Ziebart Founder Dies at 91

TROY, Mich. — Ziebart International Corp. announced that Kurt Rudi Ziebart, founder of the Ziebart brand and Ziebart Rustproofing, passed away on Sept. 12, 2011, in Williamsburg, Mich. He was 91.

Best known for his automobile rust protection compound he invented after noticing how unforgiving Michigan winters were on cars, Ziebart immigrated to Detroit from Germany with his wife in 1953. His compound would lead to the founding of Ziebart Rustproofing, which is now

an international franchise corporation headquartered in Troy, Mich. It currently operates approximately 400 locations in 30 countries.

Ziebart sold the company in 1963 and moved to northern Michigan, where he founded Acme Motors Inc., a Mercedes-Benz dealership that allowed him to sell and repair vehicles.

Zeibart is survived by his wife Edith, children and grandchildren.