COLOR CODEUCA47 - Dark Gray Purple Metallic (Cladding)Lexus Touch-Up Paint

The Look

Your 1996 ES300 belongs to a specific era where Lexus defined luxury through a sophisticated two-tone aesthetic. This color was designed to ground the car, providing a deep, moody contrast to the primary body paint. Because your car has faced decades of sun and road debris, the original cladding has likely shifted in tone. This shade is a workhorse that hides road grime well, but its purple undertone can be shy; it only reveals its true character under direct sunlight.

Technical Details

This is a metallic finish, which means the paint is loaded with tiny flakes that reflect light at different angles. The primary challenge with this finish is mottling, where those flakes cluster together and create dark, blotchy patches or stripes. If the paint is applied too thick in one spot, the finish will look uneven and lose that smooth, factory appearance. Success depends on thin layers that allow the metallic particles to lay flat and catch the light as intended.

Best Practices

You will find your paint code on the driver side door jamb on the vehicle identification plate, listed right after the C/TR heading. Before you spray or dab Lexus Dark Gray Purple Metallic (Cladding) (check for code UCA47), you need to shake it for 60 seconds. This ensures the metallic flakes are distributed through the mix rather than sitting at the bottom of the container. Test the color on the included card to confirm the match against your aged panels. When you move to the car, keep the container moving to avoid build-up and wait for the recommended drying time between coats to prevent sagging.