Chevrolet Red Jewel (80/WA301N) Touch Up Paint

The Look

This color defined a specific era of GM elegance, moving away from the flatter, fire-engine reds of the nineties into something more sophisticated. If you own a Corvette or a Trailblazer in this shade, you know how the light catches the deep, burgundy undertones. On an Impala or a Malibu Maxx, it adds a level of depth that makes the car look more expensive than the original window sticker suggested. It is a rich, dark cherry that demands respect, but because your car has been on the road for over a decade, the original finish has likely shifted. Red pigments are sensitive to the sun, so your repair might look slightly different than the panels that have spent years baking in the driveway.

Technical Details

The depth you see comes from a metallic pearl finish. Unlike a standard solid paint, this color relies on tiny flakes to reflect light from different angles. This makes it a chameleon, but it also creates a challenge for your repair. If these flakes do not sit flat on the surface, you will see dark spots or stripes where the metallic material gathered unevenly. Since this is a "Tintcoat" style of paint, the color builds with every layer. If you apply it too heavy in one spot, it will look darker than the rest of the car.

Best Practices

Before you spray or dab Chevrolet Red Jewel (check for code 80/WA301N), you must shake the container for at least two minutes to wake up the heavy metallic particles. You can find your paint code on the silver Service Parts Identification sticker located inside the glove box or on the trunk floor near the spare tire. Always test the color on the included card to see how the flakes settle before you touch the car. Work in a cool garage or the shade to prevent the paint from drying too fast. Keep the container moving at all times during application and give the paint plenty of drying time between thin layers to ensure an even match.