said:

90% of the "very good condition" 70/80's classics i've seen/owned/trransported were rustproofed at some point in thier life, the other 10% lived in a garage and were hardly driven, compaired to "good condition" non treated classics they have way less rust so yes rust proofing works, no idea on that particular method/type though.

Any recomendations of firms who can do clear?

[cptsideways]

Many of the old school garages will do it, it usually comes in clear o
r black

[neutral 3]

Zeibart didn't work.... They aparently had so many warranty claims they went bust.

The 1973 BMW 3.0 Si that I am refurbing was Zeibarted when new, numerous yellow plastic plugs with their logo in the A posts, sills etc, but peering inside the sills I can see no sign of whatever it was that they should have injected into them !

I have used waxoyl on many cars over the years and allways found it pretty effective.

[arguti]

Most of the classic Alfa specialists seem to favour Dinitrol and yes it does work

[Flatinfourth]

Wurth black underbody wax; the only way to go for a useable classic. Its a wax not a paint so an MoT tester cannot fail it on a brake or fuel line, sticks like the proverbial, looks fine and doesn't go off. Not as ridiculously temperature sensitive as black waxoyl. Always my recommendation for clients cars. Happy to do for anyone who needs it.