Automotive Finishes

Up until the 1980s, most vehicles had a basecoat finish where the color was the topcoat. When waxing, the rag used would turn the color of the vehicle. The oxidized coat of paint would come off revealing a fresh layer. Automotive finishes have advanced significantly. The finish used on most vehicles today is a clearcoat finish. In this type of finish the color of the vehicle, the basecoat, is covered with a clearcoat that contains no color pigment. This extra layer adds protection and appearance to the basecoat. When waxing this type of finish, the rag does not turn the pigmented color because the oxidized layer is on the clear coat.