1968 Cadillac Touch Up Paint (21 OEM Colors)

The 1968 Cadillac Vibe

In 1968, Cadillac wasn't just building cars; they were forging three-ton land yachts designed to glide over the asphalt like a cloud made of chrome and ego. Whether you were piloting a Coupe de Ville or the front-wheel-drive wizardry of the Eldorado, the color was the main event. We've got 21 distinct shades in the books for this year-Cadillac gave owners more ways to spend their money than a Vegas casino. You had the high-glitz "Firemist" options like Madeira Plum and Rosewood, which used extra-large metallic flakes to catch the sun, and the classic "Iridescent" finishes like Baroque Gold and Ivanhoe Green that defined the era's shift toward earthy, sophisticated tones.

Paint Health Check

You're looking at the peak of the Single Stage Era. Back then, the factory was spraying "Magic-Mirror" acrylic lacquer. It was thick, it was deep, and it was harder than a repo man's heart. But here's the rub: it's a single-stage finish, meaning there is no clear coat protecting that pigment. If your Sable Black or San Mateo Red looks like it's been dusted with flour, that's "Oxidation." The sun is literally cooking the oils out of the paint, leaving behind a chalky, dead surface. Worse yet, because lacquer is so brittle, it doesn't like to expand and contract. If your Caddy has spent fifty years in the heat, you're likely seeing "crazing"-those tiny spiderweb cracks that mean the paint is losing its grip on the primer.

Restoration Tip

When dealing with 1968 lacquer, remember the golden rule: It needs wax or it dies. If you're lucky enough to have original paint that's just gone chalky, don't reach for the heavy-duty rubbing compound first-you'll burn through to the metal before you can say "Standard of the World." Use a specialized paint restorer or a heavy polish to bring the oils back to the surface. Once you've got that Arctic Blue or Summit Gray screaming again, seal it immediately with a high-quality carnauba wax. Think of it like skin; if you don't moisturize this vintage tech, it's going to flake off and leave you with a very expensive rust project.