Quote: A car that's been totally underwater like that old Ford has had no oxygen to rust it
The vault car has had air in the vault - water in pushes air out, water out is replaced with air
That's true. All those wet/dry cycles will aid in the corrosion process, unfortunately.
Plus, the real damage will occur inside the panels (at hemmings, spot weld areas, etc), where there is little or no paint film build combined with crevices which facilitate oxygen concentration cells. The stuff they sprayed on the outside of the car will have done little to protect the critical areas.
Not to mention all the damage that water and dirt/grunge will have done to the engine/transmission, interior upholstery, electrical system, etc etc.
I would like to believe otherwise, but it doesn't look like it will be pretty. It will be interesting either way, though. Rather than restore it (if it's even possible), it would be cool if they could put it in a museum as is... I'm sure it's the only one like it in the world.
