1969 Austin Touch Up Paint (3 OEM Colors)

The 1969 Austin Vibe

1969 was a hell of a year for Austin. The 1100 and 1300 models were absolute kings of the road, and the revolutionary Austin Maxi had just hit the scene with its five speeds and big dreams. Back then, your car didn't just have a color; it had a personality. We've focused our efforts on the survivors-the heavy hitters that still turn heads at the local show. Whether you're rolling in a punchy Tartan Red, a clean Maltese White, or the refined Silver Leaf, you're driving a piece of British Leyland history that was meant to be seen, not just parked.

Paint Health Check

Now, listen close: you're dealing with the Single Stage Era. This isn't that multi-layered plastic wrap they put on cars today. In '69, the color and the protection were one and the same, shot thick and meant to be buffed. But here's the rub-without a clear coat to hide behind, these pigments take the full brunt of the sun. If your Tartan Red is looking more like a dusty pink or your Maltese White feels like a chalkboard, you're looking at Oxidation. The paint is literally drying out and dying on the vine. Silver Leaf is even trickier; once those early metallics start to chalk, they lose that factory shimmer faster than a leaky heater matrix.

Restoration Tip

The golden rule for 1960s tin is simple: It needs wax or it dies. If your finish has gone "chalky," don't panic and reach for the sandpaper immediately. Start with a high-quality rubbing compound and a slow hand to peel back that dead layer of oxidation and find the fresh color hiding underneath. Once you've brought the shine back, you have to seal it. These old-school solvent finishes are porous; they breathe. If you don't keep a thick coat of carnauba wax between the paint and the elements, the oxygen will get right back to work turning your pride and joy into a matte-finish relic. Buff it, shine it, and keep it greasy.