1965 AMC Touch Up Paint (2 OEM Colors)

The 1965 AMC Vibe

1965 was the year AMC decided to stop playing it safe and started chasing the big boys. While the rest of the world was staring at Mustangs, the Kenosha crowd was rolling out the fastback Marlin and the stretched-out Ambassador. It was a time of "Deep-Dip" rustproofing and the kind of "Super Enamel" that had actual body to it. We've focused our database on the true survivors of this era-the timeless anchors like Classic Black and White Metallic. These weren't just colors; they were the uniform of a brand that built cars like tanks and expected them to outlast the driveway they were parked on.

Paint Health Check

Back in '65, we weren't messing around with thin layers of clear plastic. This is the Single Stage Era, where the color and the protection were one and the same. It's thick, it's solvent-heavy, and it has a soul-but it also has a shelf life if you ignore it. If your AMC has been sitting out, that "Super Enamel" has likely turned into a chalky mess. We call it heavy oxidation; you probably call it "looking like a chalkboard." Without a clear coat to hide behind, the sun eats the pigment for breakfast. If it looks dull, it's not dead-it's just thirsty.

Restoration Tip

Since you're dealing with a single-stage finish, you have the rare luxury of actually "leveling" the paint. You can buff away that chalky top layer to reveal the fresh pigment hiding underneath. But listen to a guy who's spent too many years in the booth: it needs wax or it dies. Once you've polished that White Metallic or Classic Black back to a shine, you have to seal it. Modern factory paint is protected by a robot-sprayed clear film; your AMC is protected only by your own work ethic. Wax it twice a year or watch it fade back to a ghost of its former self.