Factory undercoated DeLoreans

[DMC3165]

On a recent trip over to PJ Gradys I spotted a car up on the lift with a black frame. I asked Rob if this chassis was refinished with POR-15. He said no that's the factory undercoating that was put on the east coast cars. I'd never heard of this before. My car was originally from califonia so it has the grey epoxy finish. The car had similar milage to mine and while I've had to touch up a few spots over the years Rob said the frame on this car had never been touched. It had held up really well over the years. But I forgot to ask him what it was. Anyone familiar with it?

[Bitsyncmaster]

My car has the same undercoating. It's a tar like spray that hardens (sort of). You can still buy it at most auto shop parts stores. This was the standard around 1970 for all cars as a dealer option.

[WelmoedJ]

At the time the manufacturers didn't care much of protecting the underbody.
Companies stepped in and introduced underbody protection that was applied both on the outside of the underbody as well on its inside (door insides too).
Brand or product names that come to my mind were Dinitrol, Tectyl etc.
Some of them were wax based, some of them were tar based like Dave M. mentioned.

In Europe there also are some cars that have black underbodies.
I have not been able to check the inside of the centre frame, but I presume the inside also has been treated.

[vwdmc16]

My Massachusetts car didnt have any coating, I wish it had....

[Iznodmad]

Was the car you looked at an 83? Very common on the later cars. It had to be done to hide the rust that was forming as the cars were starting to pile up at the docks waiting to be shipped to the USA.

[dmc6960]

And by no means did it actually help prevent rust any more than the regular epoxy. And in addition to not helping any better, it makes working on the underside a bigger pain in the rear. Every nut and bolt is coated and stuck together.

[DMCMW Dave]

And by no means did it actually help prevent rust any more than the regular epoxy. And in addition to not helping any better, it makes working on the underside a bigger pain in the rear. Every nut and bolt is coated and stuck together.

And anything you would normally clean up with solvent is a disaster.

[82DMC12]

My car has the under coating. It's horrible and is one of the reasons I'm planning a frame-off.

[Jeff K]

My car has the under coating. It's horrible and is one of the reasons I'm planning a frame-off.

I totally agree. My car has it too, it just makes it look filthy and gums up the bolts and screw holes.

I was to take the frame off so bad and get it restored.

[DMC3165]

Was the car you looked at an 83? Very common on the later cars. It had to be done to hide the rust that was forming as the cars were starting to pile up at the docks waiting to be shipped to the USA.

I'm honestly not sure. I didn't ask and I only saw the bottom of it so I didn't see any of the later styling cues like the hood or anything. I have to admit aside from the fact that it was a local car that had no signs of rust or rot on it. Aesthetically it looked terrible.