Dodge Dark Mahogany Metallic (VH9 (1982)) Touch Up Paint

The Look

This color is a quintessential artifact of early eighties automotive fashion. It captures a moment when Dodge shifted away from the loud, high-impact oranges of the previous decade toward a more grounded and sophisticated palette. On a classic Ramcharger or a Diplomat, this shade acts like a deep wood grain for your car, appearing as a dark, brooding brown in the garage but revealing a warm, reddish glow once you pull it into the light. Because your vehicle has likely been on the road for over four decades, the original finish might have a slight patina, but this color remains one of the best for hiding minor road grime and dust.

Technical Details

You are dealing with a metallic finish, which presents a specific challenge for your repair. The paint contains tiny reflective flakes that must suspend themselves evenly within the liquid to look right. If you apply the paint too heavily in a single pass, those flakes will sink to the bottom of the wet layer and create a dark, muddy splotch that won't match the rest of the panel. If the coat is too light, the surface will feel rough and lose its luster. Your goal is to find a balance where the paint flows out enough to lay flat without becoming a puddle.

Best Practices

Before you spray or dab Dodge Dark Mahogany Metallic (check for code VH9 (1982)), you need to shake it for 60 seconds. You can find this code stamped on the metal fender tag located on the inner fender well under the hood or on the driver side door pillar. Once the pigments are fully mixed, test the color on the included card to ensure the metallic flake is distributing correctly. When you are ready to begin work in your garage or a patch of shade, keep the container moving at all times to avoid creating stripes or heavy spots. Apply several thin layers rather than one thick one, and allow plenty of drying time between each pass to let the solvents escape and the flakes set firmly.