Galvanized Steel Options

[bulitt]

Did you all know that Galvanized paint was invented back in 1830's, and galvanized metal has been discovered on some armor used in India in the 1700's! So I am assuming it was cost prohibited in the 1970's? Or was the steel used on the 914's galvanized but maybe the technique was not perfected. American cars were built with a predetermined life (planned obsolescence) so the consumer would buy new every several years. Porsche too? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif)

Or maybe they were designed to be bio-degradable, a green product...

[Tom_T]

Porsche started hot dipping their cars in 1976 (not sure if it was only 77 MY 911/912E/924 or if 76 build 76 MY 911/912E as well), which unfortunately just missed ALL MYs of 914s, because the 76 MY 914s were actually built in the 1975 calendar year. I believe it was a matter of not adding to the overall production costs, lack of customer demand &/or knowledge about the benefits, unavailability of the materials &/or processes/machinery as a result of post-WWII shortages, the lack of European countries using salt on their roads in most cases during that period, or a combination of these.

Remember that German industrial capacity was utterly destroyed in WWII, and then 1/2 of the country was "lost" behind the Iron Curtain - e.g.: Porsche started 356 production outside of Stuttgart in Austria; & BMW's pre/during-WWII plant was lost to the other side & they had to relocate & rebuild in Munich). So the German mfgrs. were literally pulling themselves up by their own bootstraps (with help from the Marshall Plan), and incrementally getting back to being top manufacturers.

But the zinc coatings & galvanizing was only part of the rust story on Porsches & other German cars from that period, as the steel - both in the various steel alloys' composition & raw materials used played a big factor. According to my one Grandfather who had worked at J&L Steel in Pittsburgh PA as an industrial engineer - and who used to lecture me on my 914's inferior steel - post WWII German steel up through the mid-1970's at least, was generally considered inferior to USA steel alloys & quality within each type, mainly due to the higher scrap (recycled) steel content.

And so all 1940s-70's European cars were considered by many in the auto industry to be even more rust prone than their US built contemporaries for the steel alone - aside from galvanizing. Once a few mfgrs. started galvanizing (incl. any of hot dip, spray paint, electroplating, etc.), then everybody jumped on the bandwagon to do it. I think it was the hot dip process & tanks in the assy. line which made it feasible production time-wise & economically viable to rust treat the metals.

Also IIRC, old school galvanized steel is made more brittle for panel stamping & prone to have the galvanization chip off, as well as being toxic when subjected to welding (perhaps more important in the days when people did the welding on bodies - not robots).

Anyway, that's my take on it!

Cheers! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)
Tom
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[SirAndy]

Remember that German industrial capacity was utterly destroyed in WWII

Actually, most of it was "exported" to the 4 countries that won the war. Where do you think your moon rocket came from?
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif)

And using WW2 as some sort of argument related to car production in the early seventies is a moot point since the German industry had long since recovered.

Do a search for "Wirtschaftswunder" on Google to get your timeline straight.
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/popcorn[1].gif)

[Tom_T]

Remember that German industrial capacity was utterly destroyed in WWII

Actually, most of it was "exported" to the 4 countries that won the war. Where do you think your moon rocket came from?
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif)

And using WW2 as some sort of argument related to car production in the early seventies is a moot point since the German industry had long since recovered.

Do a search for "Wirtschaftswunder" on Google to get your timeline straight.
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/popcorn[1].gif)

Actually Andy, during the 60's Porsche was still considered a small niche producer, and depended upon mass producer VW to market their P-cars up until the 914 came out in 69, and then VOA (VW of Amearica) & Porsche opened dedicated Porsche+Audi (or Porsche|Audi in some logos & signs) dealerships for the 70 MY here in the USA.

BMW, VW & Porsche in the 60's were then just coming into their own, especially relative to the Big 3 auto mfgrs., so some of their production lines were still in the process of upgrading during the 1970's - including my example of Porsche adding the hot dip tanks in their plant for the 76 MY P-cars.

You see, I don't have to "Google" it, because I was alive & cognizant then as a teen in the 60's & young man in the 70's!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/poke.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

I just have a different opinion than you, that the post-war recovery was a moot point in 1972 or 76! You should also note that I also presented that as only part of the several reasons as to why they weren't zinc treated before `76.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/popcorn[1].gif)

[SirAndy]

You see, I don't have to "Google" it, because I was alive & cognizant then as a teen in the 60's & young man in the 70's!!
I just have a different opinion than you, that the post-war recovery was a moot point in 1972 or 76!

I grew up in Germany during the 60s and 70s.

Your opinion does not reflect reality.
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/shades.gif)

[Tom_T]

You see, I don't have to "Google" it, because I was alive & cognizant then as a teen in the 60's & young man in the 70's!!
I just have a different opinion than you, that the post-war recovery was a moot point in 1972 or 76!

I grew up in Germany during the 60s and 70s.

Your opinion does not reflect reality.
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/shades.gif)

Being in diapers doesn't count! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/poke.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

I also studied it in macro-economics in college in 1970-74, so it may just reflect an American econ bias vs. German national pride! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/flag.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/icon_bump.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smilie_flagge6.gif)

No personal affront nor negative intended Andy.

But Porsche was & to an extent still is a niche, and as someone noted above & at that Pelican topic on galvanized 911s, the Karmann plant apparently wasn't equipped to weld the GI steel & so didn't galvanize them for their production.

Unless we go ask the heads of production from then - if they're still alive & if they still remember the details - we probably won't know the exact reason(s) & can only postulate.

BTW - I watched every live televised NASA launch & those by the USAF & Army which were on the news delayed broadcast in the 50's thru to the final Apollo mission, so I'm fully aware of Von Braun's & his countrymen's contributions here & in the USSR to the space & missile programs, and it kept them all out of the post-war war crimes trials. FYI - there were also Americans doing parallel & contributing R&D to that effort, so it wasn't an all German scientist/engineer show. Just so we're clear on that prior comment of yours.
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[SirAndy]

Being in diapers doesn't count! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/poke.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

I know i still look young when in reality i'm not, so i'm taking that as a compliment.
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/piratenanner.gif)

[Tom_T]

Being in diapers doesn't count! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/poke.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

I know i still look young when in reality i'm not, so i'm taking that as a compliment.
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/piratenanner.gif)

You've hung together well, my man! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)
... especially for almost 100! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif)
..... or was 1914 in your prior life? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif)
BTW - I know - one914....

Hopefully it all doesn't go south when you really hit the big 6-oh! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/poke.gif)