[66 lwb cs]

How about an out flanking manuever on the wife by explaining that rattlecanning it will cause the further rusting problems and add EXPENSE wifes hate that word of stripping if before a real final paint job can be applied. Isn't there some way to clean it up a bit I think some have mentioned using CLR to clean and stop the rust and then you could keep the patina for a while til your ready for paint and maybe hold off the wife for a while by claiming that doing anything ahead of time will just cost more money down the line. Money that could have been used for some really nice gift that she might have recieved had you not been made to waste it all. You know your wife push the envelope a little see what you can get away with without getting in trouble after getting caught trying to B.S. her.
If that doesn't work I vote for a nice suede blue.