Original Paint

[Steve L.]

I've got the original paint on my 73 (silver). Can't remember the last time I waxed it- must be decades.

I would imagine that this paint has completely oxidized. It still doesn't look to bad in most places although there is no hint of any shine.

Some small sections would need to be repainted where unknown parties decided wanted to leave me their calling card scratches.

Guess there is no point in trying to salvage any of it. For the most part the car is original.

Steve L
73 coupe since new

[George C.]

Re: Original Paint

Steve, Keep it original,don't do any paint work. Save the Wave.>George PS, wish I'd kept my 73.

[Duke W.]

Re: Original Paint

All '73 Corvettes were factory painted with acrylic lacquer. This material can always be polished out. The risk is that the more polishing you do the thinner the paint film becomes until the primer shows through. The other problem you find with acrylic lacquer is that it will eventually check - tiny cracks that you can see up close. Over time acrylic lacquer looses solvents, shrinks and builds up stress, which is what causes the checking.

Chances are you can get some shine back by using a medium to fine grade polishing compound. If you can get it looking good from ten feet I'd leave it along for a while. OEM lacquer jobs are getting rarer than hen's teeth, end your car might be a Bowtie candidate.

Duke

[Jeff A.]

Re: Original Paint

We used to use something called liquid ebony at the limo service I worked for after the car had been rubbed out with rubbing compound. The rubbing compound takes a good deal of paint off so if you can just use liquid ebony or better yet machine glaze you may be better off. These are polished carefully with a wheel and watch the raised edges or you take paint off. Jeff

[Duke W.]

Re: Original Paint

Meguirs #2 Fine Cut Cleaner is also a good product to remove mild surface oxidation and mircoscatches. It's designed for machine use, but can be
used by hand, and it's tough to go overboard.

Duke