COLOR CODER48/PR7 - Windsor Red MetallicDodge Touch-Up Paint

The Look

Your Colt or Ram 50 comes from a time when Dodge imports offered a bit of class alongside their utility. This color is not a loud, fire-engine red; it is a mature, deep shade that feels right at home on the boxy lines of a Vista Wagon. Because your vehicle has likely spent over thirty years facing the sun, the original finish has probably mellowed. When you apply fresh paint to a survivor like the Colt Vista, the new pigment will look deep and rich compared to the weathered panels around it. This color defines the late eighties transition into more sophisticated, metallic palettes for everyday work vehicles.

Technical Details

This is a true metallic finish, which means the silver flakes inside the liquid do all the heavy lifting to create that depth. Metallic paints are temperamental because those tiny flakes want to sink to the bottom of the container or clump together on the surface. If you aren't careful, you will end up with dark splotches or "mottling" where the metal particles gathered in one spot. To avoid a finish that looks like camouflage, you have to ensure the flakes stay suspended and land evenly. Since this is an older formula, matching the original density of the shimmer is the secret to making a repair disappear into the rest of the fender.

Best Practices

You can find your paint information on a metal plate riveted to the center of the firewall or on a sticker inside the driver's side door jamb. Before you spray or dab Dodge Windsor Red Metallic (check for code R48/PR7), you need to shake the container for at least sixty seconds to wake up those settled metallic flakes. Test the color on the included card to see how the metallic density looks before you touch the actual car. Work in a Garage or the Shade to keep the surface cool. As you apply the paint, keep the container moving to ensure an even flow. Use several thin layers rather than one heavy coat, and give each layer plenty of drying time so the finish sets flat and uniform.