Puester wrote:

> To paraphrase one of our luminaries, "You gonna polish, or cook?"
>


"...or drive?"


http://www.alleghenyludlum.com/pages...inlesscars.asp

"In 1935, officials at Allegheny Ludlum Steel Division and the Ford Motor
Company collaborated on an experiment that would become a legacy and a
tribute to one of the most dynamic metals ever developed.

Allegheny Ludlum, a pioneer producer of stainless steel, proposed the idea
of creating a stainless steel car to Ford. The idea took shape in the form
of a 1936 Deluxe Sedan. That car became the centerpiece of a campaign to
expose the public to the new metal and its many uses.

Allegheny Ludlum and Ford would later collaborate on two more stainless
models, a 1960 Thunderbird and a 1967 Lincoln Continental Convertible. Of
the 11 cars originally built, nine are still in use.

The stainless steel cars were perfect vehicles for increasing awareness of
the quality of the metal. And over the years, this quality has been shown in
its stainless performance.

Of the six stainless steel cars that rolled off the Ford assembly line in
Detroit in 1936, four exist today as living proof of the durability of
stainless steel. One is on display at the Heinz Regional History Center in
Pittsburgh, PA.

Each of the original six logged at least 200,000 miles in the hands of
Allegheny Ludlum officials before "retiring" to private ownership in 1946.
Thousands of additional miles have been logged on the odometers since, and
the shiny bodies have outlasted most of their non-stainless steel parts.

The experiment was an unparalleled success on a number of levels. Public
awareness of stainless steel's many uses increased with every city and
state the cars visited. Through many years of active use, metallurgists and
engineers were amazed at the superiority of the silvery metal.

Since 1960, when two stainless steel Ford Thunderbirds were introduced, they
have been displayed throughout the United States and Europe.

The two Thunderbirds came off the Wixom, Michigan production line on July
11, 1960, and each has traveled over 100,000 miles, demonstrating the
durability and timeless beauty of stainless steel.

With the exception of the body skin, bumpers and grille, which are made of
T302 stainless steel, every other component is standard 1960 Thunderbird
equipment. Also included is the first T409 solid stainless steel muffler
released on a production vehicle. Both cars still have their original
mufflers and T304 exhaust pipes after 25 years on the road!

The 1967 Lincoln Convertible was the last of the stainless steel cars
produced by the Ford Motor Company and Allegheny Ludlum Steel.
Once again, the companies proved that stainless steel's enduring beauty is
matched by its toughness.

As with all stainless steel there is no need for painting. The
corrosion-resistant properties of the stainless eliminate the problems
caused by rust.

Except for the vehicle's body, all other parts and equipment on the car are
standard for the 1967 Lincoln Convertible. The vehicle's weight is just
about equal to one with a standard steel body.

Three stainless Lincolns were built that year. Allegheny Ludlum Steel
retains two and still uses them for customer visits and special events. A
full set of Stainless automobiles (1936 Deluxe, T-Bird, and Continental) are
on permanent display in the Crawford Auto Museum in Cleveland, Ohio."

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