1981 Paint

[mb4tim]

Would the original paint on my 81 be clear coated?

-Tim
http://www.morSpeedPerformance.com

[humanoid]

I highly doubt it. IIRC, they didn't start clearcoating until the mid to late '80s, but don't quote me on that.

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<h3><b><font color="orange">1980 Inca Yellow TR7 Convertible</font id="orange"></b></h3>

[Underdog]

What color? I'm almost certain the aqua was B/C on mine. Well it certainly is now. [:D]
Regaurdless of what the factory used, if it's a metalic, I would definitly go Base/Clear. For solid colors on these older cars, I prefer single stage. When the factories first started B/C it was mostly just on metalic colors but they soon started useing it on everything.

72 MGB BRG
80 TR8 Persian Aqua
If women don't find you handsome, they should at least find you handy.

[mb4tim]

Mine is supposed to be Bordeaux Red. It appears to be more brown than red. I thought about trying to wet sand and polish it if it wasn't a clear coated.

Now that it runs, shiny would be nicer, even with all the dents.

-Tim
http://www.morSpeedPerformance.com

[Underdog]

Tim, all you need to do is try a spot with a rag & some compound. If you get red on the rag, no clearcoat.

72 MGB BRG
80 TR8 Persian Aqua
If women don't find you handsome, they should at least find you handy.

[FI Spyder]

I'm not positive about the '81 metallic being modern clear coat but I doubt it. Metallic (or metal flake) has been around a long time before B/C paint was used and was often painted with a clear coat to protect it, not to be confused with the 2 pack paint we use today. What I do know for sure is my July '80 has the original TPA Paint sticker on the turret (which you can see on another post). TPA stands for thermo plastic acrylic which is what BL also used on Jaguars and Rolls Royces back in the day according to info I read on the web.

TR7 Spider - 1978 Spifire - 1976 Spitfire - 1988 Tercel 4X4 - Kali on Integra - 1991 Integra