Removing paint from the original paintwork...

[sternal]

The guy I purchased the van off from Germany decided to have the bottom half of the van painted black,the reason he did this was because in the winter it snowed a lot and the bottom half got dirty very quickly !

It's beyond me why he did this, there isn't any rust to hide or filler etc but there's no accounting for taste.

Underneath the black paint that has been applied is the original paint,it's been sprayed on and very neatly,the paint can be picked off from the odd flaky bit and reveals the original paint work.
I'd love it to be all yellow again instead of a stealth bumble bee !
Any ideas how I can remove paint without damaging the original paintwork or should I leave well alone?
I will add closer pics in the morn



Many thanks

[ELVIS]

If its flaking try steam cleaning it as sounds surface wasn't keyed too well, if at all.

Only issue is if it doesn't all come off however you do it, it will look a bit gash

[CovKid]

An industrial pressure washer may remove a lot too.

[sternal]

Just a thought in the night !

Electric heat gun with non abrasisive scraper, plastic type ? Obviously to be held well away from heat gun.

Or would this method wreck the original paint ?!?

[sternal]

Just a thought in the night !

Electric heat gun with non abrasisive scraper, plastic type ? Obviously to be held well away from heat gun.

Or would this method wreck the original paint ?!?

[ghost123uk]

If it is original paint underneath I wonder what "chemistry" VW used ?

My thinking is that if it is summat like 2 pack, and the black stuff is not 2 pack, then a careful experiment with various solvents, starting with White Spririt, then perhaps Petrol, then Acetone, then up to paint removers, ending with, oh what's it called, that paint remover that is like a jelly and you have to wear gloves with !! One of them is likely to remove the black if it is Cellulose or Poly etc, but leave the original finish. You would have to be very careful though and test it on an unimportant area first.

I don't think heat is a good idea though (but could easily be wrong here !)

[sternal]

Flaky little bit

I'm thinking it could be a disaster if I start removing the paint !
Maybe I'll try an inconspicuous bit with an hot air gun...