Chevrolet Malibu Touch Up Paint (211 OEM Colors)

The Color Breakdown

Chevrolet certainly didn't lack imagination with the Malibu, racking up a massive 211 colors over the years. They really went for it with the naming, too-transitioning from corporate classics like Galaxy Silver Metallic to the crooner-inspired Old Blue Eyes Metallic and the refreshingly honest Some Kinda Blue. Whether your car is a "Black Meet Kettle Pearl" or a "Limited Addiction Pearl," it's clear the designers had a sense of humor in the paint lab.

What to Watch For

While the Malibu is a road warrior, it can suffer from what I call the "Malibu Sunburn." Keep a close eye on the horizontal surfaces-the hood, roof, and trunk lid-as these models are known for clear coat thinning or "checking" (small ridges in the finish) after a few years in the sun. You might also notice the black trim between the windows (the appliques) starting to peel. To find your secret paint recipe, look for the Service Parts sticker inside the glove box or tucked under the trunk carpet near the spare tire. You're looking for a code that starts with "WA" or "U."

Driveway Repair Tip

Since so many Malibu shades are metallics or high-depth pearls like Abalone White Tricoat, your success depends on the "The Great Shake." Those tiny metallic flakes love to settle at the bottom of the bottle. Shake your touch-up pen or brush for a solid two minutes-set a timer on your phone-to get those sparkles properly mixed. When you apply the paint, think "thin and light." Dabbing on three "whisper" layers with 15 minutes of drying time between them will look significantly better than one giant glob that never quite levels out.