1972 Cutlass Supreme - What to expect?

[Kendra]

I recently went in with a friend to buy a white 1972 Cutlass Supreme U-Code Rocket

Well, he bought it, I'll just be "Helping" him show and enjoy it, he has a 442 that he drives to the shows as it is.



My question is what should I expect in this car. The paint wasn't in bad shape, it had a cheap-e car cover on so there are swirls in the paint. I get this car tomorrow to start working on it for its first car show this weekend and can't wait to get a start on it. However, I'm a bit curious as to what the clear coat will be (hard/soft/medium/etc) or what combination work best if anyone has experience.

I've got the following compounds:
M105/205 Combination
Ultimate Compound
ColorX (or something related to that relevance)

I have the following pads for cutting:
Buff & Shine 4 Inch Yellow Cutting Pad
Buff & Shine 4 Inch Orange Medium Cutting Pad

Polish/Wax pads I have:
Buff & Shine 4 Inch Blue Soft Polishing
Buff & Shine 4 Inch Black Finishing Pad

I have not acquired a wool pad yet due to finances, my module in my car decided to give up last week and it cost me $571 to repair it. I do need a few more pads as well as microfiber. Needless to say no extra cash at the current time.

Suggestions, Guidance, and words of caution gladly welcome

Last time I thought I had an "easy" detail I was quickly corrected by a stubborn '95 Corvette lol.

[Murr1525]

Re: 1972 Cutlass Supreme - What to expect?

Is the paint original?

[Kendra]

Re: 1972 Cutlass Supreme - What to expect?

Is the paint original?

Hm, I thought it was original, but re-reading the article states that it has been repainted.

[J. A. Michaels]

Re: 1972 Cutlass Supreme - What to expect?

Was it repainted ss or bc/cc?

[Kendra]

Re: 1972 Cutlass Supreme - What to expect?

Was it repainted ss or bc/cc?

Unknown, I don't have direct contact with the woman purchased from. It was her husband's and he passed away in March. We are waiting on a box of receipts of vehicle purchases and services.

[BobbyG]

Re: 1972 Cutlass Supreme - What to expect?

I generally take a little M105 on a cloth, in your case the finish being white, and rub it in an inconspicuous place and see if the color transfers on the cloth. If it turns white quickly then it's a single stage paint, if not then it's more than likely color coat / clear coat...

Nice Cutlass by the way!

[Kendra]

Re: 1972 Cutlass Supreme - What to expect?

I generally take a little M105 on a cloth, in your case the finish being white, and rub it in an inconspicuous place and see if the color transfers on the cloth. If it turns white quickly then it's a single stage paint, if not then it's more than likely color coat / clear coat...

Nice Cutlass by the way!

Ok, good deal I will give that a shot. I'm hoping it isn't single stage because there isn't much I could do with correction, right?

Thanks, it's a pretty fun car !

[Murr1525]

Re: 1972 Cutlass Supreme - What to expect?

Can do a fair bit either way. What you want to do is up to you.

#80 is nice for SS paint.

And just to be sure... dont use a white cloth.

[J. A. Michaels]

Re: 1972 Cutlass Supreme - What to expect?

I have always liked #80 on ss paint. If more correction is needed you could use #83 also. Good luck with it.

[Michael Stoops]

Re: 1972 Cutlass Supreme - What to expect?

There's only one way to tell how this paint will respond and that is to do some experimentation and test spots on it. Old lacquer single stage white is some of the hardest paint you'll ever work on (generally speaking, of course) because the pigment is titanium dioxide. An aftermarket bc/cc paint job could be anywhere from rock hard to crazy delicate. Guessing here is like throwing darts in the dark - you have no clue what's actually happening.

Without seeing any close up pictures of the paint condition it's very difficult to make any sort of assessment, but from the one image we do have the paint looks to be very healthy and glossy. Swirls alone should be no big deal and, especially on an aftermarket paint job, ought to buff out fairly routinely. But do you only have 4" pads? Are you working on a D/A or rotary? We're assuming rotary since you mentioned a wool pad (or lack thereof). From the image posted at least, it would appear that any wool pad should stay in its packaging and not be needed on this car.

Get back to us with some more images and/or the findings of a test spot or two and we can make some more specific recommendations.

[Kendra]

Re: 1972 Cutlass Supreme - What to expect?

These are the best I could get at the present time, I've got Physical Therapy in a bit or I would start working on it. Unfortunately I'm a bit too meticulous to be able to start, stop, and start again

When taking the pictures the camera seemed to pick up the dull/swirls very easily, but upon looking at the pictures I'm not so positive now. I had to tweak the brightness so they're darker then what they really are; but articulates the condition of the paint better. As can be seen... dull and swirled.

This is only the left side of the vehicle, but this is pretty much the condition all around.

[Michael Stoops]

Re: 1972 Cutlass Supreme - What to expect?

Well now...... isn't it interesting how a car can look so incredible from a distance but once you get up close and throw some good light on it, your perspective is suddenly twisted in a knot?!?!

Do yourself a favor and test a small, inconspicuous area with a bit of terry towel and some Ultimate Compound and see if you get any white pigment transfer. Obviously you can not do this with a white towel so get a dark colored applicator for the test. We want to determine if this is single stage or base coat/clear coat paint as it could make a big difference in how you attack this and the result you'll get.

[Kendra]

Re: 1972 Cutlass Supreme - What to expect?

Well now...... isn't it interesting how a car can look so incredible from a distance but once you get up close and throw some good light on it, your perspective is suddenly twisted in a knot?!?!

Do yourself a favor and test a small, inconspicuous area with a bit of terry towel and some Ultimate Compound and see if you get any white pigment transfer. Obviously you can not do this with a white towel so get a dark colored applicator for the test. We want to determine if this is single stage or base coat/clear coat paint as it could make a big difference in how you attack this and the result you'll get.

Well considering its negligence for 4 years, I can't quite say I'm too surprised Considering its age it's still pretty clean, just needs some "babying" up a little.

I'll test an area promptly and get back to you.

[Calais]

Re: 1972 Cutlass Supreme - What to expect?

Gold Class wash, clay, 105 on a polishing/cutting based on hardness is where I would start with this at speed 6 on the DA, followed by some 205 on a finishing and some M16 or NXT. Nice wheels, make and model; only intelligent and good looking people drive Oldsmobile Cutlass', especially with that style wheels.