Subaru Gold Metallic (Wheel Color) (GK1) Touch Up Paint

The Look

This is the definitive shade of the rally era. If you drive an Impreza or a Forester from the early 2000s, you know this color represents the World Rally Championship heritage that put these cars on the map. It carries a deep, warm hue that contrasts with the world-famous blue paint found on many of these models. While it looks iconic on the road, gold wheels are magnets for brake dust and road salt. Since your Legacy or Outback has likely seen its fair share of miles, the original finish might look a bit dull or chipped. Restoring that specific glow is the fastest way to make your car look like it just rolled off a special stage.

Technical Details

Before you spray or dab Subaru Gold Metallic (Wheel Color) (check for code GK1), you need to understand that this is a true metallic finish. It relies on tiny flakes to catch the light, which creates that famous shimmer. If you apply it too heavily in one spot, those flakes will bunch up and create dark, blotchy patches called mottling. This happens because the heavy paint stays wet too long, allowing the metal particles to sink or shift. You want the flakes to lay down flat and even so they reflect light back at the same angle.

Best Practices

You can usually find your paint information on the VIN plate located on the driver's side strut tower or near the passenger side door sill. For the best results, shake your container for at least a full minute to get those metallic flakes off the bottom. Test the color on the included card to see how the gold looks once it dries. When you are ready to work in your garage or in the shade, keep the container moving to ensure the flakes spread out evenly across the surface. If you are using a pen, use light dabs rather than long strokes. Allow enough drying time between each thin layer to prevent the gold from looking muddy or uneven.