1960 Chevrolet Touch Up Paint (27 OEM Colors)

The 1960 Chevrolet Vibe

Welcome to 1960-the year Chevy decided to go "Space Age" and give us the flat-six Corvair and the iconic curves of the Corvette. It was a time of serious optimism, and nothing says optimism like a factory catalog stuffed with 27 different colors. Whether it was a workhorse Truck in Omaha Orange or a sleek Impala in Tasco Turquoise Poly, the 1960 lineup was basically a rolling Technicolor dream. We've cataloged every one of them, from the understated Ermine White to the flashy Klondike Gold Metallic, because back then, a car was a statement, not just an appliance.

Paint Health Check

If you're looking at an original 1960 finish today, you're looking at the Single Stage Era. This was the age of thick, acrylic lacquer-what the marketing guys called "Magic-Mirror" finishes. It looked deep and lush when it left the lot, but here's the rub: lacquer is a living thing. Without a clear coat to protect it, that Roman Red or Jet Black will oxidize into a chalky, matte mess faster than you can say "Eisenhower." If your paint looks like a dusty chalkboard, that's not "patina"-it's the paint literally dying from UV exposure. It needs oils and wax, or it's going to flake off in chunks.

Restoration Tip

When you're touching up a 1960 classic, remember that you're working with real depth. Since there's no clear coat, your color is the protection. If you've got light oxidation on that Sateen Silver Poly or Shadow Gray, you can often buff it back to life, but don't get greedy-you're only a few microns away from bare metal. For repairs, stick to a high-quality single-stage finish to match that period-correct gloss. And once you've got it shining like a new dime, wax it or it dies. There is no "set it and forget it" with 1960s chemistry; if you want that Tuxedo Black to stay deep, you'd better be prepared to sweat over a buffer once a season.