1970 BMC Touch Up Paint (20 OEM Colors)

The 1970 BMC Vibe

Welcome to 1970, the year British Motor Corporation was leaning hard into the "earthy" aesthetic while still holding onto those vibrant 60s leftovers. If you're staring at an Austin America or an MG B, you're looking at a palette that defined a decade of transitional style. With 20 colors in our vault-ranging from the muddy grit of Armadillo Beige and Faun Brown to the electric pop of Dominican Blue and Flame Red-it's clear BMC wasn't afraid to experiment. This was the era where a car could look just as right in a forest as it did at a discotheque.

Paint Health Check

We are firmly in the Single Stage Era, my friend. Back then, they didn't hide the color under a plastic-like layer of clear coat; the pigment and the protection were one and the same. The good news? That paint is honest. The bad news? It's thirsty. If your 1970 BMC looks like it was dusted with a chalkboard eraser, that's classic "Oxidation." Without a clear barrier, the sun literally cooks the binders out of the paint, leaving behind a chalky, dead residue. If you let it go too long, that British Racing Green No 2 will start looking like a neglected chalkboard, and once the pigment is gone, it's gone for good.

Restoration Tip

Because this is single-stage paint, you can actually "shave" the years off. Don't go reaching for a heavy-duty sander-use a fine polishing compound to gently lift that oxidized top layer. You'll know it's working because your buffing pad will turn the exact color of the car (don't panic, that's supposed to happen). But here's the golden rule for 1970 survivors: It needs wax or it dies. Once you've revealed that fresh Damask Red or Mallard Green, you must seal it immediately. A high-quality solvent-based wax is the only thing standing between your restoration and a return to "Chalk City."