Peeling clear coat, respray needed.

[Papalazarou]

Kaz,

I found the ‘respraying is damage history’ in Japan really interesting. When I was looking for a car in Japan, the dealers hid a lot of issues which makes me think that 1. The domestic market customers are treated better, or 2. There’s not a lot of difference between Japan and here. I have never been to Japan.

I believe it is inevitable that paint is as much a consumable as many of the parts we replace or recondition. Kaz, you are fastidious with maintenance.
The illusion that something is original is mostly a fallacy. Especially when one considers that a sizeable percentage of cars are refinished between factory and dealer. You could be saving the paint you believe to be original, but which amy have been done later.
I was at one of the UK’s top restoration shops this week. They have the most beautiful cars; muiras, 275GTB’s, 250 california’s etc etc. the original cars were never as good as these restored examples. But honestly, so what, they look incredible. They are command horrific sums.
With one exception, every NSX I have owned has been painted somewhere. There’s a car currently for sale online which boasts all original paint and that car had the old 97+ corrosion issue. Hence, all original apart from the front, that back and one side��
I believe that something painted well is much better than the alternative which is bubbling arches, massive paint deviations between plastic and metal (I know the old argument), burn throughs and scratch damage.
I know that ‘patina’ tells a story and I concede each to his/her own.
Personally, I embrace maintenance whether mechanical or aesthetic.
Cheers.

[The King]

97 + corrosion issue??

[Papalazarou]

97 + corrosion issue??

Sure. The later 3.2 era cars suffered from paint corrosion issues. Normally around the front and rear wheel arches. The earlier cars seem less prone.
I can only imagine something changed in production which caused these issues. Perhaps the change in the aluminium grade or a paint material/process. One physical reason might have been the trim/nosecone lightly rubbing against the wing, but certainly stone chips eventually letting in moisture.
The facelift cars seemed the worst. They often had slam panel bubbling as well. I had a long beach blue car which was bubbling well on the wheel arches. Honda actually paid out for it. I had one red facelift car with only 12k miles on it. That car had paint flaking off the wheel arch.
There will be some cars which have not suffered from it to any noticeable extent. But I’d say it’s rare. I know people will be reading this thinking their car is all original, but tbh on a 20-30+ year old car, it’s doubtful.
Feel free to beat me up over this.

[NZNick]

James - is the issue only on 02+ cars, or were/are some pop-up cars affected? Is it a worldwide issue or just in the UK? I remember seeing pictures of LBBP cars years ago but nothing since.

[Papalazarou]

James - is the issue only on 02+ cars, or were/are some pop-up cars affected? Is it a worldwide issue or just in the UK? I remember seeing pictures of LBBP cars years ago but nothing since.

I only have experience of UK and a handful of European cars. Out of all those cars I’d say the facelift cars got in worst, very closely followed by pop-up 3.2’s, or autos from around 97 onwards.

[NZNick]

Thanks for the swift reply. Mine seems to be ok (goes off to touch wood and aluminium)….

[Papalazarou]

Thanks for the swift reply. Mine seems to be ok (goes off to touch wood and aluminium)….

I think there is also a bit of luck involved. I also believe that certain colours fare better than other. Certainly that is true with plastic/metal variations.
Look at most red NSX’s and there will be a colour difference between bumpers and body. I know most have been painted by now, but even the original finishes are often a mile out. IOP and pearl white perhaps the worst. Not quite as bad as the R35 Nissans which were just shocking from factory. I was told that they paint the body and bumpers separately, but I was told, so who knows.
Strangely I’ve never seen a LLB with original paint with deviations. The ones that have been refinished are hellishly bad.
Just a final thought. I think the corrosion issues have a fair bit to do with moisture and humidity. Storing cars in damp environments causes lots of issues.