1968 Austin Touch Up Paint (4 OEM Colors)

The 1968 Austin Vibe

1968 was the year the British motor industry threw everyone into a room and called it British Leyland. While the suits were merging companies, Austin was busy pumping out the 1300 and the iconic Mini, keeping the streets of London looking sharp. We've focused our database on the survivors-the heavy hitters like Tartan Red and Basilica Blue. These weren't just colors; they were the uniform of the British middle class and the rally-winning elite alike. If you're looking at a 1968 Austin today, you're looking at a piece of history that was meant to be driven, not pampered in a climate-controlled bubble.

Paint Health Check

Back in '68, we were firmly in the Single Stage Era. This means your Austin doesn't have a clear coat-the gloss and the color are all mixed into one thick, solvent-heavy layer. The good news? It doesn't "peel" like a modern car. The bad news? It dies a slow, dusty death. If your Medium Red hood looks more like a pink chalkboard, that's oxidation. The sun literally eats the top layer of the paint, turning it into a fine powder. It's a "bulletproof" finish in terms of thickness, but it's high-maintenance; it needs wax or it simply gives up the ghost.

Restoration Tip

Since you're working with single-stage paint, you can actually "bring back" the dead. Unlike modern thin enamels, this stuff has some meat on its bones. If the finish is chalky, you'll need to mechanically polish it to shave off that oxidized top layer and reveal the fresh Maltese White or Tartan Red underneath. But listen to me: once you've polished it back to a shine, you have to seal it immediately. Without a layer of high-quality wax to act as a barrier, that fresh paint will oxidize again before you can finish your next pint. Treat it like a living thing-keep it hydrated and out of the midday sun.