My 86 t/a is white and has a few paint issues here and there because of the clear coming off. I'm unsure if it is original paint. Even though it's been so long the car has been kept garage most of its life and is only just hitting 120k.

My issue was with pictures I'm seeing online the gauges are white on the white cars. My interior is Grey and black.

Also on the subject I wanted to get it painted although maaco (usually a cheap place) quoted me 1800 for four year paint!

 

Do you see a different color in any hidden place on the car? (under some ground fx, spoiler, trunk, engine bay, wheel wells, etc)? I'd look up and see when they started spraying clear on thirdgens, if it was after '86 then you'll have your answer.

 

86 was the 1st year for BC/CC,(Base coat,Clear Coat)the gauges,by White do you mean the back plate?if so,no,they were all Black with White Didgets and Red needles.And do what RedLeader says and also check under the Carpet.

 

you and everybody else, IMHO would be better off to forget 2 stage paint. just shoot it in acrylic enamel with hardner added and be done.

 

The paint may be original, condition of the paint can depend on a lot. If it was garage kept or stored outside. How well the paint was cared for, the color (dark vs light) temperature, etc. My Camaro was that purple haze metallic and it was in wonderful shape 15 years later when I repainted it. I wanted a different color.

 

86 was the first year of bc/cc and was apparently done very poorly, especially in the CA plant. It probably is the original paint coming off.
The guages were the same on all color cars.