1979 AMC Touch Up Paint (16 OEM Colors)

The 1979 AMC Vibe

Welcome to the peak of the "Mellow Era." In 1979, AMC was trying to convince us that the Concord was a luxury yacht and the Spirit was a street brawler, all while the Pacer was still out there looking like a very ambitious fishbowl. We've got 16 colors in the vault for '79, and let's be honest: if it wasn't a shade of "Harvest Gold" or "Stray Dog Brown," was it even an AMC? With a palette featuring heavy hitters like Alpaca Brown Metallic, Morocco Buff, and Sable Brown Metallic, your car probably looks like a localized sunset in a suburban driveway. It's a glorious, earthy rainbow of acrylic enamel.

Paint Health Check

We are firmly in the Single Stage Era here. Back then, the factory didn't bother with a separate clear coat; they just mixed the gloss and the pigment into one thick, solvent-heavy soup and sprayed it on. The good news? It doesn't "peel" like the plastic-wrap disasters of the 90s. The bad news? It "chalks." If your Russet Metallic or Cumberland Green looks like someone rubbed a chalkboard eraser all over it, that's just oxidation. The paint is literally drying out and turning to dust. It's not dead yet, but it's thirsty.

Restoration Tip

If you're touching up a survivor, remember: it needs wax or it dies. Because there's no clear coat to protect the pigment, the sun eats single-stage enamel for breakfast. When you're repairing a chip in your Saxon Yellow or Wedgwood Blue, don't just slap the paint on and walk away. Once it's cured, you need to seal it with a high-quality Carnauba or a dedicated sealant. You're essentially moisturizing the finish. If you don't keep a layer of protection between that enamel and the atmosphere, you'll be buffing off white oxidation dust until you're staring at bare metal. Treat it like a leather boot-keep it conditioned, or it'll crack and fade into the history books.