1980 Cadillac Touch Up Paint (24 OEM Colors)

The 1980 Cadillac Vibe

In 1980, Cadillac was making a statement that you could hear from three blocks away. This was the year of the "bustle-back" Seville and the slab-sided Fleetwood Brougham-cars so long they needed their own zip codes. With 24 colors in the stable, Cadillac wasn't just selling transportation; they were selling a mood. Whether you were rolling in Victoria Plum Firemist Metallic, Princess Green, or the unapologetically bold Western Saddle Firemist Metallic, you weren't just driving-you were arriving. These were the "Firemist" years, where the metallic flake was heavy enough to reflect the neon lights of the Vegas strip right back at the onlookers.

Paint Health Check

Now, let's talk shop. Your 1980 Caddy comes from the Single Stage Era. Back then, "Magic Mirror" lacquer was the king of the assembly line. It's a thick, honest paint, but it's got a personality flaw: it's porous. Over forty years, the oils in that lacquer have been staging a slow-motion jailbreak. If your Dark Claret or Blackwatch Green looks like a dusty chalkboard or has a milky, hazy film on the hood, that's oxidation. The paint isn't necessarily gone, but it's "chalking"-the top layer is literally dying of thirst because it's been neglected by a previous owner who thought a car wash once a year was "maintenance."

Restoration Tip

The golden rule for 1980 lacquer is simple: It needs wax or it dies. Because this is single-stage paint, you've actually got color all the way through the film, which is great news for restoration. Before you touch up those stone chips with our matched Azure Firemist or Starlight Sable, you need to "feed" the surrounding paint. Use a high-quality rubbing compound to take off that chalky oxidation and find the "live" paint underneath. Once you've applied your touch-up, seal the entire panel with a heavy carnauba wax. That wax acts as the "clear coat" the factory never gave it, locking the moisture in and keeping the oxygen out. Treat it like fine leather-keep it oiled, or watch it crack.