Painted over trim tag
Thread Starter
Obsessed
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 627
Likes: 394
From: Valencia, Spain
2025 C3 ('68-'73) of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2019 C3 of Year Finalist (stock)
Painted over trim tag
I’m still waiting to take possession of my 71. I hope to get it released from customs this week. One of the first things I want to do is remove the paint from the trim tag in the drivers side door jam. The car was repainted it’s original color, Bridgehampton Blue, some years back but they didn’t mask off the trim tag and it bothers me. From what I have seen in the photos the paint job is still in excellent condition except for that. What would you guys suggest to use to get the paint off the trim tag? I’ll tape all around it and be very careful of course but I’m not sure what would work best as a pain remover.
Thanks for your help, Dave
Thanks for your help, Dave
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 1,806
Likes: 258
From: Dublin Ohio
If it were me- and sorry I'm no expert- I would use lacquer thinner. I would put down a good 2 inch barrier of masking tape first then on top of the masking tape I would put electrical tape - something waterproof (ish) that my lacquer thinner wouldn't soak through.
Then use a damp- not soaking and dripping- cloth and take as long as I need.
Then use a damp- not soaking and dripping- cloth and take as long as I need.
Last edited by BarryB72; Jun 18, 2019 at 03:15 PM.
Racer
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 306
Likes: 227
From: Taylors South Carolina
2020 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2019 C3 of Year Finalist (stock)
If it were me- and sorry I'm no expert- I would use lacquer thinner. I would put down a good 2 inch barrier of masking tape first then on top of the masking tape I would put electrical tape - something waterproof (ish) that my lacquer thinner wouldn't soak through.
Then use a damp- not soaking and dripping- cloth and take as long as I need.
Then use a damp- not soaking and dripping- cloth and take as long as I need.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 11,960
Likes: 4,518
From: Virginia
Are 71 trim tags stainless? Later C3s had stainless trim tags, and the chassis was primed, trim tag applied, then painted. Only regular paint ended up on the tags (not the primer), and most of it has flaked off by now, including on my 79 and 80, which have both been repainted their original colors.
Why am I saying this? Because it doesn't matter. If the paint wants to come off, it will. I'd leave it, rather than risk the paint.
If it were my car, and it really bothered me, I'd razor around the perimeter, drill the rivets, clean the tag off the car, then reinstall. It's not a VIN plate.
Why am I saying this? Because it doesn't matter. If the paint wants to come off, it will. I'd leave it, rather than risk the paint.
If it were my car, and it really bothered me, I'd razor around the perimeter, drill the rivets, clean the tag off the car, then reinstall. It's not a VIN plate.
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Michael S. Palmer
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
'71 tags are stainless and are not painted over from the factory. I would mask the area around the tag, then use a cloth dampened with lacquer thinner to remove the paint. For masking the tag, I would put several layers of painter's tape around the tag....just to be certain no lacquer thinner ran onto the other paint. That would be good for gel stripper, if you go that way.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,461
Likes: 361
From: Monson MA
Trim tag
I just did this on my 68. I primed the jambs and forgot to mask off the tag. I drilled out the rivits and soaked the trim tag in a inch of lacquer thinner. I used a small brass wire brush. Brushing gently and letting it soak for about 10 mins between bushing to allow the thinner to do its work. All primer removed and the tag looks new. I will pop rivit it back in place.
Last edited by twinpack; Jun 19, 2019 at 07:34 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 5,236
Likes: 898
From: Myrtle Beach SC
Are 71 trim tags stainless? Later C3s had stainless trim tags, and the chassis was primed, trim tag applied, then painted. Only regular paint ended up on the tags (not the primer), and most of it has flaked off by now, including on my 79 and 80, which have both been repainted their original colors.
- Trim tags were applied in the body shop while the chassis was assembled on the other side of the plant...no connection here.
- The booth where tags, trim and VIN were applied was moved 1975-76 to accommodate the increase in production.
- As a result, prior to this period trim tags got both primer and color coat (riveted before any paint operations.
- During and after this transition, tags got only color coat, thus why paint flaked off, as you note