Restoring Eames Black Backed DAR Chair  

Go ahead and strip it. It's gonna be a messy job, but start with a weaker paint stripper such as soy-based and plan for more than a couple of applications. Avoid using abrasive tools like Scotchbrite or other scouring pads that might scratch. Old credit cards make pretty good scrapers. Dobie pads are OK as are nylon bristle brushes or old toothbrushes. Buy a bunch of nitrile gloves and safety goggles and go to town. Have fun and good luck!
FWIW, there is indeed no "gel coat" on these chairs. The actual resin used is a mystery, but it's probably a vinyl-ester. Methylene chloride strippers will likely eat into it, so they should be avoided. Citrus-based might be safe to use, but you should always test anything first in a small, inconspicuous area before slathering it on. It's a good idea to check the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS), if in the US, on any product before use. These are often available online.

I stripped the back and bottom of my lemon yellow shell with acetone. It came out beautifully.

My goodness jesgord,
The above lovely snappy appears to have been re-freshned by none other than Ray Eames! And I like it.
Best,
Aunt Mark

wtf
clean it with water and put the cover back on and you're done
if you want an orange chair then go find one, it's not like they're not out there
alternatively, support epidemic chair murder/propagate chair extinction while killing our earth with toxic chemicals

tktoo - thank you for the advice. will take everything into consideration
objectworship - obviously i would keep the chair as is if it was worth it. i'm not out to ruin a perfectly good eames nor do i wish to harm the environment. perhaps the pictures are misleading but there are holes all around the rim of the cover due to wear, not to mention the mold growing on the foam.
while i appreciate sarcastic wit, TBH your comment just seems hostile.

You are welcome, sonof. Jesgord's suggestion to use acetone may be worth a try, too. Just be careful.
It shouldn't be too hard to straighten the rods on the base or to find replacement glides. Krylon semi-matte is fine to use there. (light coats!)
And please be sure to report results!
Bon chance!

The acetone did not do any damage to the chair. That said, it took several days and a LOT of elbow grease to get all the paint off. Also, I was particularly careful around the shockmounts as I did not want to run the riskf the acetone dissolving the glue. Not sure if that's even possible (as my knowledge of solvents is limited)-but I remember thinking about it at the time.

That's why I like strippers, Jes. Especially the gel-types. Put it on and wait for it to do its thing. Scrape the goo off, smear it onto a piece of cardboard, and let it dry in the sun so it can then be safely discarded with household trash. Driving a car 10 miles or turning on the lights at night puts more hydrocarbons into the environment than stripping a chair.

I maintain my position, though I will refrain from picketing, distributing leaflets, etc.
ooh, giant pencils!

Think Big!!!!