Rust never sleeps: 406 Coupé rust-proofed by Rustec
The 406 Coupé has returned from a very satisfying stay at Rustec in Wiltshire, where it received a full underbody rust protection treatment. I’ve always been a bit twitchy about the underside of this car – they don't exactly have a glowing reputation for resisting rust, as demonstrated by my silver example – so this felt like an important step in preserving it for the long haul.
Rustec went to town on it. Steam cleaning, corrosion removal, cavity waxing, Dinitrol coating – the works. It came back looking like it had just rolled out of a Peugeot showroom in 1999. OK, maybe a showroom in a slightly damp bit of France, but still: hugely impressed.
What I particularly like is that they tackle the hidden bits too: box sections, seams, the sort of places rust likes to sneak in unnoticed. Plus, the job includes annual inspections and touch-ups, which makes this feel like long-term care, not just a one-off job.
I didn't pay for the treatment, but Rustec didn’t ask for anything in return. Still, I was so happy with the results, I wrote a proper piece about the process and why rust-proofing is something more of us should be thinking about – especially with older cars like this one.
