beaumontguru wrote:

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GM black was always paint code A.  Tuxedo black for all the the 60's cars

In canada, cars were enamel instead of the USA where they were magic mirror acrylic lacquer.

Paint codes were still the same, just the type of paint used.  Enamel held up WAY better in our climate

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Interesting thank you Dave. I know the paint code A was Tuxedo black for all those years but I didn't know about the difference between USA Magic mirror finish and CDN enamel. Could that be what this gentleman was referring to when he suggested the paint might be a very unique (if not experimental) finish? The guy was introduced to me as somebody who would know, and he definitely believed what he was saying- but he also didn't have any solid details I could come away with so it could just be one of those misunderstandings that are commonly passed on in the car hobby. This fellow meant well and wanted to talk to the new owner about properly caring for the finish. And she will! She has her husband to oversee that. I haven't had time yet but I'll check with Pontiac-Oakland car club to see if there is indeed any info on this. Those would be US cars though, so who knows?

If you just want to wax it for protection and water beading, without removing paint. I have had good luck with "black Magic" car wax.  It might only be avail in the US tho at walmart or autoparts stores.  Good longevity and consumer reports high rated.

Mondo Poncho wrote:

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beaumontguru wrote:

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GM black was always paint code A.  Tuxedo black for all the the 60's cars

In canada, cars were enamel instead of the USA where they were magic mirror acrylic lacquer.

Paint codes were still the same, just the type of paint used.  Enamel held up WAY better in our climate

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Interesting thank you Dave. I know the paint code A was Tuxedo black for all those years but I didn't know about the difference between USA Magic mirror finish and CDN enamel. Could that be what this gentleman was referring to when he suggested the paint might be a very unique (if not experimental) finish? The guy was introduced to me as somebody who would know, and he definitely believed what he was saying- but he also didn't have any solid details I could come away with so it could just be one of those misunderstandings that are commonly passed on in the car hobby. This fellow meant well and wanted to talk to the new owner about properly caring for the finish. And she will! She has her husband to oversee that. I haven't had time yet but I'll check with Pontiac-Oakland car club to see if there is indeed any info on this. Those would be US cars though, so who knows?

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       Read what Beaumont Guru said .    He has more experience than anyone...   

Are you saying Ste Therese built full size Canadian Pontiacs in 1966?

Ok, now I get it. I was confused. I thought you were saying it's possible that John's black car could have been made in Ste Therese and sprayed with lacquer, and that was not making sense to me.

Enamel paint was notorious for fading, especially in warm climes which is why GM switched to Lacquer. If you look at good vintage pics from the early 70's you notice that late 60's GM cars look much brighter than same year Fords which were still enamel. It's possible though that enamel was tougher against the abrasion of grit like salt, sand and grit from deicing and dirt roads.

That is interesting stuff regarding enamel vs. lacquer re: fading in strong sun climate.

Dave, starting in 1969 Oshawa switched to Magic Mirror Acrylic Lacquer. That was also the year that GM started in a significant way to source U.S.-bound cars from Canada & vise-versa. Perhaps it was a way to even out any trade imbalance between the two countries that may have resulted from the reliance on the U.S. for certain high performance models (L78s & COPO 427s) or U.S. built body styles (El Caminos & Concours Estate wagons, for example.) I don't know though; perhaps it was simply the ease in which lacquer can dry fast without runs, or if it does run then it can have spot repairs made (you need to colour sand anyway). Enamel can run hours after the painter has hung up the paint gun and gone home. Enamel gets its gloss from flowing out long after being sprayed but it is not the sort of paint that allows spot repairs (on a production line) once hardened. You don't color sand cured enamel as you will probably mess up the gloss, or at least spend a long time trying to blend in a repair.

 

I remember visiting the GM Oshawa office uptown next to the now-gone Oshawa #2 assembly decades ago; I could smell lacquer a block away. That sort of thing would not be allowed today with strong rules on VOCs. Waterborne low-VOC enamel is the reality of today.

Update on the 1966 Parisienne:
On recommendation of somebody I know I had a fellow come out to look at the original black paint on the car that has some surface abrasions and cloudiness and imperfections. This fellow did a test patch gentle buffing and the results look very good! Im about to have the car professionally and gently buffed up. This fellow is recommending a ceramic coating that acts like a longer-lasting wax. He suggest that the black paint will always be soft and should be protected. Ive done a little bit of research over the Internet and it seems like a good process. Does anyone have any experience with this kind of product? From what I can tell, there are a lot of different similar type products. This fellow Ive been talking to suggest a commercial application. Just looking for some advice from people who know. Thanks very much. Im really looking forward to getting this car prepared enough to take out to a show and hopefully have it as a feature car here very soon.

 

-- Edited by Mondo Poncho on Tuesday 5th of June 2018 11:56:23 AM