1976 Dodge Touch Up Paint (56 OEM Colors)

The 1976 Dodge Vibe

It's 1976. The Bicentennial is in full swing, the CB radio is screaming about "smokies," and Dodge is arguably having the most colorful identity crisis in automotive history. Whether you were hauling drywall in a D-Series Truck or buzzing through traffic in a Dodge Colt, you weren't hurting for options. Our database tracks a staggering 56 colors for this year alone-everything from the high-voltage Spitfire Orange to the "I'm definitely going to the disco later" Inca Gold Poly. In an era where most manufacturers were retreating into a beige shell, Dodge was still throwing the whole spice rack at the paint booth.

Paint Health Check

If you're looking at original 1976 paint today, you're looking at the Single Stage Era in its prime. This wasn't the thin, layered stuff of today; this was thick acrylic enamel where the pigment and the gloss were mixed into one heavy-hitter. But here is the reality: without a clear coat to take the punch, the sun is this paint's worst enemy. If your Bittersweet Poly looks more like a dusty brick, you're dealing with Oxidation. The binders in the paint have literally "chalked" up, leaving a white, hazy film on the surface. The "Poly" (metallic) colors are the most vulnerable because those tiny aluminum flakes are sitting right near the surface, just waiting for the weather to turn them dull.

Restoration Tip

The good news? Single stage paint is a survivor. Unlike modern clear coats that flake off like a bad sunburn, this paint just needs to be "fed." If it looks chalky, don't panic and reach for the sandpaper immediately. A light polishing compound will often strip away that oxidized dead skin and reveal the vibrant Tropic Green or Sunburst Yellow hiding underneath. Once you get that shine back, it needs wax or it dies. Without a high-quality sealant or carnauba wax to act as a sacrificial barrier, the air will start eating your pigment again by next Tuesday. Treat it like a cast-iron skillet: keep it seasoned, keep it dry, and it'll outlast us all.