1981 AMC Touch Up Paint (15 OEM Colors)

The 1981 AMC Vibe

Welcome to 1981, the year American Motors decided to reinvent the wheel by sticking a Concord body on a 4WD chassis and calling it the Eagle. It was the birth of the crossover, even if we didn't have a word for it yet. While the rest of the industry was busy shrinking everything, AMC was doubling down on "Lustre Guard" finishes and enough galvanized steel to sink a battleship. We've got 15 colors in our vault for this year, and let me tell you, Kenosha wasn't shy about the earth tones. Whether you're respraying a Spirit in Sherwood Green Metallic or touching up an Eagle in Copper Brown Metallic, you're dealing with the peak of the "Metallic Brown Era." It was a vibe, and if you're lucky enough to still have one of these survivors, you know exactly what I mean.

Paint Health Check

Since we're firmly in the Single Stage Era, your 1981 AMC doesn't have a modern clear coat to hide behind. That deep shine on Deep Maroon Metallic or Autumn Gold came from the pigment itself. The problem? Oxidation. If these cars spent a few summers sitting out in the sun without a heavy coat of wax, the paint didn't just fade-it died. It turns into a chalky, matte mess that rubs off on your shirt if you lean against the fender. This "chalking" is the paint's way of screaming for help. Because there's no clear protective layer, the UV rays eat the binder right out of the color, leaving you with a finish that looks more like a chalkboard than a car.

Restoration Tip

If you're seeing that hazy, white "bloom" on your Olympic White or Steel Gray Metallic, don't just start spraying color over it. You can't fix a house by painting over rot. You've got to mechanically remove that dead, oxidized layer first. Use a light cutting compound to bring back the "buried" shine; if the pad turns the color of the car, don't panic-that's just the single-stage doing its thing. Once you've got a smooth surface, our solvent-based match will bite in properly. And for the love of all things holy, once you're done, keep it waxed. In 1981, the rule was simple: it needs wax or it dies. Treat it right, and that Vintage Red Metallic will still look like a million bucks at the next AMC meet.