AMC 1978 Touch Up Paint

1978 AMC Touch Up Paint (17 OEM Colors)

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For small chips & scratches

Customized Color Paint Pen

Repair tiny chips and scratches with precision. Perfect for small nicks from rocks or door dings, the fine tip applicator makes it easy for beginners to achieve a clean, factory-quality finish.

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For Medium-sized Chips & Scratches

Customized Color Paint Bottle

Tackle medium-sized scratches and chips with our Customized Color Paint Bottle. The built-in applicator brush provides smooth, controlled coverage, while the included basecoat delivers a perfect factory match in your custom paint color.

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For larger areas & panel resprays

Customized Color Spray Can

Cover larger areas with a smooth, professional finish using ourcustomized color Spray Can. Designed for hoods, fenders, and larger scratches, this product provides consistent spray coverage and factory-matched color accuracy.

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For large repairs & total resprays

Customized Color Professional Size Paint

When your repair job calls for more than a touch-up, step up to our professional-size automotive paints. Available in Pint, Quart, or Gallon sizes, these paints are ready-to-spray using an airless spray gun.

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For small chips & scratches

Customized Color Tricoat Paint Pens

Repair tiny chips and scratches with precision. Perfect for small nicks from rocks or door dings, the fine tip applicator makes it easy for beginners to achieve a clean, factory-quality finish. Each order includes a basecoat and a midcoat pen.

Shop Now

For Medium-sized Chips & Scratches

Customized Color Tricoat Paint Bottles

Tackle medium-sized scratches and chips with our Customized Color Paint Bottles. The built-in applicator brush provides smooth, controlled coverage, while the basecoat & midcoat deliver a perfect factory match in your custom paint color.

Shop Now

For larger areas & panel resprays

Customized Color Tricoat Spray Cans

Cover larger areas with a smooth, professional finish using our customized color basecoat & midcoat Spray Cans. Designed for hoods, fenders, and larger scratches, this product provides consistent spray coverage and factory-matched color accuracy.

Shop Now

For large repairs & total resprays

Customized Color Tricoat Professional Size Paint

When your repair job calls for more than a touch-up, step up to our professional-size automotive paints. Available in Pint, Quart, or Gallon sizes, these paints are ready-to-spray using an airless spray gun. Each order includes a basecoat & a midcoat paint.

Shop Now
Where to find AMC color code

Find Your 1978 AMC Paint Code

AMC paint codes are hidden on top of the radiator support; engine grease and oil often make them impossible to read. Typical format is BS/GBS; only the BS portion is the color code. It can also appear as QBS, PBS, TBS, etc. The first letter is the Year Code, which makes color codes confusing. BS corresponds to Deep Water Blue Pearl Clearcoat. The G in GBS is not part of the color code. Lately AMC lists codes as BS. AMC has many two tone combos on some cars and often omitted the secondary color information.

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1978 AMC Background Info

The 1978 AMC Vibe

Welcome to 1978, the year American Motors was holding onto the weird and wonderful with both hands. This was the era of the "Flying Fishbowl" Pacer and the final stand of the legendary Gremlin. While the rest of the world was getting boring, AMC dropped a 17-color palette that looked like a high-speed collision between a harvest festival and a disco. We're talking about the deep, earthy soul of Mocha Brown Metallic and Loden Green Metallic parked right next to the high-visibility scream of Sun Orange and Sunshine Yellow. It was a brave time for sheet metal, and if you're rocking Captain Blue Metallic or Golden Ginger today, you're driving a rolling piece of Kenosha history.

Paint Health Check

Here's the deal: your 1978 AMC is a proud member of the Single Stage Era. Back then, we didn't have the luxury of a clear coat to take the beating for us. The pigment and the protection were mixed into one thick, honest layer of acrylic enamel. The bad news? This paint is porous and "breathes," which means it's a magnet for Oxidation. If your Autumn Red Metallic looks more like a dusty chalkboard than a sunset, that's the paint literally drying out and dying. Without a clear layer on top, the sun eats the pigment for breakfast, leaving behind that tell-tale chalky fade that makes the car look like it's been sitting in the Mojave since the Carter administration.

Restoration Tip

If you're looking to bring back that 1978 showroom glow, remember the Golden Rule of Single Stage: It needs wax or it dies. Unlike modern thin finishes, you can actually "feed" this paint. Use a high-quality compound to buff away the dead, oxidized layer-you'll know you're doing it right when your buffing pad turns the color of the car (don't panic, that's just the old pigment coming off). Once you've hit fresh paint, seal it immediately. You have to keep a heavy coat of wax or sealant on it at all times to act as a sacrificial barrier. If you let it go dry, the Kenosha Krackle will return before you know it.

AMC Models Released in 1978

What kind of AMC are you repairing? We'll help you find the right color.

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We're always expanding our catalog! If you can't find your vehicle, please let us know and we'll do our best to find the color you need.