Dodge Dark Gunmetal Irid (A-8 (1971)) Touch Up Paint

The Look

This color represents the serious side of 1971. While other cars were rolling off the line in neon greens and purples, this shade provided a sophisticated, industrial alternative for the rest of the fleet. It gives your Dodge a heavy, machined appearance that feels more like armor than automotive paint. Since your car has been facing the elements for over fifty years, the original finish has likely shifted, so you should expect this new pigment to bring back a depth and gravity that has probably faded away over the decades.

Technical Details

This is a metallic finish, which means the paint is loaded with tiny particles designed to catch the light. These flakes are the reason the color looks so rich, but they also make the application a bit temperamental. If you let the paint pool or if the flow is too heavy in one spot, the metal flakes will cluster together and create dark, cloudy patches known as mottling. To get that uniform, factory-correct shimmer, you need to ensure the flakes lay down flat and even across the surface rather than bunching up in a pile.

Best Practices

You can verify your color match by looking at the metal fender tag located on the driver-side inner fender under the hood. Before you dab or spray Dodge Dark Gunmetal Irid (code A-8 (1971)), you must shake the container for at least two minutes to properly distribute the metallic sediment. Test the color on the included card to see how the light hits the flakes before you touch the car. Whether you are using a nozzle or a brush, keep the container moving to prevent the paint from sagging. Allow plenty of drying time between light coats to build the color slowly, which helps the metallic particles stay exactly where they belong.