1979 Chrysler Touch Up Paint (21 OEM Colors)

The 1979 Chrysler Vibe

Welcome to 1979-the year of the government loan, the debut of the Cordoba's "Rich Corinthian Leather," and the absolute peak of the Earth Tone Era. If you're rocking one of the 21 colors from our vault, you're likely driving a surviving LeBaron, New Yorker, or perhaps the last of the big Newports. Back then, Chrysler didn't just give you a color; they gave you a lifestyle. Whether it was the understated elegance of Designer's Beige and Linen Cream or the flashy depth of Teal Green Sunfire Metallic, these cars were built to look like a million bucks while the economy was counting pennies.

Paint Health Check

We are firmly in the Single Stage Era here, folks. Your 1979 Chrysler wasn't dipped in the modern plastic-wrap known as clear coat; it was sprayed with high-solvent enamel that carried the shine and the color in one heavy-hitting layer. The good news? It doesn't "delaminate" or peel off in sheets like a bad sunburn. The bad news? It "chalks." If your Nightwatch Blue or Chianti Red looks dull, hazy, or leaves a colored powder on your microfiber towel, that's oxidation. The sun has literally sucked the oils out of the finish, leaving the pigment to die on the vine.

Restoration Tip

Before you even think about touching up a chip in that Sable Tan Sunfire Metallic, you have to find the "alive" paint buried under the dead stuff. Grab a light finishing polish and buff the area around the chip until the color deepens and the "chalk" disappears. Since this is single-stage paint, remember the golden rule of the late '70s: It needs wax or it dies. Once you've applied your touch-up, keep that solvent-based finish sealed with a high-quality carnauba wax to prevent the atmosphere from eating the rest of your shine.