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Old Mar 25, 2016 | 07:07 AM
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Default Original paint?

When did GM start using clear coat? I just bought a 1970 that was supposed to be original paint. Even though there is quite a bit of lacquer checking in the paint job it appears glossy as if it was clear coated. The seller insists he had the car looked at by NCRS guys and they felt it was original, but it seems too "glossy" to be original.


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Old Mar 25, 2016 | 07:23 AM
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easy to check.... use a little lite compound or even a cleaner wax on a white rag , rub the surface for a few seconds , look at the rag...is it the color of your car? if not, ITS CLEAR COATED .. By the way, Acrylic Lacquer, properly polished can have quite a gloss even without clearcoat

Last edited by fishslayer143; Mar 25, 2016 at 07:26 AM.
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Old Mar 25, 2016 | 07:39 AM
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I did try that last night and the rag did not pick up the color of the car.
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Old Mar 25, 2016 | 08:08 AM
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Hi bd,
Your 70 originally had a acrylic lacquer on it with no sort of clear sprayed on top of it.
Even the original lacquer paint on your car can still be polished to a high gloss…. it's the nature of acrylic lacquer…. if there's paint there, it can be made to shine.
If you did not pick up any color when you tested I'd say at least that area of the car has some clear on it.
On my car even a quick rub with Swirl Remover produces a bit of color on the cloth.
Regards,
Alan
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Old Mar 25, 2016 | 08:49 AM
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Originally Posted by BoatDaze
...When did GM start using clear coat?...
Model year 1981 at Bowling Green. All St. Louis cars were acrylic lacquer without clear coats including the 81s built at St. Louis.

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Old Mar 25, 2016 | 09:48 AM
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when parked inside with artificial light pointed at it. is the reflection clear or fuzzy
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Old Mar 25, 2016 | 05:33 PM
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Originally Posted by Easy Mike
Model year 1981 at Bowling Green. All St. Louis cars were acrylic lacquer without clear coats including the 81s built at St. Louis.

+1, like my early BG car, last carb, first CC.
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Last edited by mikelj; Mar 25, 2016 at 05:33 PM.
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Old Mar 25, 2016 | 10:44 PM
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Originally Posted by Easy Mike
Model year 1981 at Bowling Green. All St. Louis cars were acrylic lacquer without clear coats including the 81s built at St. Louis.

St Louis didn't have the ability to do a two stage paint finish, which was part of the reason for building the new plant in Bowling Green.

I have an 81 Bowling Green car, that I bought new. Back in 81, the difference in the finish of an 81 Bowling Green car, when parked next to a St. Louis car, was striking. The shine and the actual finish of the paint, was amazing, when compared to the St. Louis finish. The door jams on Bowling Green cars, had a better shine, than the body did on the later St. Louis cars.
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Old Mar 26, 2016 | 04:38 AM
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Originally Posted by BoatDaze
The seller insists he had the car looked at by NCRS guys and they felt it was original, but it seems too "glossy" to be original?
And afterward had it clear coated!
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Old Mar 26, 2016 | 05:10 AM
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What color is it
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Old Mar 26, 2016 | 09:22 AM
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Originally Posted by fishslayer143
... By the way, Acrylic Lacquer, properly polished can have quite a gloss even without clearcoat
Damn Skippy! Love the look of highly polished lacquer!

Also, great color combo on your '81, mikelj
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Old Mar 26, 2016 | 10:16 AM
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Originally Posted by BoatDaze
I did try that last night and the rag did not pick up the color of the car.
Then it is clearcoated ..or some type of sealant has been applied ..Acrylic Lacquer oxidizes and small amount of color will come off on the cloth..

Last edited by fishslayer143; Mar 26, 2016 at 10:17 AM.
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Old Mar 26, 2016 | 10:21 AM
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Originally Posted by BoatDaze
The seller insists he had the car looked at by NCRS guys and they felt it was original, but it seems too "glossy" to be original.
Originally Posted by hunt4cleanair
And afterward had it clear coated!
Could be.....

Many years ago, I met a Corvette owner at a car show and I commented how shiny his paint looked. I thought he had repainted the car, but he stated he sprayed a clear coat over the original lacquer.
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