That may be the case, but definitely the exception not the rule. I spent 17 years in automotive paint engineering (still in paint engineering, just not automotive), and in visiting scores of OEM facilities in my career, I stand by my assertation. VERY few automakers were using standard enamels by the late 80's and most all utilized an epoxy e-coat, followed by a 2-component polyurethane primer, 2-component polyurethane topcoat, then a polyurethane clear. The clears were required for UV inhibition. White was the exception as the titanium oxide's reflectance helped avoid resin breakdown (BMW ran a separate booth for white until the early 2000's when popularity waned enough to make it cost prohibitive). Black and red experienced a lot of issues (after EPA regs removed a lot of the "goodies" that allowed older paints to perform so well), necessitating the clear on non-metallic iterations. The volumes of paint sprayed each day at a factory actually made it more expensive to run a cheaper, non-cleared top coats (due to dissimilar catalyst packages). As the clears are applied "wet-on-wet" many consumers actually own cleared units without even knowing it (it won't peel or delaminate, it will simply fade as a non-cleared car will). Even EVERY low-end Toyota, Mitsubishi and Nissan made after 1987 had clear coat.

 

Like I said, my '94 was single stage and if you read the literature from Porsche the 928's supposedly had a 25 step painting process... No idea what that means, but they were the most expensive cars Porsche made so it would stand to reason all the stops were pulled out to make them the best they could be... Also remember back then most Porsche's in general had a great deal of hand made/finished parts.

 

My 1985 Meteor Grey 911 was clear coated as well as my 1984 Ruby Red 911.
Steve

 

Quick test: find a small, inconspicuous spot and sand with 400 paper. If the sanding dust looks white, you have a clear coat. If it has color, you don't. Unless of course, your car is white, then you're on your own. You can touch up or clear coat the small sanded spot afterwards

 

Now I doubt what my 85 had. It sounds like it was cleared, I really am clueless about paint and don't even wash my cars anyway

Thanks illini and others for your expertise

 

Mine does, but it must be thin in places, like the rub strips. It looks like someone left the buffer on it too long or the sun baked it off.

 

I'm confused. I thought most/all car paints were clear coated to protect the base coat. I have an S4 MY89 Guards Red and it appears to be clear coated. I am unaware of any respray to the car according to extensive records. I do have a little bit clear coat peel on the rear bumper. On this basis I have assumed the car is clear coated. Can someone help me understand the position fregarding clear coats for Porsche 928. Cheers

 

All metallics were to my knowledge, cleared.