Yeah silver was the fashion of the day, and apparently white is now the new silver, although for how long who knows? My work involves dating 19th & 20th century artefacts, and it's surprising how fashions come back into vogue..... maybe another 20 years silver could well be back in, but whether the car lasts that long is another matter!
I'm pleased with what I've done to the old girl in the last 6 months (and the car too), finding it quite therapeutic getting down under there and sorting out the grotty bits. Luckily most of what I found was just surface rust, but left another couple of years no doubt more holes would start to appear. The top heatshield nuts sheared off as soon as the spanner greeted them, and these have been replaced with new studs fitted after drilling out the boot floor. The hole in the rear side valance (side heatshield just behind wheel arch) has been treated, and the area well cleaned out and repaired using mudflap washers. The latter was a combination of dirt trapped between shield and valance, as well as moisture dripping down the inside of the rear quarter / inner wheel arch / detached sun roof drain pipes.
All shields cleaned and wire brushed, with only minimal surface rust noted. Treated them to some silver caliper paint, although ordinary Hammerite has been used by others on this forum to good effect.
Car went for MOT test 2 weeks ago and the tester said it cruised through
Just sat waiting for the end of month now...... not just to save myself £25 for part month road tax, more the principle. Looking forward to taking it for a proper drive on Thursday