Help with paint - is it clear over base?

[beeRS]

Does anyone know if 944's were painted clear over base from the factory?

I have just had a few panels painted by a local bodyshop (and they look very nice []). Mine is a solid black (not metallic); code LO41. The painter said that all Porsches are clear over base, and so he has painted the panels that way.

Now, I've gone to polish the old paintwork on the bonnet (to make the gloss match the new panels) and found that my polishing cloth is turning black! This can only mean that there's no clear coat (I guess).

I though that the bonnet may have been incorrectly painted in the past so I tried polishing the rear panel - behind the hatch (which I know is original 20 year old paint) and that's the same - no clear coat.

Can anyone confirm if these cars are suposed to have a clear coat or not? (Mine is a 1990 2.7).

 

[422hp944]

Your painter is wrong.....the only paint colours back then that porsche clearcoated were metallics....all solid colours which includes L041 black was a 2pack single stage paint...i.e.....no clearcoat.

 

[ukmastiff]

forgive my ignorance here but does that mean it isnt laquerd either ? , my old Zermatt car had a lovely thick laquer to it that I only know was there as it peeled in one spot on the boot otherwiae it was spankingly good. Does a Black car not have a laquer coat and if it doesnt how does it last 20 years . I have never heard of this clear coat non clear coat thing before and would like to know whats going on when I do have paint done on my car in future.

Thanks Mas

 

[robsangster]

Ukmastiff - see 422hp944's reply above, I second that...... yes your Zermatt silver car should/will have a clearcoat/lacquer to it as will all metallics .... but not flat colours such as red/black/white. I am aware that a very well know Rolls Royce/Bentley restoration company local to me often clear coat blacks on some of their restorations in order to get a real deep gloss shine (possibly correct to such manufacturers)..... however its not factory finish for porsche on flat colours, also a friend had his black '86 911 3.2 targa bare metal resprayed and opted for this lacquer over flat base finish and compared to my '86 930 - also (bare metal) painted the same black from the same company mentioned above - Im happy I stayed factory finish!..... just seems BLACKER to me!

 

[Eldavo]

Just to echo what has been said, there is no clear coat on the non-metallic colours. However, the paint is a lot thicker than on modern clearcoated finishes so lots to get stuck into with the polish.

 

[morris944s2john]

The guards red on my 944 S2 was single colour, i.e. no clear coat/lacquer. I agree with the above, metallic colours need the lacquer, solids not. You can use ordinary solid colour 2-pack acrylic paint for solid coloured 944's.

However, many modern paint shops are going over to all water based paints, of which the colour layer is water based and a 2-pack lacquer is applied over the top to give protection and shine. This may be where the confusion has arisen.

I know this because I have studied motor vehicle restoration at college and have re-finished parts of my 944.