Does this look like rust or damage?

[67GTFastback]

I had my car on a hoist this week to take pictures of the undercarriage of my fastback and noticed this ugly weld. It doesn't look like rust to me close up but I guess it could be an ugly patch job. Anyway, the potential buyer is scared of it being rust (I don't blame him, it is hard to tell even looking directly at it) but there is no other rust on the car anywhere. What do you think? To me it looks like a possible hoist damage that they tried to patch. I have also attached some pictures of the rest of the car which shows the condition of it, which if the rail were rusty, there would be more elsewhere? I also had it into the local Mustang Shop and they said it would cost about $300 to fix, but in the eyes of the potential buyer it is a showstopper. Keep in mind this car has never been restored and this is all the original sheetmetal. Thanks.

The driver's side rear rail

The floor pans

 

[67GTA-FB429]

might have been damaged at one point, but it looks like rust is in there now. IMO.

I would get it fixed for the $300 before it becomes $3000.

 

[69 Rustang]

Could be either

Looks like it could be either--if the rest of the car did not look so clean my vote would most definitely be rust. But as the rest of the car appears to be exceptionally clean, probably was damaged, then rusted. The poor repair probably did not include any paint or corrosion protection which could accelerate rusting around the welds. I would opt for the $300, but make sure they are going to do a nice job and seek an invisible repair. This is a frame rail--so it must be a strong repair as well. Good luck, Dave

 

[TT670]

Its not rust, It looks to me like it had underride traction bars welded on at one point and someone burned them off and burned thru the frame with no attempt at repair it properly. It wouldnt be a difficult repair with the proper gauge metal and a mig welder. Getting the paint to match would be a different story ..

 

[Snail50]

I'd say it's damage. Look at in the first pic, how the metal is torn and curled up.

 

[RajunCajun]

definnately damage from removal of something the metal is forced inward suggesting something was in that area and was forced off, doesnt look to hard to fix just cut out bad areas and plate in new with correct thickness metal

 

[67GTFastback]

I spoke with one of the PO's and he informed me that it was from a traction bar welded on there and then removed in a poor manner. The buyer is still taking the car so everything worked out.

 

[TT670]

do I get a prize? LOL