Ziebart Celebrates 65 Years of Defending Vehicles with Museum Exhibit Unveiling, Partnership Announcements

“As we celebrate 65 years of defending vehicles, we’re proud to have played a role in Detroit’s rich history in the automotive industry,” said Thomas A. Wolfe, President and CEO of Ziebart.

At the center of the celebration will be the unveiling of Ziebart’s new exhibit in the Detroit Historical Museum, which will appropriately be showcased in the museum’s America’s Motor City exhibition. The new exhibit will detail the last 65 years of the Ziebart franchise, from the invention of rustproofing in 1959 to the extensive services the brand offers today, including detailing, paint correction and protection, window tinting, and more.

The History of Ziebart Kurt Ziebart began his first attempts at rustproofing while rebuilding a wrecked Packard in his spare time in the mid-1950’s. By 1959, he and his partners opened their first rustproofing shop in Detroit – then-called “Auto Rustproofing Company.” The company began franchising 1963, and in 1973 was re-named Ziebart International Corporation. For the next 10 years, Ziebart continued to expand with the introduction of automotive aftermarket accessories in the 1980’s, and the addition of detailing services in 1991.

Embracing the Detroit Spirit Underscoring the theme of Detroit and community, the event will feature the artwork of Detroit-native Desiree Kelly, who will live-paint a mural depicting iconic Ziebart moments onto a car door. Also attending the event is University of Michigan’s very own Victor the Frisbee Dog, who was seen at every home football game on the Wolverines’ road to the 2024 NCAA championship.