Ford Candy Apple Red (T (1970)) Touch Up Paint

The Look

This is the definitive shade of 1970. While it was used across the entire Ford lineup that year, it became the soul of the muscle car movement. Because your car often shows over fifty years of sun and road debris, the original finish often shifts from its factory state. Red is a high-energy color that tends to lose its depth or take on a chalky appearance over decades of exposure. You are working with one of the most famous colors in automotive history, so the pressure is on, but the result justifies the patience.

Technical Details

The name suggests a complex multi-stage process, but this is a straightforward solid finish. You will find no metallic flakes or pearl shimmering in this mix. This is a benefit for you because solid colors are easier to blend than metallics. However, solid reds are dense with pigment. If you fail to mix the paint well, the color might look thin or transparent when it leaves the nozzle or brush. Because it lacks metallic particles, you do not have to worry about the orientation of the flakes, but you do need to ensure a rich saturation.

Best Practices

Your first step is to find the code on the metal data plate on the rear face of the driver's door. Before you spray or dab Ford Candy Apple Red (check for code T (1970)), you need to shake it for 60 seconds. This is a heavy pigment color, and it needs to be suspended to match the factory depth. Test the color on the included card to see how it sits against your aged paint before you touch the car. When you start, keep the container moving to prevent the red from pooling or sagging. Work in a cool garage or the shade, and give it plenty of drying time between applications to build the correct gloss.