GMC Crystal Turquoise Metallic (510/540L (1962)) Touch Up Paint

The Look

Since your truck has been on the road for over sixty years, the original finish likely tells a long story. This specific shade was a standout choice for GMC during its single production year in 1962, often paired with a white roof or side spears to give those heavy-duty workhorses a bit of mid-century flair. It is a vibrant, era-defining blue-green that captures the optimism of the early sixties. It does not just sit flat on the metal; the metallic component gives the broad, flat panels of a vintage GMC pickup a sense of depth that a solid color simply cannot replicate.

Technical Details

This finish is a true metallic, which means it contains tiny flakes designed to reflect light at different angles. These flakes are the reason the color looks so alive, but they also represent your biggest challenge during a repair. If the flakes are not distributed perfectly, you will see dark spots or "tiger stripes" where the metal particles have bunched together. Because your truck has aged under the sun for decades, the original paint has likely shifted slightly. Testing the color is vital because a fresh batch of metallic will always look more "crisp" than the paint applied at the factory during the Kennedy administration.

Best Practices

Before you spray or dab GMC Crystal Turquoise Metallic (check for code 510/540L (1962)), you need to shake the container for at least one full minute. You should hear the mixing ball rattling the entire time to ensure those metallic flakes are off the bottom and floating freely. On these vintage trucks, you can usually find your paint information on the service ID plate inside the glove box, though sometimes it hides on the door pillar or the firewall. Always test the color on the included card first to see how it reacts to your specific lighting. When you start the repair in your garage or a patch of shade, keep the container moving at all times to ensure an even flow. If the coverage looks thin, do not try to fix it in one go. Give the first layer a few minutes of drying time and then apply a second thin coat. This layering process helps the metallic particles lay flat, preventing the mottling that ruins a good touch-up.