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Re: TR6 paint type

To: "6Pack" <6pack@autox.team.net>
Subject: Re: TR6 paint type
From: "jonmac" <jonmac@ndirect.co.uk>
Date: Wed, 4 Feb 2004 00:09:40 -0000
Knowing that many North American listers have a need to follow factory
originality, there is perhaps a justification to avoid using original type
paints for a restoration. IMHO any car from British Leyland built from about
1973 to 1980 should under no circumstances use an acrylic enamel if being
repainted. The paint used in this period was one of the worst types for
durability because it was water based. There is abundant evidence (in the UK
and Europe) that cars built during this period in Coventry have not survived
as well or in the same proportionate numbers as earlier vehicles painted
with cellulose or high bake synthetic. Cars built in Belgium and painted in
alternative paints (using the same colours) have not suffered to the same
extent. Simply, the paint used in BL in England throughout almost all the
seventies had a much lower resistance to water ingress and retention because
it was water based. Look at any original later Rover P6 and you'll see what
I mean - assuming one has still survived. Still plenty of the older versions
around, but not the later ones. Allied to the fact that industrial action on
the part of British Steel necessitated the use of a more inferior quality
steel from Italy, explains why so many cars made in this period have simply
dissolved into rust. Paint quality in the mid-seventies rather than the
painting process itself, was appalling and resulted in many cars being
subjected to full or partial repaints within two years of manufacture.
Both my Triumphs have been repainted and one of them used Italian steel and
the so-called acrylic enamel. The cost for doing the later car which was in
much better overall condition was higher than for the earlier version made
of British steel and painted with high bake synthetic. Much of the
incremental cost was for repairing the poor quality steel in places where it
shouldn't have rusted and removing stubborn paint in isolated areas. Both
cars are now coated with modern two-pack synthetic enamel in their original
factory colours - and the difference shows. In this instance, operating
outside the originality box could be a good idea if you want your car to
last.

Jonmac



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