Hyundai Medium Red Metallic (IR) Touch Up Paint

The Look

Your Excel is a true survivor of the mid-eighties, a period when this specific shade of red helped introduce the world to South Korean automotive design. This color isn't a bright, screaming fire engine red; it is a deeper, more sophisticated tone that relies on its metallic depth to give the car shape. Since your vehicle has been on the road since 1986, the original finish has likely faced decades of UV exposure. This means your repair might look slightly more vibrant than the surrounding aged panels, but the rich pigment remains the best way to preserve the character of a car that effectively launched a brand in North America.

Technical Details

This is a metallic finish, which means the paint is packed with tiny aluminum flakes that act like mirrors. The challenge with any metallic is ensuring those flakes lay down flat and even. If the paint is applied too heavily or in uneven bursts, the flakes can "mottle," creating dark spots or streaks where the metal particles have bunched together. To get a factory-style look, you need a steady hand and a light touch. This finish relies on light reflecting off those flakes at the same angle, so consistency in how you apply the color is the difference between a patch that disappears and one that stands out in the sun.

Best Practices

On these early models, you can typically find the identification plate on the driver's door jamb or mounted to the firewall under the hood. Before you spray or dab Hyundai Medium Red Metallic (check for code IR), you need to shake it for 60 seconds. This is the most important step for a metallic color, as the heavy flakes settle at the bottom and must be fully suspended to match correctly. Test the color on the included card to see how the flakes settle before moving to the vehicle. When you begin, keep the container moving to ensure an even distribution. Apply thin, light layers and give the paint plenty of drying time between passes. This patience prevents the red from sagging and keeps the metallic sparkle uniform across the repair.