1973 AMC Touch Up Paint (2 OEM Colors)

The 1973 AMC Vibe

Welcome to 1973: a year of bell-bottoms, oil embargoes, and AMC trying to out-style the Big Three with sheer audacity. While the Javelin was busy looking fast even when parked, the brand was already planting the seeds for the rugged Eagle and the quirky Alliance that would define their later years. In the paint booth, the vibe was "high impact." We've preserved the absolute survivors of the era, specifically the trippy Fresh Plum Metallic and the crisp, sky-high Olympic Blue Metallic. These weren't just colors; they were a middle finger to the beige landscape of the seventies.

Paint Health Check

If you're looking at original 1973 "Lustre-Gard" acrylic enamel, you aren't looking at a clear coat-you're looking at a Single Stage finish. This stuff is honest, but it's tired. The big threat here is Oxidation. Because there's no clear plastic shell protecting the pigment, the sun literally eats the surface, leaving behind a dull, chalky film that makes your metallic finish look like a dusty chalkboard. Back in Kenosha, they weren't exactly drowning these cars in paint either; factory coats were thin, and 1970s AMC steel had a magnetic relationship with rust, especially under those iconic vinyl tops.

Restoration Tip

When you're working with these 50-year-old single-stage metallics, remember the Golden Rule: It needs wax or it dies. This paint is porous; it breathes, it absorbs moisture, and it dries out. If you're touching up a spot, don't just hit it with a buffer and call it a day. You need to seal that pigment behind a high-quality wax barrier to stop the "chalk" from returning. For these metallic flakes, avoid aggressive "cutting" compounds-if you shave off too much of that thin 1973 enamel, you'll disturb the flake orientation and end up with a mottled, uneven mess. Treat it like a vintage leather jacket: clean it gently and keep it conditioned.