Khaki Green Metallic (17U) Touch-Up Paint for Chevrolet

The Look

You are dealing with one of the rarest factory colors in modern Corvette history. This shade was a one-year-wonder for the 2009 model year, and it trades the usual "look at me" flash of a sports car for an industrial, military-inspired grit. It is a sophisticated chameleon that feels like a flat olive drab in the shade but wakes up with a sharp bronze sparkle the moment you pull your car out into the sun. Because so few of these were made, keeping your finish intact is about more than just maintenance; it is about preserving a legitimate piece of Chevrolet trivia.

Technical Details

This is a complex metallic finish, which means the heavy lifting is done by tiny flakes suspended in the paint. The biggest risk with this color is mottling-those dark, cloudy patches or stripes that appear if the metal particles clump together. If you apply the paint too heavily in one spot, the flakes sink and create shadows that make the panel look dirty even when it is clean. You need to focus on achieving an even distribution of those flakes to maintain that factory depth.

Best Practices

You can find your paint data on the silver Service Parts Identification sticker located inside the glove box. Before you spray or dab Chevrolet Khaki Green Metallic (check for code 17U), you need to shake the container for at least sixty seconds to get those settled metallic particles back into the mix. Test the color on the included card to see how the flakes lay down before moving to the car. Work in a cool garage rather than in the sun, and keep the container moving with every pass to ensure the color remains consistent. Give each layer enough drying time so the next coat builds depth without disturbing the flakes underneath.