Stainless Steel Cars: Solution to Rust?
By: Mahinder Karamchand Singh
STAINLESS steel: An alloy of iron, carbon and chromium. Indubitably, it has remarkable resistance to corrosion and heat.
Did you know that in 1936, Ford manufactured six stainless deluxe sedans? Though these were never considered show cars, each logged over 350,000 kilometers of everyday driving. One was restored in 1995 - every corroded carbon steel part was replaced, but the original body remained intact and still shines brightly even today.
Since the late 60s, the use of stainless steel in the body of passenger jeeps and ‘owner’ jeeps, AUVs and vans started to become popular in the Philippines, due to low maintenance with almost no body works due to noncorrosion. In 2000, their owners raised a howl when the Land Transportation Office (LTO) banned these vehicles because the body produced a strong glare at night when hit by a pair of headlights. After thousands of owners with stainless-steel vehicles painted their units, the LTO rescinded its order. They had found out that reckless and undisciplined drivers cause more accidents than glare from stainless vehicles.
In 2001, American automotive designers and engineers considered stainless steel in specific areas where durability, fabricability, and resistance to heat and corrosion are of primary concern. These include piston ring springs, fuel filters, hose clamps, windshield wiper, fuel rail system, oxygen sensors, thermostats, wheel covers, air bag components, seat belt anchors and retractor springs, door locks and wheel covers.
To meet the demand of those living in coastal areas in the country where corrosion of vehicles is being accelerated by saltwater and ‘salty’ air, local manufacturers should design and build an AUV with stainless-steel chassis and body, or if it is not possible due to technical considerations and cost, a body made of aluminum alloy similar to that being used in every Land Rover SUV.
01 November 2014
Did you know that in 1936, Ford manufactured six stainless deluxe sedans? Though these were never considered show cars, each logged over 350,000 kilometers of everyday driving. One was restored in 1995 - every corroded carbon steel part was replaced, but the original body remained intact and still shines brightly even today.
Since the late 60s, the use of stainless steel in the body of passenger jeeps and ‘owner’ jeeps, AUVs and vans started to become popular in the Philippines, due to low maintenance with almost no body works due to noncorrosion. In 2000, their owners raised a howl when the Land Transportation Office (LTO) banned these vehicles because the body produced a strong glare at night when hit by a pair of headlights. After thousands of owners with stainless-steel vehicles painted their units, the LTO rescinded its order. They had found out that reckless and undisciplined drivers cause more accidents than glare from stainless vehicles.
In 2001, American automotive designers and engineers considered stainless steel in specific areas where durability, fabricability, and resistance to heat and corrosion are of primary concern. These include piston ring springs, fuel filters, hose clamps, windshield wiper, fuel rail system, oxygen sensors, thermostats, wheel covers, air bag components, seat belt anchors and retractor springs, door locks and wheel covers.
To meet the demand of those living in coastal areas in the country where corrosion of vehicles is being accelerated by saltwater and ‘salty’ air, local manufacturers should design and build an AUV with stainless-steel chassis and body, or if it is not possible due to technical considerations and cost, a body made of aluminum alloy similar to that being used in every Land Rover SUV.
01 November 2014