1971 GMC Touch Up Paint (18 OEM Colors)

The 1971 GMC Vibe

In 1971, GMC was hitting its stride with the "Action Line" trucks. Whether you were hauling hay in a C1500 or cruising in a Sierra Grande, you weren't lacking for personality. GMC wasn't shy about it, either-our database holds 18 distinct colors for this year, ranging from the earthy Ochre and Medium Olive Poly to the high-impact Hugger Orange and Flame Red. This was the era when the American truck transitioned from a farm tool to a driveway centerpiece, and the paint reflected that "go anywhere, look good doing it" attitude.

Paint Health Check

Welcome to the Single Stage Era. Your '71 GMC was sprayed with thick, pigment-heavy acrylic enamel, meaning there is no clear coat between the world and your color. While this makes the paint remarkably durable, it's prone to "The Chalky Fade"-scientifically known as Oxidation. If your roof or hood looks like someone rubbed a blackboard eraser over it, that's the pigment literally dying on the vine from sun exposure. Unlike modern thin paints, this stuff has "meat" on its bones, but it's been fighting the elements for over half a century.

Restoration Tip

The beauty of 1971 single-stage paint is that you can often bring it back from the grave. Because the color goes all the way through, you can use a mechanical buffer and a cutting compound to "skin" the dead oxidation off the surface, revealing the vibrant Medium Bronze Irid. or Turquoise hiding underneath. But listen to me: It needs wax or it dies. Once you buff off that dead layer, the paint is porous and vulnerable. If you don't seal it immediately with a high-quality wax or sealant, it'll return to that chalky, matte state faster than you can finish a tank of high-test leaded gas.