2018 Aston-Martin Touch Up Paint (18 OEM Colors)

The 2018 Aston-Martin Vibe

By 2018, the folks at Gaydon were hitting a high note, churning out the DB11 and the predator-faced new Vantage. It was a time when you could choose eighteen different ways to look like a secret agent or a high-end hooligan. We've got the full spectrum locked in our database-everything from the "I'm here to blend in" Skyfall Silver 1 Metallic to the "look at me before I break the speed limit" Sunburst Yellow Pearl Tricoat. It was an era of high-tech pearls and deep, moody metallics like Mariana Blue and Maroon Black. If you were driving one of these in 2018, you weren't just driving a car; you were wearing a suit of precision-sprayed jewelry.

Paint Health Check

Welcome to the Thin Paint Era. Back in the day, we used to say you could "swim" in the depth of a finish, but 2018 was all about robot efficiency. These cars were sprayed by mechanical arms calibrated to the micron, which means while the finish is laser-flat, it's thinner than a politician's promise. The clear coat is incredibly hard and glossy, but it's brittle. Because of that "Robot Efficiency," you'll notice that stone chips don't just dent the paint-they tend to shatter the edges of the clear coat. And keep a sharp eye on those aluminum panel edges and door handles; the 2018s are known for "the pizza effect"-tiny corrosion bubbles that start at the edges where the factory spray was at its thinnest.

Restoration Tip

When you're touching up a 2018 Vantage or DB11, you have to respect the robot that built it. Do not try to fill a chip with one big, heavy blob of paint. Because the factory finish is so thin and layered, a "one-and-done" repair will stick out like a sore thumb. Instead, build your layers slowly. Apply a thin coat of color, let it flash, and repeat until you've built up the level. If you're working with one of the high-end tricoats like Stratus White or Volcano Red, patience is your only friend. Think of it like building a house: one brick at a time, or the whole thing looks like a mess.