I've been cleaning and now waxing my new 7 today and I noticed something rather peculiar. Whenever I wipe down the car with a buffing towel, when I take the towel off, there is red in the perfect shape of my hand on the side that was contacting the car. I don't understand how this could happen if there is clearcoat on it (which there is) Its an original paint (red) car. I've never had this happen on any car I've owned...kinda perplexed. What could cause this? Anybody ever experienced this?

 

I wouldnt be alarmed. Same thing happens to me on my car. And it happened on my old 85 too. Both were red cars.

 

Ok phew. This is my first red car so I really didnt know wtf was going on. Thanks for the info.

 

If its the original Red (like mine, sunrise red), then there is no clearcoat - at least not on the SAs. you should get a fine polish, like 2000 grit+ and polish the dead top layer of paint off - really any car-type polish should be fine; THEN wax. otherwise you'll keep pulling dead paint into your cleaning gear everytime you do a clean up...
You'll be stunned at how good 28yr old paint can "pop" back up with a proper polish first
pic o' mine - that's original paint baby!
Stu Aull
80GS
Alaska

 

as always, Stu's car looks amazing!! what he's talking about is is that the paint is oxidizing, causing the top layer to almost "chalk" off. it'll only get worse as the years go on. you can bring it back to a beauiful shine though, as Stu mentioned. be paitent with it.

 

Mine's the same way. I use McGuire's cleaner wax to strip the oxidation, then a good wax to finish up. This is pretty much a once per year process.

 

I'm not complaining about the shine, I'll go get some pictures later. Looks just as good as my moms 2003 Mach 1 its sitting next to.

And I guess I was ahead of myself when I said there was a clearcoat.

 

Here are some lame driveway shots I just took. Not great, but gives you an idea of the condition of the paint. There are some minor scratches and dents, but nothing I would attempt to fix.





Whats the best way to bring back the aluminum wheels. It looks like the coating has flaked off in some places, so would it be best to get them powdercoated?

 

oh man it looks good but there is STILL alot of life to bring out in that paint. you can make that car look more amazing with more elbow grease. Follow what Stu said. i believe these 1st gen's came with a single stage paint on them.

http://www.paintscratch.com/painttypes.htm

 

you should strip the clear and repolish them.

 

Next time I wax it I will strip it first. As long as the paint is protected, I can live with not quite as shiny.

 

Great looking SE.

 

Yah that Red has a LOT of life in it!! Some elbow grease and you will be amazed...
Stu Aull
80GS
Alaska