COLOR CODE86 (1976) - Midnight BlackGMC Touch-Up Paint

The Look

Your GMC truck from the late seventies is a piece of industrial history, and this specific shade is what gives those "Square Body" lines their heavy, imposing presence. This color was a staple for the Sierra and Jimmy, often serving as the deep, dark foundation for the era's famous multi-colored stripe packages like the Desert Fox or the Street Coupe. Since your truck has likely spent decades working under the sun, you will find that this black doesn't just sit on the metal; it absorbs the light around it. It is a no-nonsense, tough finish that makes every inch of chrome on your grille and bumpers pop with high-contrast energy.

Technical Details

This is a strictly solid finish, which means there are no metallic flakes or pearls hiding in the mix. While this makes it much easier to match the actual pigment to your existing paint, it also makes the color incredibly unforgiving. Solid black acts like a dark mirror; it will magnify every tiny ripple, sanding mark, or dent that you haven't perfectly leveled out. If your surface preparation isn't flat, the reflection will look distorted once the paint dries. It offers a deep, bottomless shine that metallic blacks can't touch, but it demands your full attention during the prep phase.

Best Practices

To find your official color confirmation, look inside your glove box for the Service Parts Identification sticker, where the codes are usually printed on a white paper label. Before you spray or dab GMC Midnight Black (check for code 86 (1976)), you need to shake the container for at least sixty seconds to ensure the heavy black pigments are fully blended. Work in the shade or a cool garage to prevent the metal from getting too hot, which can cause the paint to dry before it levels out. Test the color on the included card to see how it looks against your truck's aged finish. When you start, keep the container moving across the repair area in steady passes and allow plenty of drying time between each thin layer to avoid runs.