OK Guys,

Enough of this clear tape stuff, and the grossly expensive protective
"films" which are precut at the dealer.   The true answer is at your body
shop supply store!!!

3M Has been making a "invisible bra" material for a couple of years.  It
is moderately expensive, but well worth it.  A moderately wide, moderately
long roll of the stuff is around $40.  I bought a roll and did the leading
edges of my hood, my foglights, headlight doors and windshield posts on my
Mercedes and still had plenty left over to do the leading edges of the
rear fenders and the leading edge of the sliding door after I had them
painted this winter.

If you follow the instructions, it is remarkably pliable and easy to
install.  You soak the tape is a mixture of alcohol and water, and the
tape becomes as flexible as a wet paper towel.  Applying it along the
contours of the rear fenders of the vanagon, even along the seams, was
very easy.  It takes some time to trim, but it's well worth the effort.

I'm very impressed with this stuff.  I have enough stone chips on the
front of my Vanagon that I will wait until I have the nose repainted
before I apply the tape,  but as soon as the new paint cures you bet I'll
put this tape on the nose too.

In Colorado, home to the giant-tired SUV and gravel truck with uncovered
load and grossly discourteous driver, this 3M tape is now a
standard option at almost every new car dealership, especially Porsche and
Mercedes where there are significant areas of painted surface on the front
of the car.

Regards to all,
Jon