COLOR CODEW42 - WhiteDodge Touch-Up Paint

The Look

This is the quintessential utility shade of the early 1980s. Because your vehicle was likely born from the Dodge and Mitsubishi partnership, this color has a bright, functional honesty that defined the era of the Arrow, Challenger, Colt, and the Ram 50 Import Truck. It is a clean, stark white that provides a sharp contrast against the heavy black plastics and chrome trim of the period. While it looks crisp when fresh, keep in mind that this shade is a tattletale. It will highlight every bit of road tar, grease, and door ding your car has collected over the last forty years.

Technical Details

This is a solid finish, meaning there is no metallic flake or pearl hiding in the mixture. The advantage here is simplicity; you do not have to worry about the "mottling" or dark tiger stripes that often ruin a metallic silver or gold repair. However, because it is such a bright, solid pigment, it is incredibly unforgiving if your surface preparation is lazy. If you leave even a microscopic speck of rust or old oils on the surface, the white will show the brown bleed-through or "fish-eyes" almost immediately. It is an easy color to apply, but a difficult one to hide poor prep work behind.

Best Practices

You can usually find your paint information on a metal plate riveted to the firewall or on a sticker inside the driver's side door jamb. Before you spray or dab Dodge White (check for code W42), you need to shake it for 60 seconds to ensure the heavy white pigments are fully mixed. Test the color on the included card to see how well it matches your existing finish, as older paint tends to yellow slightly over time. When applying, keep the container moving to avoid heavy puddles and focus on building the color in thin, light passes. Give the paint plenty of drying time between layers to ensure the finish stays flat and professional looking in your garage or the shade.