Chevrolet Dark Bronze Metallic (74 (1981)) Touch Up Paint

The Look

This color belongs to a very specific moment in history. If you own a 1981 Corvette, you are looking at a one-year-only shade that was part of the transition from the old St. Louis factory to the new plant in Bowling Green. It is a deep, coffee-rich brown that captures the shift from the flashy seventies into the more refined tones of the early eighties. Whether your car is a solid color or the darker half of the famous Beige-over-Bronze two-tone, this paint is a rare badge of honor. Very few of these left the factory, so maintaining the original finish is vital for the value of your car.

Technical Details

This is a metallic finish, which means the look of the paint depends entirely on how the tiny flakes inside the liquid settle on your panel. Since it is a dark bronze, any unevenness in the flake distribution will show up as dark patches or light streaks. Metallic paints can be temperamental because the flakes are heavy and naturally want to sink to the bottom. If they bunch up, the repair will look like mud instead of a metallic glow. To keep the finish consistent, you have to ensure the flakes stay suspended and land evenly across the surface.

Best Practices

Before you spray or dab Chevrolet Dark Bronze Metallic (check your trim tag for code 74 (1981)), you must shake the container for at least sixty seconds to wake up those metallic flakes. You can find your paint code on the metal trim plate riveted to the driver-side door hinge pillar. Test the color on the included card to see how the metallic behaves before you touch the car. When applying, keep the container moving in steady, even passes to prevent the paint from pooling. If you are using a pen, use light dabs rather than long strokes to keep the flakes from dragging into a clump. Work in a garage or the shade to give the paint a consistent drying time.