1957 Dodge Touch Up Paint (22 OEM Colors)

The 1957 Dodge Vibe

Welcome to 1957, the year Virgil Exner decided every Dodge needed enough fin to guide a missile. Whether you're staring at one of the Trucks-maybe a flashy Sweptside-or one of the All Other Models like the Custom Royal, you're looking at the peak of the "Forward Look" era. With 22 colors in the stable, Dodge wasn't shy. They were slapping Tropical Coral, Gallant Gold Poly, and Ecuador Blue on everything that moved. It was a time of two-tones and tri-tones where the chrome was thick and the color choices were even louder than the HEMI under the hood.

Paint Health Check

We are firmly in the Single Stage Era, my friend. Back then, they didn't bother with clear coats; they just sprayed the color on thick and expected the sun to be merciful. Spoiler alert: it wasn't. If your '57 is still wearing its original coat of Bayview Green or Velvet Blue Poly, it probably looks like a chalkboard by now. That's called oxidation. Without a clear layer to hide behind, the pigment literally dies on the surface, turning into a dusty, matte film. It's a bulletproof type of paint in terms of stick, but it's high-maintenance-it needs wax like a fish needs water, or it just gives up the ghost and fades into history.

Restoration Tip

When you're dealing with 1950s single-stage enamel or lacquer, don't go reaching for the heavy-duty rubbing compound like you're sanding a deck. You've got to be a surgeon. The color is "live" all the way through, so every time you buff, you're taking a little bit of the car with you. Use a dedicated paint cleaner or a very fine finishing polish to lift that chalky oxidation and reveal the Sunshine Yellow buried underneath. Once you find the shine, seal it immediately with a high-quality carnauba wax. If you don't feed the paint some oils and protection, that oxidation will be back before the next car show.