GT'S

[isham-research.freeserve.co.uk at pop.pol.net.uk]

> I think there's a difference between having the body/frame stamped from
> galvanized steel panels and attaching individual galvanized panels to an
> otherwise ungalvanized structure.  The 4k cars and their stablemates may
> have galvanized bits and pieces added on (something like a quarterpanel or
> a door skin), but that's not like the 5K cars from '86 on.

The key difference is not the material but the way it's cut.  The Type
44 was not only produced from pre-galvanised sheet metal - the
guillotines and presses were specifically designed to maintain the 100%
coating.

The technique used to shear the metal and push the zinc coating down into
the cut to maintain the coating even across the cut face is the key.
It's why full galvanisation was only introduced with body shell shape
changes - never halfway through the production of a given shape.

--
 Phil Payne
 UK Audi quattro Owners Club
 http://www.isham-research.freeserve.co.uk/quattro
 Phone +44 7785 302803   Fax: +44 7785 309674