A miami vice Centurion popped up on the local CL earlier this week, and I jumped on it minutes after it was posted. The seller was a bout 30 mins away, but I didn't think twice. He said that the wheels and crankset had been removed and it had a bit of surface rust, but was otherwise good to go, and even mentioned the rarity of the paint scheme. When I got there, this is what I saw:

WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT











and saving the worst for last, the seat post binder show severe rust damage. Note how thin the metal gets towards the center



Apparently the solution to stopping rust was blasting the spots with black engine paint! How one could think that is a viable solution, KNOWING the paint scheme was unique is beyond me. I ended up rescuing it for next to nothing, but, having a soft spot for these bikes, does anyone have any tips for rescuing this frame? Is it even worth any effort with that seat post damage? I have already been forced to fully strip the paint on another Ironman, and don't know that I could bear it again, especially to a 'miami vice' Some sort of solvent that would act on the black engine paint and not the frame paint? Color match paint for the 'miami vice' pink? Thanks all!