A basecoat composition for the production of a multicoat finish comprising the combination of a higher-viscosity basecoat composition containing a metallic pigment and a non-volatile aliphatic polyether, said higher-viscosity basecoat composition being suitable for producing a polyether-free, lower-viscosity basecoat composition and said combination having a lower viscosity than said higher-viscosity basecoat composition, said non-volatile aliphatic polyether containing at least one hydroxyl group per molecule, having a mean molecular weight not less than about 300 and being present in an amount from about 6 to about 10 weight percent of the total weight of the polyether-containing, lower-viscosity basecoat composition, wherein said combination comprising the polyether-containing, lower-viscosity basecoat composition is capable of being applied to a substrate, allowed to flash-off without baking, overcoated with a clearcoat and baked with the overcoated clearcoat so as to produce a multicoat having a metallic finish.