1976 Bentley Background Info
The 1976 Bentley Vibe
In 1976, while the rest of the automotive world was losing its mind over "Harvest Gold" and polyester seat covers, Bentley was still playing a different game. This was the era of the T2 and the Corniche-cars that had more hand-polished walnut in the dash than most people had in their living rooms. Our database focuses on the absolute king of the 1976 palette: Racing Green. While other manufacturers were experimenting with trendy earth tones that aged like milk, Bentley stuck to the classics. If you're driving one of these today, you aren't just driving a car; you're piloting a 5,000-pound statement of intent that was likely hand-sprayed by a man who took tea breaks more seriously than most people take their jobs.
Paint Health Check
You're dealing with the Single Stage Era here, and that means your Bentley has some "soul" in the pigment. Back in '76, they weren't wrapping cars in a plastic-like clear coat; they were using thick, high-build finishes where the color and the protection were one and the same. The problem? Oxidation. This paint doesn't "peel"-it dies. If your Bentley has been sitting in the sun, that deep green is likely starting to look like a dusty chalkboard. That white, chalky film is the paint literally drying out as the UV rays suck the oils right out of the finish. It's a slow fade into obscurity if you don't stay on top of it.
Restoration Tip
When you're touching up a '76, you have to remember that this paint is porous. Unlike modern cars where the color is buried under a layer of clear, your Bentley's finish is "open" to the elements. My salty advice: It needs wax or it dies. After you've applied your touch-up and let it cure, you've got to seal the deal. Use a high-quality carnauba wax to "feed" the paint and fill those microscopic pores. This creates a barrier that keeps the oxygen out and the color in. If you aren't waxing this car at least twice a year, you're basically watching your investment turn into a garden ornament one UV ray at a time.