Factory primer on a 1971

[Ronald D.]

I am removing the paint from my 71 LT-1, and thought the car was made using a gray primer, then the finish color. It appears the car has a almost slick finish gray, with a red oxide color over that, I am using a paint remover, and some of the red primer comes off, and none to very little of the gray, so I just am wondering did the 71 Corvette have a Red Oxide primer under the color ?, or has this car been re primed once in red?, thanks Ron

[Pete B.]

Re: Factory primer on a 1971

Ronald,
When I removed paint on my 71 i had red primer, I understood that the different color was for when sanding occured, high spots would visually pop out as it was sanded through. I also found green filler material at the bonding locations.

[Paul O.]

Re: Factory primer on a 1971

From what I remember from my car when I removed it original paint was thin to zero gray oxide primer over red oxide primer. My understanding is that when they were sanding the gray primer for a smooth body finish before final paint color when they started to see red they were done. Hopefully some of the paint specialists will chime in.

[Mike E.]

Re: Factory primer on a 1971

I'm not a paint expert but from what I've read the gray stuff is a lacquer based sealer that helped the topcoat stick to the primer. John H. said in the plant they called it "adhesive". I used what sounds like about the same thing when I repainted my '65 about 35 years ago, you used a very thin coat, you could still see the red primer through it. I don't remember the Dupont part number but they claimed it would also fill tiny imperfections and sanding scratches. The instructions said top coating should be performed not more than 20 minutes after the application.

Mike