I just notice a couple of 1-2" diameter spots on my '91 hood where it looks like the clearcoat has cracked and is delaminating from the paint. The paint is almost black, so this looks like a white circle on top of it.

Is there a way to repair this without painting the whole hood? It seems like the type of thing where if I let it go it will spread, but if I catch it in time ... Wishful thinking?

The car was garaged for the first 16 years of its life, but since I got it, it has been parked outside. If I had to guess what caused the problem, I think it was the use of some "bug n tar remover" that I used to remove some sap from the redwood tree in my front yard.

 

Compound Buff and Wax

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f0X1ROBiP5w

 

if the clearcoat has failed completely then no, there's no permanent fix other than repainting the whole hood.

detailing and cutting the top coat can somewhat level the paint but it is a VERY temporary fix, and the paint will be MORE vulnerable since you're removing more paint (and clear) from the surrounding area.

oxidation can be somewhat saved, but clear that has totally failed is a lost cause.