Interesting and good read! Just got this car as a winter beater. I was already told it was clean...from the pictures that is. It's got some small dings here and there but for the winter, it will do for now. It was a South Carolina car but I've already spotted some rust underneath the car.
When I had my GVR4, I went to the car wash about once or twice a week (depending on how much salt was on the streets). I sprayed underneath and used the brush the car wash had to brush away what ever was under neath the car. It was definitely clean but man, that salt just knows where to stay and rust.