I have a 51 GMC 1-ton. I'm not restoring, just fixing up to be presentable. Paint is good in areas and worn down to metal in others, but only has surface rust. Your classic old GM forest green truck. Has anyone just buffed off the rust and shined up the remaining paint, then clear coated, or waxed, or somthing, to retain the old "patina"?

My worst fear about a paint job is rubbing it off in the brush. Baked on stock paint holds up, but I've seen a lot of paint jobs where paint can be scraped off with a fingernail.

Thanks