Corrosion resistance
Although stainless steel does rust, this only affects the outer few layers of atoms, its chromium content shielding deeper layers from oxidation.
Fun fact: the soviets simply used thicker steel. That’s partly why there’s so many of those shitboxes still riding around the ex-soviet block. Based on the Fiat 124, which rusted and died in the Italian sunshine, the Soviet variant rusted but survived in far large numbers.
known as rustless steel
If they had picked the correct grade of stainless steel, it wouldn’t rust just by being outside. Cheaper grades rust, higher grades don’t.
Fun fact: the soviets simply used thicker steel. That’s partly why there’s so many of those shitboxes still riding around the ex-soviet block. Based on the Fiat 124, which rusted and died in the Italian sunshine, the Soviet variant rusted but survived in far large numbers.