[BobP]

Hello folks

This is my first post here and I’m pleased to be joining this forum with so many very knowledgeable members.

I’m in the UK and have a 1972 Silver Shadow that I’ve owned for three years. Had I known a few years ago what I know now I’d have searched harder and spent more - but that’s another story! That said, though not the finest example, my car has given and continues to give great pleasure.

She was repainted about seven years ago and in the time since I took ownership corrosion has started to appear along the top edge of each door panel, below the windows. Is this bi-metallic (galvanic) corrosion, is it common and how best is it dealt with? I’ve previously asked this question have given slightly vague and differing answers. The leading RR & B specialists that service the car for me have given me a fairly hefty quote to treat and locally repaint but say they cannot guarantee a recurrence of the problem with a few years.

This unsightly corrosion spoils an otherwise perfectly presentable car so if anyone has any suggestions as to the best course of action I’d be very grateful indeed.

And thanks to everyone who reads to the bottom of this longer-than-intended post!

Cheers

Bob

 

[Wraithman]

Hi and welcome. Pics would help, but I can tell you the outer door skin is aluminum, the inner is steel, the window frame is all stainless steel.

 

[BobP]

Hello Wraithman

Thank you very much for your response and apologies for the delay in replying. The car is currently in winter storage and I don't have any recent close-up photos of the corrosion but will take some when I'm next there. I've seen the same issue on a couple of other Shadows but didn't have opportunity to ask the owners. A classic car restoration company I spoke to about partial re-paint said 'this happens a lot' but they didn't elaborate. So I was imagining this problem might not be uncommon.

I'll post photos as soon as I get the opportunity.

Thanks

Bob

 

[Steven R Morris]

Hi Bob, I have exactly the same issue. My car is a 73 model. You are correct in saying it’s ‘corrosion’ and not rust as the door skins are as Wraithman said aluminium. With 3 different metals in a point where moisture can form and hold, you will always have an issue, I’m no expert but I do know that corrosion will happen in this situation, and is very difficult to avoid. I, like you have had some eye watering quotes to get this done, but in all cases they repairers didn’t really install much confidence in me, some even suggesting that it’s a design issue and if repaired will almost certainly come back. I have decided that as 90% of my paint is original I will leave it until I am forced to get it done, I.e. holes appear. At the moment it’s a very slight bubbling and not at all unsightly! some useful information here…Galvanic Corrosion: Avoidance and Risk Mitigation Explained - Unified Alloys.