Ford Bright Dark Blue Poly (3-G (1978)) Touch Up Paint

The Look

This is the quintessential late-seventies blue. It carries a depth that sits right between a royal sapphire and a midnight navy, but the metallic sparkle gives it an energy that solid colors lack. Since your Ford has been on the road since 1978, this color has likely spent decades defining the lines of a Bronco, an F-Series truck, or a Fairmont. It is a confident, masculine shade that looks best when the sun hits those metallic flakes, making the body lines of your vintage steel pop. Because your original finish is over forty years old, expect some natural fading; the new paint will likely look more vibrant than the weathered panels around it.

Technical Details

You are working with a metallic finish, which in the 1970s was often called Polychromatic or Poly for short. This means the paint is loaded with tiny silver flakes that provide its characteristic glow. Metallic paints are more challenging than solid colors because those flakes want to clump together. If you apply the paint too heavily in one spot, the metal particles will "mottle," creating dark, cloudy patches or stripes that ruin the effect. Before you spray or dab Ford Bright Dark Blue Poly (check for code 3-G (1978)), you need to shake it for 60 seconds. This ensures the metallic particles are suspended evenly so you get a consistent shimmer across the repair.

Best Practices

You will find your paint code on the driver's side door jamb, usually on a silver or white sticker listed under "EXT PNT." Before you start, test the color on the included card to see how the metallic flake settles. Whether you are using a nozzle or a brush, work in a garage or the shade to keep the surface cool. When applying, keep the container moving and focus on thin, light layers. Heavy coats will cause the blue pigment to drown out the metallic sparkle. Wait for the drying time between layers to ensure the paint sets flat. Because this is a metallic Poly color, it requires a clear coat to match the original factory gloss and to protect the flakes from oxidizing and turning dull over time.