1961 falcon a patina question

i got a 61 falcon thru a member this week and have decided to play with it a little instead of flipping it fast. i am doing nothing with the paint its too nice to repaint. my question is concerning the underbody. it was never undercoated and there is a lot pf factory paint left plus a really light surface rust in areas. i figure i have three options on this:

1. use a wire brush on it then clean it and the shoot it with a couple coats of clear

2. wire brush and clean then paint it black

3. wire brush and clean then undercoat it

That's pretty clean for a 61. If you plan on selling later I would skip the undercoating - always seems like it's hiding something. I'd be tempted to clean it up a bit and paint like factory - not black. or just leave it alone.

I agree with the "undercoating seems like its hiding something" sentiment. Fresh black paint everywhere will have the same effect but I agree it should be coated with something to protect it. For some reason a grey color just seems like it would be less "hidey"

^^ +3.

The patina of that car may should be left alone. Definitely do not undercoat it.

leave it alone and don't drive it in a salty climate. unless it looks like it was done on a rotisserie, anything not OE is going to look like you're hiding something.

Take a buch of pictures during the process and the next owner can see that you're not hiding anything, and that you took great care of the car.

Remember, it's only original once. That can have a lot of market appeal. Wouldn't leave it sitting outside in the rain very long though.

oldtin wrote: That's pretty clean for a 61. If you plan on selling later I would skip the undercoating - always seems like it's hiding something. I'd be tempted to clean it up a bit and paint like factory - not black. or just leave it alone.

That is the #1 thing potential buyers check at Mecum.....if it has undercoating, its worthless to most of them.

I'd leave it alone personally, if you plan to keep it for a very long time as a "driver", I'd either paint it like the factory did or just spray clear.

I'd pressure wash it, blow it dry and leave it alone. Especially since that's the way I want it when I buy it from you!Either that or do nothing to it at all.

well she is running . cleaned the tank, blew out the lines and will be rebuilding the carb she runs good.

Brave here are some more teaser pics....

Clean, primer, black. Rust never sleeps.

Bedliner! Just kidding. What everyone else said. I don't think that little bit of surface rust would scare anyone...fresh paint would though.

It may only be original once, but I would think original steel trumps original remains of paint.

You can always brush or roll on bedliner (the flat kind) you can pick up a gallon of rustoleum for about 45 dollars at wal-mart.

Wire brush it. Pressure wash. Let it dry. Then Rust Reform/primer it and shoot it with satin black enamel. I have done vehicles from 2005-1970 that way to preserve them. Most buyers like the look and protection also.

It's survived since 1961 protected like that; a few more years won't do much unless it sees salt. But, if you are compelled to cover it, the above is the best approach.

Undercoating is evil. It causes more rust than it prevents, based on most of the vintage cars I've worked on. The underside of my '65 F100 looks a lot like that, and I haven't touched it since I bought it nearly 10 years ago. Mine does sit indoors when not in use, however.

It's survived since 1961 protected like that; a few more years won't do much unless it sees salt.

Logic, FTMFW.

I'm surprised no one has mentioned Ospho yet...

later, matt

Spray it with oil.

^^ I was going to suggest what Woody says. If you aren't planning to keep it long term, leave it as it is and coat it with some oil to protect it.

If I was looking between two cars and one had floors like that and the other was painted, I'd go with the one unpainted since you see exactly what you are getting.

Woody wrote: Spray it with oil.

that is what we are doing its decided.......my one friend said it will look like everything is leaking

cutter67 wrote:

Woody wrote: Spray it with oil.

that is what we are doing its decided.......my one friend said it will look like everything is leaking

That's might not be a good idea, everyone might think it was made in England.

On my Jeeps, I used to wire brush the flaking paint off the frame and brush it with brake grease.

After pressure wash or cleaning, used motor oil thinned w/ kerosene and sprayed w/ air powered siphon sprayer works for me. Warming the mix helps it flow into all the nooks.

Is your nickname fireball or ins claim? I like to soak rags in gasoline then zip tie them to my catalytic converter and loan my car to my in-laws.