1968 Citroen Touch Up Paint (55 OEM Colors)

The 1968 Citroen Vibe

In 1968, Citroen wasn't just building cars; they were conducting a nation-wide experiment in avant-garde industrial design. Whether it was the "Goddess" DS slicing through the air with its hydropneumatic magic or the corrugated-iron charm of the 2CV and the newly debuted, plastic-bodied Mehari, the French weren't shy about making a statement. Our database tracks a staggering 55 colors for this year alone. Why? Because when you're reinventing the automobile, you don't just pick "Grey"-you choose between Kandahar Gray, Brumaire Gray, or Dandy Gray. From the electric pop of Jaune Helianthe to the sophisticated depth of Angora Blue and Vert Printemps, 1968 was a year of high-fashion pigment that actually had some "meat" on its bones.

Paint Health Check

Welcome to the Single Stage Era. Back in '68, your Citroen didn't come with a thin plastic sandwich of clear coat; it was bathed in thick, pigment-heavy lacquer or enamel. This paint has soul, but it's also got a temper. The biggest threat to a survivor from this era is Oxidation. If your Bordeaux Red looks more like a dusty chalkboard than a fine wine, that's the paint "chalking" out. It isn't necessarily dead, but it is drying out. Without a clear top layer to hide behind, the sun beats directly on those pigments, causing them to turn white and powdery. If you ignore it, the surface becomes porous, invites moisture to the party, and starts the slow, bubbly dance of rust in those notorious French seams.

Restoration Tip

If the paint is original, put down the sandpaper and back away. Because this is single-stage, the color goes all the way through. Often, you can "wake up" a dead finish by using a cutting compound to mechanically remove the oxidized top layer, revealing the vibrant Bleu Petrel or Calabrian Yellow hiding underneath. But remember the Salty Painter's Golden Rule for '60s iron: It needs wax or it dies. Once you've buffed it back to a shine, you've essentially exposed "fresh skin." You must seal it with a high-quality wax or sealant immediately to provide the UV protection the factory didn't include in 1968. Skip the wax, and you'll be looking at a chalkboard again before the next Bastille Day.