1976 Ferrari Touch Up Paint (2 OEM Colors)

The 1976 Ferrari Vibe

Welcome to 1976-the year of the Bicentennial, the dawn of the 512 Berlinetta Boxer, and the era where the 308 GTB was just starting to turn heads on the street. While the rest of the automotive world was drowning in harvest gold and avocado green, Ferrari was keeping it lethal. We've focused our attention on the undisputed heavyweight of the 1976 palette: Nero (Black). In an era of disco lights and wide lapels, nothing cut through the noise like a 308 draped in a deep, ink-black finish. It was the "stealth" choice for the Maranello elite before stealth was even a buzzword.

Paint Health Check

If you're looking at original 1976 factory paint, you're standing in the Single Stage Era. Back then, we weren't hiding behind a clear coat; it was just raw, solvent-rich pigment sprayed thick and proud. But here's the rub: that paint is "open" to the elements. Without a clear layer to protect it, a '76 Ferrari is prone to heavy oxidation. If that Black finish looks more like a dusty chalkboard than a piano lid, it's not "patina"-it's the paint literally drying out and dying. These old finishes are porous; they breathe, and if they don't get the right care, they turn chalky and grey.

Restoration Tip

Listen close, because this is the golden rule for 1976 lacquer and enamel: It needs wax or it dies. Since there's no clear coat to delaminate, you actually have a chance to bring that Nero shine back from the grave. You'll need to gently buff away the oxidized "dead" paint to reveal the fresh pigment underneath. Once you hit that deep black, you have to seal it immediately. Use a high-quality carnauba wax to create a barrier against the air. If you don't keep it conditioned, the oxygen will reach back into those pores and start the chalking process all over again. Treat it like fine leather-keep it fed, keep it sealed, and keep it out of the midday sun.