1973 Harley-Davidson Touch Up Paint (1 OEM Colors)

The 1973 Harley-Davidson Vibe

1973 was a wild, transitional year for the Motor Co. AMF was firmly in the captain's chair, and while the purists were grumbling about quality control, the bikes-like the Shovelhead-powered Super Glide and the Ironhead Sportster-were dripping with 1970s swagger. In a decade dominated by avocado green and harvest gold, we've focused on the survivors of the era, specifically the Sparkling Turquoise Tricoat. It was a high-depth, high-drama finish that made those chrome-heavy Electra Glides look like they were carved out of a tropical ocean.

Paint Health Check

Welcome to the Single Stage Era, kid. Back in '73, the factory was laying it on thick, but "consistency" wasn't exactly the AMF motto. Because this is a single-stage finish-meaning the pigment and the gloss were mixed into one hearty layer-it is highly susceptible to "Oxidation." If your bike has been sitting in a garage or, heaven forbid, a lean-to since the Nixon administration, that turquoise has likely turned into a chalky, flat haze. The pigment is literally dying on the surface, and without a protective barrier, the sun is eating it for lunch.

Restoration Tip

Here's the deal: It needs wax or it dies. If you're dealing with original 1973 paint, you've actually got a chance to "exfoliate" the damage. You can carefully buff away the oxidized top layer to reveal the vibrant Sparkling Turquoise hiding underneath, but don't get overzealous with a high-speed polisher or you'll burn right through to the primer. Once you bring that shine back, you must seal it immediately. A heavy, old-school carnauba wax is your best friend here-it creates the seal that the factory tech lacked. If you see a chip, don't wait; the heavy-gauge steel of the '70s will start bubbling with rust the moment it tastes humidity.