1965 GMC Touch Up Paint (16 OEM Colors)

The 1965 GMC Vibe

Welcome to the era when a truck was a tool, not a fashion statement-though with 16 colors in the lineup, GMC was clearly showing off. In 1965, the GMC Truck wasn't just hauling hay; it was doing it in style with heavy-hitters like Apache Gold, Turquoise Metallic, and Maroon Metallic. This was the peak of the Single Stage Era, where the color and the shine lived in the same thick layer of acrylic lacquer. Whether you were driving a Fawn-colored workhorse or a Light Blue cruiser, that paint was laid on with enough substance to actually protect the steel underneath.

Paint Health Check

The good news is that 1960s lacquer is legendary for its depth, BUT it has one mortal enemy: the sun. Because this is a Single Stage finish, it doesn't have a clear "shield" on top. Over the decades, the UV rays cook the binders in the paint, leading to "Oxidation." If your Apache Gold hood looks more like a dusty chalkboard than a precious metal, that's the pigment literally dying on the surface. It's a chalky fade that makes the truck look abandoned, even if the metal is solid. If you don't keep a barrier of wax between the paint and the sky, the finish will eventually "chalk" until there's nothing left but primer and regret.

Restoration Tip

Don't panic if the paint looks dead-since the color goes all the way through, you can usually find "new" paint hiding just beneath the oxidation. Before you start touching up chips, you've got to "exfoliate" that old GMC. Use a rubbing compound or a heavy polish to strip away the chalky top layer. You'll know you're doing it right when your buffing pad turns the color of the truck. Once you've revealed the fresh pigment underneath, hit those chips with our color-matched solvent-based paint. And for the love of all that is holy: **It needs wax or it dies.** Apply a high-quality carnuba wax immediately to seal your hard work, or the sun will start snacking on your fresh finish by next Tuesday.