smithy 1 Posted August 21, 2010 i have a 1989 cherry red gti most of the paint has been sun bleached. what i need to know is if the paint is solid so it can be given a good t cut and polish to restore it or is it base coat and clear coat so would need to be resprayed to get its proper colour back? thanks Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
welshpug 1,628 Posted August 21, 2010 no clear coat on reds, so take care when buffing! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Daviewonder 533 3 Cars Posted August 21, 2010 I know phase 1 and 1.5 cherry reds were clearcoated, I don't know about phase 2 as I've not owned one Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
welshpug 1,628 Posted August 21, 2010 really? I always thought they were not as the mop goes red? or maybe thats when the clearcoat is non-existant.... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Daviewonder 533 3 Cars Posted August 21, 2010 Yeah it's a pain in the backside, I've owned 3 cherry red 205's all of which had turned a shade of orange which I could do nothing about Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
smithy 1 Posted August 21, 2010 thanks both for replies i will give it a go gently mopping and see what happens,it has gone a bit like the old vauxhall reds. if it had clear coat would it still fade so much or would the clear coat give some protection to the colour? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
steve@cornwall 100 Posted August 21, 2010 thanks both for replies i will give it a go gently mopping and see what happens,it has gone a bit like the old vauxhall reds.if it had clear coat would it still fade so much or would the clear coat give some protection to the colour? If there's an " 0" in the paintcode above n/s headlight, it has clearcoat IIRC - Some are clearcoated, some not. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
smithy 1 Posted August 21, 2010 The paint code is no longer visible on my car,so I will just give it a slight t cut and see what happens. Thanks all for the input Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Daviewonder 533 3 Cars Posted August 21, 2010 If there's an " 0" in the paintcode above n/s headlight, it has clearcoat IIRC - Some are clearcoated, some not. I've read this before but it can't be correct as 306's and 106's in bianca white have the paint code POWP but they have no clearcoat Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
steve@cornwall 100 Posted August 21, 2010 I've read this before but it can't be correct as 306's and 106's in bianca white have the paint code POWP but they have no clearcoat Are you sure? my white 205 is clearcoated - will check the code tomorrow Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Daviewonder 533 3 Cars Posted August 21, 2010 Yeah 205's are a different white (alpine??) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Daviewonder 533 3 Cars Posted August 21, 2010 Actually, thinking about it most 205 gti colours were metalic so would be clearcoated. The 3 remaining solid colours are red, white and black, I have owned black and red gti's and they were clearcoated so could this mean that all gti's were clearcoated from the factory? Maybe the ones that aren't have had a respray? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
smithy 1 Posted August 22, 2010 right had a better look at it today the paint code is just about visible P3KD i think it says but no 0 in it. tried gently T cutting the bonnet and doors turn cloth red so i suspect these must have been painted as they are also slightly darker red than rest of car. all other panels do not make cloth go red so must be clear coated. so my problem is the clearcoated panels have gone an orange shade is there any way to get the red back or improve it without a respray? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Daviewonder 533 3 Cars Posted August 22, 2010 No, you're stuck with an orange car i'm afraid. Welcome to the club Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
smithy 1 Posted August 22, 2010 No, you're stuck with an orange car i'm afraid. Welcome to the club thought as much but just wanted to confirm,done some small painting jobs in the past so might give it a go with this,it cannot look any worse than it does now so not got a lot to lose really. can the older typr paint that does not need clear coat still be purchased or is it all base coat and clear these days? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mr_exe 1 Posted August 24, 2010 Ours was clearcoated and the only thing that sorted it was a respray, but at least its all the same colour now. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
smithy 1 Posted August 26, 2010 thanks all for the replies looks like a respray at some point then. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Atari Boy 11 Posted August 26, 2010 My 1989 car had a laquar coat too. A respeay will make all the difference though Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
asdf205 0 Posted August 26, 2010 I managed to get mine to a darker red and shine again after having this problem. First I used T-Cut a few times, i then did a few layers of polish and then finished it off with some Naviwax. You can see the difference from the side which has been done compared to the bootlid which hasnt. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
smithy 1 Posted August 27, 2010 it certainly looks good atariboy asdf205 it seems to have made a difference to yours so got to be worth a go with mine to get looking better until i can get a respray,although yours does not look as bad as mine.my one has gone a more orange colour where as yours looked more of a faded pink type colour.did you T cut by hand or with a machine polisher? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Daviewonder 533 3 Cars Posted August 28, 2010 If its clearcoated then its not going to make any difference to the colour, its like trying to restore your colour through a pane of glass Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gowmonster 2 Posted August 28, 2010 how much of a layer is the clearcoat though, will cutting compound or 2000 wet and dry not take it down to the paint, which can then be buffed? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Vili 17 Posted August 28, 2010 (edited) how much of a layer is the clearcoat though, will cutting compound or 2000 wet and dry not take it down to the paint, which can then be buffed? It´s as thick as the layer of red paint underneath it. Sanding it down with even 600 wet would take ages and after removing the clearcoat and buffing the paint you would have to clearcoat it again. So only way to get it back from orange to red is repainting the whole car. And yes, I´m driving an orange 205 too. Edited August 28, 2010 by Vili Share this post Link to post Share on other sites