[roger1]

Originally Posted by north

I suspect that your convertible spent maybe one winter back east before going west. The clean dryness of all the unaffected areas look like a lifelong california car. But I've had many southwest cars that were rougher but yet didn't have those rot areas you had in flange seam areas. Maybe the car was leaky new and some salty water got into those areas way back 50 years ago. then every car wash in california would let in a bit of moisture, that the caulking would keep wet even in the dry western atmosphere.

Anyhow I love watching this thread, you work metal the way this guy I know back here can, you've got the timsmith gift! And all those minor rust spots mean nothing, when you're done they will have never existed thanks to the quality of your work and the dry dry cleanness of the rest of the car.

Thank you very much for the compliment. I don't know if I'd consider myself a "smith" but I do try to do things well.

You pretty much hit the nail on the head.
My car did spend it's early life in the east and then came west. I also think a lot of the eastern damage was mitigated by the undercoating as well as being taken care of and garaged. The undercoating was done pretty well.
I found this car to be something I hadn't encountered before in that there were some things rusted but almost pristine in other areas.

As I remember, the guy who sold me this car bought it from the guy that brought it west but I think had 2 prior owners before that. The story was that the guy who did bring it west bought it on ebay.

The guy I bought it from didn't do any and had no work done to the body. All the funny stuff was done prior to that. He had it for I think 8 years but didn't drive it a whole lot because he had trouble with the engine early on and pulled it for rebuilding and got it mostly done but never finished.