1982 Chrysler Touch Up Paint (15 OEM Colors)

The 1982 Chrysler Vibe

By 1982, Chrysler was leaning hard into the "Luxury for the Masses" aesthetic. Whether you were piloting a plush New Yorker or one of the ubiquitous K-car survivors, the look was all about understated class and heavy metallics. We've got 15 colors in the vault for this year, and it's a masterclass in early-80s sophistication. You weren't just driving a car; you were driving a mood-usually one painted in Dark Mahogany Metallic or Nightwatch Blue. It was a time when Manila Cream was considered a bold choice and Sterling Silver Metallic meant you'd finally made it to the corner office.

Paint Health Check

Welcome to the Single Stage Era. Back in '82, Chrysler was still spraying real-deal acrylic enamel. This paint is honest-it wears its heart on its sleeve, but it has zero protection from the sun. Unlike the peeling "clear coat failure" of the 90s, these 1982 finishes suffer from the dreaded Oxidation. If your Morocco Red or Day Star Blue looks like it was dusted with a chalkboard eraser, that's the paint literally dying on the vine. The pigment is chalking out because it hasn't seen a coat of wax since the Reagan administration.

Restoration Tip

Here's the deal: 1982 paint needs wax or it dies. If you're touching up a chip in Glacier Blue or Light Auburn, remember that you're working with a porous surface. Before you apply any new paint, you've got to "level" that oxidation. Use a light polishing compound to get rid of the chalky dead layer and find the "live" color underneath. Once you've done your repair, seal it with a high-quality carnauba wax. On these old single-stage Chryslers, the wax isn't just for shine-it's the only thing standing between your Golden Tan Metallic and a slow, dusty grave.