In a message dated 98-04-23 12:22:32 EDT, vw4x4@fyi.net writes:

<< > <<   All Vehicles in the USA (and most of the rest of the world)
 >  since 1985 have had base coat Clear coat finish.
 >        Thanks to the    E.P.A. >>
 >
 >
 > not true.  only metallics on vw/audi came w/ clearcoat.
 >
      The E.P.A. made it manditor for all vehicles in the U.S.A. by
 1985 to be free of carsinagenic(sp) materail. This means ALL. Cars
 started this even earlier.         Eric

  >>

ok, but what do carcinogens have to do with clearcoats?
(ps: a friend of mine w/ a white '87 vgon, has NO clearcoat...)