1979 Buick Touch Up Paint (23 OEM Colors)

The 1979 Buick Vibe

Welcome to 1979, the year Buick proved that "downsizing" didn't have to mean "down-classing." Whether you were floating down the interstate in an Electra 225 or turning heads in the newly redesigned, front-wheel-drive Riviera, Buick was serving up heavy-duty luxury with a side of disco-era flair. Our database tracks 24 distinct shades for this year, and man, did they love a metallic finish back then. From the deep, moody Blackwatch Green Metallic to the high-sheen Caramel Firemist Metallic, the goal was simple: make the car look like it was glowing from within, even if the gas lines at the station were a mile long.

Paint Health Check

If your '79 is still wearing its factory suit, you're officially in the Single Stage Era. This was the tail end of the high-solids lacquer and early enamel days. The good news? This paint is thick, honest, and full of rich pigment. The bad news? It's porous as a sponge. Without a protective clear coat, the sun has spent the last four decades feasting on those pigments. If your Bright Red looks like a pink chalkboard or your Dark Blue Metallic has turned into a hazy, matte mess, you're looking at classic Oxidation. The paint isn't necessarily "dead," it's just buried under a layer of dried-out, chalky "skin."

Restoration Tip

Listen close, because this is the golden rule for 1979 steel: It needs wax or it dies. Before you go grabbing the spray gun to fix a small spot, you've got to "level" the surrounding area. Since there's no clear coat to peel, you can often buff some life back into these old girls. But once you've got that shine back-or once you've applied your fresh touch-up-you must seal it immediately. Modern high-carnauba waxes or polymer sealants are your best friends here. Think of it like skin moisturizer for a 45-year-old classic; if you don't keep it sealed, the air will turn that fresh paint back into chalk before the next oil change.