Schnell 911

Took my newly purchased (yesterday) 98 993 C2S to a local detailer for alittle education about the phat babies shine. Joe is his name explained to me some Porsche models do come from the factory with a clear coat. I really want to know how valid this statement was, and is my 98 C2S with or without. Just sitting around here in grape country, polishing off a cellebratory bottle of Domain Chandon, and no I did not break the bottle on her 3M brassiere. Any answers, or how can I tell. --- mucho appreciated!

vjd3

Take a white terrycloth rag and some car polish, and rub a spot with moderate pressure on the paint. If the rag comes up clean, it's clearcoated; if you get black pigment on the rag, it's non-clearcoated. My guess is it is clearcoated. Some solid color (i.e., non-metallic) 993s have single-stage paint -- my guards red 95 among them -- but the conventional wisdom indicates Porsche started clearcoating every color somewhere in the middle of the lifespan of the 993.

Vic
95 C4

OldGuy

You can also look at the paint code and ask Porsche. That will tell you for sure.

Benton

I think ALL blacks were clearcoated, but I could be wrong.

StatmanDesigns

It is amazing how often this question comes up. The answer is that Porsche was supposed to clearcoat every color, according to their published literature. Viken always used to quote the official Porsche brochure, but since he is gone, you will just have to search for it.

The fact of the matter is that some of the cars were not clear coated, and you cannot tell from the paint code.

The only way to tell is to use some wax or polishing compound and see if the color rubs off on the rag.

On my Guards red car the third brake light assembly and the rear bumper, both plastic are not clear coated, but the rest of the paint is. So when you do the test, do it on a metal body part.

p_carfan

Not to hijack......What happened to Vilken??

Schnell 911

Thanks all! No color on the rag. I have to clean it up before posting pics of the new ride today! The slippery slope has begun.

Marv

Porsche did clear coat only their metallic paints. I had a black '84 that was definitely not clear coated. A friend's '87 was a metallic black with clear coat.

My Guards Red 964 was not. My 993 Arena Red is.

You can test a spot with a small amount of polishing compound on a white cotton rag. I would pick a spot that you can't easily see. Clean the area thoroughly and then apply the polish lightly to the area. My guess is that the rag will turn slightly black.

Finish with a swirl remover and rewax the area.

Marv