Warning: the cheap plastic tarp over my Datsun made the rust worse, not better

Vera Lewis · 2026-09-22T23:35:03.211514+00:00

I parked my 280Z outside in Seattle for two winters under a $20 blue tarp from the hardware store, thinking it would keep the rain off. What actually happened was the tarp trapped moisture underneath and scratched the paint every time the wind moved it, and when I pulled it off after 6 months the roof had new surface rust spots. I switched to a proper breathable car cover that cost me $140 and a cheap box fan in the garage to keep air moving, and the rust quit spreading. The popular advice to just tarp it and forget it is wrong in wet climates, your mileage may vary if you live somewhere dry. Anyone else learn this the hard way, or did a tarp actually work for you?

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Warning: the cheap plastic tarp over my Datsun made the rust worse, not better | Classic Car Storage - Thought Shares