Springs - to paint or not?

[Dennis Nicholas]

If you want to park your car in the lounge, paint the leaves, don't use grease and wipe daily to remove dust.  If you want to use your car, clean it all up, grease between the leaves, clean excess grease off and paint with your favourite paint. I don't cover my springs and if they look dirty, then that is normal road use.  Why do you want them to look pristine ?  Its not what every '30s car looked like in the era.

Hi Bob.  The reasoning is in the "prevent corrosion.....and make easier to clean".  To put your mind to rest the Nippy (special) gets VERY much use including in the past many MCC trials with awards won.  (Since the early 1970s)
The reason for this meticulous total rebuild (all nut/bolt and most panels, rad cowling etc.) was that the poor little thing was falling to bits,  panels rusting out and separating and mechanical parts badly worn.  
The 70,000+ miles it did from when I first got it as a written off wreck and got it back on the road were done even though my life was mostly spent at sea,  so much use during the odd 4 months a year of time I managed to be home.
I am now in mid 70s and this, I hope, will be the last major work I will have to do to it.....from now on just routine, simple maintenance and much grin time use   
My aim is to win its class at Beaulieu on its first time out/showing then just normal maintenance.......I hate cleaning and polishing and love driving....so only one concourse (no cotton buds will be used   ) then much daily driving.


Spring leaves now painted all over in the end.  In the past I have used old leather jacket sleeves as spring covers wired on with copper wire stripped from old household electric wiring (60 amp).  However I promis that this time I will not polish and varnish the copper   


Dennis

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Thanks to all replies.  It is often useful to get information across to newer comers to the 7.

Ruairidh......Perhaps when I finish I will wrap the whole car in cling-film till after the first and only concourse..
How long does the shrink-wrap last in use on the springs??

Dennis