1968 GMC Touch Up Paint (16 OEM Colors)

The 1968 GMC Vibe

In 1968, the GMC Truck wasn't just a vehicle; it was the backbone of the American job site. This was the second year of the "Action Line" generation, where GMC started proving that a workhorse could actually have a little style. Whether you were hauling hay in a Light Green Fleetside or pulling up to a job site in Cardinal Red, these trucks had presence. With 16 colors in our database, we've cataloged the heavy hitters of the era-from the understated Saddle Metallic to the high-visibility Orange. These weren't the subtle, muted tones of today; these were bold, honest colors meant to be seen from across a forty-acre field.

Paint Health Check

Welcome to the Single Stage Era. Back in '68, your GMC left the factory without a drop of clear coat. The pigment you see is the same pigment that's fighting the elements. While this makes for a deep, "mile-long" shine when fresh, it means your truck is susceptible to the dreaded Oxidation. If your Dark Blue hood looks more like a dusty chalkboard than a mirror, that's the paint literally dying on the surface. Unlike modern "Peeling Era" trucks where the clear coat flakes off like a bad sunburn, 1960s paint just fades away into a chalky haze as the UV rays bake the oils right out of the finish.

Restoration Tip

The good news about single-stage paint is that it's remarkably resilient if there's still "meat on the bone." If your finish is looking chalky, don't rush to the sander just yet. Most of that oxidation is just a dead layer of paint sitting on top of the good stuff. You can often "exfoliate" that dead layer with a high-quality rubbing compound and a slow-speed buffer to bring back that 1968 Silver Metallic glow. But here is the Salty Painter's golden rule: It needs wax or it dies. Once you've buffed it back to life, you've exposed fresh, "unprotected" pigment. If you don't seal it with a heavy coat of high-quality wax immediately, the sun will turn it back into a chalkboard before the next oil change.