I have heard you must srip old lacquer or enamel before a repaint with new urethane type products.  Surely there must be some type of primer/sealer that is available in this modern age.  The car has only one paint job on it, but a lot of bodywork and bondo which would be messed up by stripping.  The plastic is minimal as it was used to make this otherwise mint body arrow straight.  Has anyone found any trick that can be used in this situation.  I was told by a Maaco guy that water-base sealer works.  What do you think?  

there are several way you can do it.i would go to your local auto paint store (not autoparts store that handles paint)they will be able to tell you everything you need to know,or send you to a body shop that can help you.  

Spies Hecker Vario surfacer can be used over laquer paint jobs as long as its not cracked and checked to hell. It can usually be reduced as a sealer, but its not reccomended over laquer, so youll have to spray it, then sand it before you shoot the paint (which sounds like is what you planned to do anyway).Its not cheap, and not compliant in California, but if thats not a concern that will provide a good foundation for you that you can paint on top of.  

Block sand lacquer off completely if it's one job it shouldn't be to thick. Using a orbital sander can create more work and redo bodylines etc.Lacquer goes from liquid to solid and can go back liquid whereas 2 part urethene type products can't go back to liquid once it's applied partly because of the crosslinking and different bases that make up urethenes.If you want it to last awhile strip it ,if not consider the replies you already got.WIEDER