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Old Sep 21, 2013 | 08:58 PM
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Default 1976 Paint

Are all 1976 Corvettes original paint jobs from the factory stage 1 paint only? The prior owner of my recently purchased car believed it was an original paint job, but things just don't look factory. I assume/realize that factory paint applications procedures were quite different 37 years ago, but things just don't seem to add up from a gut feeling. I need to see other "original paint" 1976 door jambs and the underside of the hood to determine if I'm right or wrong, just to know for sure. Can anyone share any details that I should focus on? Thanks in advance.
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Old Sep 21, 2013 | 09:29 PM
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'76 paint would be lacquer. No clear coat. Original '77 paint. mike...


Last edited by mds3013; Sep 21, 2013 at 09:31 PM.
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Old Sep 21, 2013 | 09:55 PM
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Default I agree!

If I waxed an oxidized spot on the car, wouldn't some of the paint color come off on the rag? I did, and only wax is on the rag, and this paint is oxidized beyond belief. I have a detail guy coming in a few weeks to buff the car and he needs to buy stage 1 materials if the paint is stage 1. My wax/color on the rag was the only test I knew of, and the rag has no color on it???? Would hate to see him show up with the wrong materials and blow the day, as well as the possibility of making this car shine. Any advice?

Last edited by 7tSixStingray; Sep 21, 2013 at 09:58 PM.
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Old Sep 21, 2013 | 09:57 PM
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Originally Posted by 7tSixStingray
If I waxed an oxidized spot on the car, wouldn't some of the paint color come off on the rag?
It should. If I use a cleaner wax on mine the cloth goes black. mike...
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Old Sep 21, 2013 | 11:22 PM
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Base coat / clear coat should not ever have an oxidation problem. The color coat is buried under the clear coat,...so it shouldn't ever look oxidated.

What color is your car?
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Old Sep 21, 2013 | 11:58 PM
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Flame orange, or should I say DULL flame orange. I waxed a small area on all panels and nothing came off on the applicator/rag. That has me thinking it's been repainted at some point. I'd love to see inside door jamb and under the hood pics of another original flame orange to see how GM sprayed the car back in 76.
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Old Sep 22, 2013 | 12:46 AM
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Default Suggestion...

Suggestion for you, I have a 76 that was repainted with lacquer. All 76's were originally painted with lacquer.

With lacquer, you can get a rag different color than the Corvette, soak it a little with lacquer thinner, rub the paint in an inconspicuous spot and the paint will easily come right off. I think the NCRS guys used to check paint this way. I do not think lacquer thinner will take off other paints like this.
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Old Sep 22, 2013 | 01:23 AM
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Lacquer paint breaks down, even clear coat. UV breaks down lacquer as well as oxidation. Lacquer is known to crack too. Even if stored indoors most of the time, it's appearance will still degrade with age to some degree.
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Old Sep 22, 2013 | 08:03 PM
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Thanks for the replies and suggestions. Much appreciated.
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Old Sep 23, 2013 | 11:35 AM
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Originally Posted by mds3013
...'76 paint would be lacquer. No clear coat...
Originally Posted by 20mercury
...All 76's were originally painted with lacquer...
Yep. All St. Louis C3s used acrylic lacquer; no clear coat.

Only the Bowling Green cars used enamel and clear coat.

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