1972 International Touch Up Paint (1 OEM Colors)

The 1972 International Vibe

In 1972, an International truck wasn't a fashion statement; it was a piece of farm equipment that just happened to have a license plate. While the rest of the world was experimenting with "Plum Crazy" and neon stripes, International Harvester was leaning hard into the grit of the earth. In our database, we've focused on the ultimate survivor: Beige. It's the color of work. It's the shade of a truck that spent its first forty years hauling hay and its last ten waiting for a hero in a barn. In '72, if your truck wasn't an earthy tone, you probably weren't getting the job done.

Paint Health Check

Welcome to the Single Stage Era. Back then, we didn't hide the pigment under a plastic clear coat; we sprayed it thick and let the chemicals do the talking. But here's the rub: 1972 paint loves to breathe, and if it breathes too much UV, it starts to "chalk." If you run your hand across that Beige fender and it comes back looking like you just slapped a chalkboard, you're looking at heavy oxidation. The paint isn't necessarily gone, but it's definitely tired. And watch those seams-International was notorious for trapping moisture in the rockers faster than a dog catches a frisbee.

Restoration Tip

If you're working with original '72 enamel, remember the golden rule of the seventies: It needs wax or it dies. To bring back that Beige luster, you'll need to strip away the dead, oxidized top layer with a dedicated compound, but don't get greedy-that factory finish is thinner than it looks after fifty years of sun. Once you've found the "live" paint underneath, seal it immediately. Without a heavy-duty wax or sealant to block the air, that single-stage pigment will start to turn chalky again before you even finish your first post-restoration beer.