While watching all the Winston 400 racing stuff Sunday afternoon, there
was cut over to a shop where they were talking about the construction of
the front ends of the the cars...the body mostly, and the paint
jobs...what type paints that would stand the abuse, sponsor decals and
what happens to them near 200 MPH, and what is done to make them stay
put and not peel off, especially if there is a ding or nick that occurs
in the decal material, something that often would occur during the race.

Well, what caught my attention is that the 3M company makes a tough,
clear plastic laminate that racers are applying over the decals and the
fronts of the race vehicles. This material protects the paint, doesn't
chip...it has the ability to absorb some impact force. It has UV
rejection qualities and protects the paint from oxidation and fading. It
is applied just like you would apply window tint. Peel off the backing,
spritz the surface of the paint with water, and the back of the 3M
sheet, then apply, removing bubbles with a window tinting squeegee. It
can be removed when desired, much like window tint.

It occurred to me that this material would be ideal to use on the blunt
fronts of the vanagons, especially if you have a new paint job.

The clear stuff could replace those old opaque bras altogether.

Hhmmmnn!! That raises some other interesting possibilities!!

Both applications might be good

(I know...I'm a chauvinist...but I love it!!)

John Rodgers

"Driver of 88 GL which happens to have an engine that is trashed at the
moment.