Hello all!

I know there's been threads here on 'what state has the most rust-free cars'. But I'm hoping to hear from some folks who might advise on my particular situation.

I'm from Minnesota, and used to seeing total rustbuckets everywhere. I've never been any further south than Iowa, so I don't have any personal experience to go on (other than figuring on obvious choices like Arizona, California, etc).

So... here's the situation: I'm going to be heading down to central Oklahoma for a few days in the near future. That means I'll be going through Missouri, Kansas, etc. and would be somewhat close to Texas. While down there I'd like to drag back a couple of non-rusty vehicles on the cheap (what's dime a dozen in the south would be a treat up here).

I know that clean vehicles can be found anywhere if you look hard enough. But given where I'll be going, what areas would you guys suggest I concentrate most on?


--kt

 

Definitely not Illinois (where I live). Got a Camaro a few months back, there was literally no floor left. I'm in the process of actually restoring it, since I'd hate for it to junked.

Mainly the southern states which don't get snow, or use salt. I've also heard Colorado vehicles are usually rust-free, since they use sand instead of salt for winter.

 

Whats rust?

 

All vehicle rust in all states, but up north it's alot worse. I found my car right here in NE Ohio and it's spent it's whole life here, even made in Norwood. My car has zero rust. Out of all the states you listed I would say inland TX would be the best as the other states do see winter from time to time. I have been to FL many times and most of the cars there do nto have rust unless they have spent their life by the coast.

 

When I was looking for a 3rd gen to buy, I saw plenty down here in Texas with varying degrees of rust. Most of those were cars that spend some years outside of Texas. So, just because they are currently in a low rust state, doesn't mean all the cars will be rust free You still need to check them closely.

 

Colorado is a low rust state. Its very dry most of the year, and severe rust us rarely seen. Most of the time when we run into severe rust the vehicle came from out of state.

 

Florida is good away from the coast but humidity is so bad that rust can be more of a problem than figured...

my current formula 350 came from NE Florida west of jax....it is virtually rust free...my last one came from Orlando and had a little in the pillars from the t tops I'd guess...the one before that came from deland fl and it had some minor surface rust...so while florida does have some nice examples it still pays to be cautious here...

best of luck

 

You can skip Missouri we use enough salt to kill a car in a winter.

 

Georgia. Pretty much everything is rust-free here (unless it's been brought in from Florida or a northern state).

 

From OKC and South should be good but not on the coast; as you have undoubtedly read many cars are transplants. My 91 has no rust. My 68 Thunderbird is a Texas car and has no rust that is a problem except for the heaterbox. (It has been sitting for more than 10 yrs) The 68 Chevelle I had had no rust.
These are all Texas or OK vehicles. I have lived in the NE and dealt with salt. The GTA I got some ground effects from in Dallas was from the California coast and badly rusted.
Where I am in North Texas / Oklahoma border people are now trying to ask more for their third gens. Some are outrageous but good deals are still to be found.

 

what's your intention? Buy a couple clean cars, drag 'em up north and sell for a profit? It probably won't happen. I have seen plenty of clean 3rd gens right there in Minnesota. My car came from there and it's rust free. Because of the number of clean cars already there, you won't be able to retire on the ones you bring up there.

 

No rust in So Cal

 

The dryest heat in the country AZ is my best idea. 16 hour drive from dallas.

 

**** salt...Im from northen Jersey. Gotta love the winter time!