Factory paint, wet sanded & buffed?

[southernfriedcj]

I know there are folks here who have actually worked(or still work) for GM. Out of curiosity, back in the day(and even now) do new cars get wet sanded and buffed at the factory?

I have seen many pictures over the years of cars being painted at the factory but I've never seen a picture of a car being sanded and buffed at the factory.

Thanks!

[Keith Seymore]

Base coat/clear coat - no

High solid enamel - not as part of the production process. There may be some sanding or buffing during a repair attempt of a specific area.

Lacquer - on some high end products there may have been buffing as part of the process but generally no, not since the 1930s or 1940s.

I'd say it is just too slow and labor intensive for the high volume mentality of the 1950s and 1960s.

K

[Mr70]

Didn't Dealerships hire teens to "Prep" the car (paint) once they had a vehicle sold in the 1970's?

[Lynn]

Originally Posted by Mr70

Didn't Dealerships hire teens to "Prep" the car (paint) once they had a vehicle sold in the 1970's?

Absolutely.

Lacauer has almost no shine until it is buffed.

I am almost certain I have seen a picture of a large mashine that actually did a cursury wet sand over the roof. Could not use a machine on hoods or anything that had a ridge. Old time detailers always talked about avoiding the ridges or any "leading edge" as lacquer is easy to buff right through if not done correctly.

Most of the car was not wet sanded, just buffed. That is why so many had orange peel.

Every car that came in was subject to a NVI (new vehicle inspection) where EVERY fluid level was checked before it hit the road. I did an inspection on one in 76 at a Buick dealer, and there was no grease in the rear axle!!! In addition to the NVI, there was dealer prep, which incluced buffing the car. As with most things, some got done very well, others.... no so much.

I don't know what year GM started using base / clear. I know my 73 BMW came from the factory base / clear, but that was a few years before GM started using it.

[Keith Seymore]

Originally Posted by Lynn

Every car that came in was subject to a NVI (new vehicle inspection) where EVERY fluid level was checked before it hit the road. I did an inspection on one in 76 at a Buick dealer, and there was no grease in the rear axle!!!

Our new '69 GMC pickup had no lube in the rear axle.

It made it almost halfway home from the dealership before it locked up.

K

[galveston]

Originally Posted by Lynn

I don't know what year GM started using base / clear. I know my 73 BMW came from the factory base / clear, but that was a few years before GM started using it.

GM started using Base/clear first on '82 Corvettes that were tu-toned, it was an enamel clearcoat.

Then Corvettes from '84 up all metallic colors used base/clear, some solid colors were still single stage.

GM Trucks have always used enamels weather solid or metallic.

The last known lacquers were in 1990 on the B-body line.

Asian and European produced vehicles first started base/clear in '72 on metallic colors only, once again enamels.


Back in the 90's into early 2000's we subcontracted for GM upgrading vehicles bound for the press and media, primarily ensuring the quality of the finish and color uniformity was above and beyond what the assembly line was producing for the general public.
This entailed color sanding and buffing, all the way to complete refinishing of the exterior (complete disassembly of trim, glass, etc.) and some times door jambs. GM wanted to give the press and media exceptional cars to write and review about. I would have anywhere from 3 to 7 vehicles at a time, these were then provided to P&M all over the country.

[Keith Seymore]

Originally Posted by galveston

GM Trucks have always used enamels weather solid or metallic.

This might be newer than your focus but we started using base coat/clear coat on Blazers and Suburbans in the 1989 model year.

K

[68l30]

I bought this from a Ol timer that worked for GM. I had it on my windshield at MCACN hoping to learn more a out it as the guy I got it from was clueless. At any rate, happened on the line or at the dealer or who knows..... pretty cool paper. Anyone seen one before?

BIG

[galveston]

Originally Posted by Keith Seymore

This might be newer than your focus but we started using base coat/clear coat on Blazers and Suburbans in the 1989 model year.

K

Keith, you are correct, with the intro of the new body style, 1988 was the first year for trucks using Base/clear , some solid colors were still single stage.

[70 copo]

OP

Give me a date range of interest please.