Well I guess it depends where you live and what you call rust. The rust in those pics is minimal at best in my books. Problem rust to me is gaping holes and structural rust. We repair 2007 minivans at work with way more rust than your Comet shows.
In my fantasy world, there is a car with no rust in the cowl, floor, torque boxes, back frame, rear quarters, over the wheels, floors or roof. In reality, all five of my cars have (or have been patched) identical rust spots in all these locations. I was beginning to think they came from the factory that way! Despite telling my wife I would sell them all and buy one solid car, I'll crank up the mig again on the first day there is no snow blocking my way to the latest project car and fight the rust wars again. How much rust is too much? Some day, I'll admit to too much. Some day.
I have replaced a bad cowl, rockers, rear frame rails, torque boxes, quarters, door skins, floors, the list goes on. This was not all on one car however. If it were, I hope I wouldn't have bought it in the first place. Oh by the way, I live in NJ so a California rusted car has a different meaning that a rusty car from the north east!
I replaced part of my roof due to a vinal roof. Tiny patches n my floor board . Half of the passenger side floorboard. Passenger side fender . And rear quarters
I've ony had to luckily fight some small rust holes in the floorboard on the passenger side, and the inside of the hood lip... though i hear grabber hoods were worse about it... haha I used ot have a 79' chevy blazer K series... and learned to replace floor pands in it... you had to drive with your feet on the pedals or the frame, and pray you didn't drop your coke, or it'd be out on the road behind you somewhere... the inspector for Kentucky labelled that truck as "burnt orange" when in fact it was originally black... just had that much rust... haha
