2016 Aston-Martin Touch Up Paint (22 OEM Colors)

The 2016 Aston-Martin Vibe

By 2016, Aston-Martin was hitting a peak of "sophisticated aggression." This was the year the legendary DB9 took its final bow while the DB11 started turning heads with those aero-curtains. Whether you were piloting a Vanquish or a Vantage, the color palette was a far cry from the "any color as long as it's British Racing Green" days. We've got 22 colors in the vault for this year, and let me tell you, it's a metallic playground. You've got the cinematic class of Skyfall Silver, the absolute punch of Madagascar Orange, and the deep, moody shimmer of Mariana Blue Pearl. It was an era where the paint didn't just sit on the car; it looked like it was still cooling in the mold.

Paint Health Check

Welcome to the Thin Paint Era. By 2016, those robots in Gaydon were precise-maybe a little too precise. These cars came off the line with clear coats that are tough as nails but thinner than a polite excuse. While the finish looks a mile deep, there isn't much "meat on the bone" for heavy correction. The real headache for this year, however, is the "VH-platform bubble." Keep a sharp eye on the leading edges of the roof, the mirror stems, and around those flush door handles. Because of how these panels were prepped at the factory, you'll often see tiny blisters-what we call "pizza spots"-where the paint decides it doesn't want to stick to the aluminum anymore. It's not rust, but it'll spread if you don't seal it.

Restoration Tip

When you're dealing with a 2016 finish, the golden rule is: Build layers, don't blob. Because the factory clear is shallow, a big, thick drop of touch-up paint will stand out like a sore thumb and won't level correctly. Use a surgical touch. Apply your base color in two or three whisper-thin coats, letting them tack up in between. If you're fixing one of those common "chip-rashes" on the rear wheel arches, take the time to clean the area with a prep solvent first to get any road wax out of the pit. If you see even a hint of white oxidation in a chip, pick it out with a needle before you paint, or you're just sealing in the next bubble.