1973 Jaguar Touch Up Paint (16 OEM Colors)

The 1973 Jaguar Vibe

1973 was a wild time at the Browns Lane plant. While the world was reeling from the oil crisis, Jaguar was busy shoving V12s into the E-Type Series 3 and refining the XJ6. If you're looking at our database of 16 colors for this year, you'll notice the Brits weren't afraid of a "mood." We've got everything from the quintessential British Racing Green and Old English White to the more... experimental 70s flavors like Green Sand, Heather (yes, it's purple-ish), and Sable. It's a palette that screams "executive lunch with a side of gin," and honestly, 16 options was Jaguar showing off-most manufacturers back then were happy if they could get three shades of beige to stick.

Paint Health Check

Welcome to the Single Stage Era. Back in '73, your Jag was sprayed with thick, pigment-rich acrylic enamel or cellulose-no clear coat to hide behind. The good news? The color depth is legendary. The bad news? This paint is alive, and it's hungry for oxygen. If your Regency Red or Signal Red looks more like a dusty pink chalkboard, that's "Oxidation" at work. Without a protective layer, the sun literally cooks the oils out of the finish, leaving behind a chalky, dead residue. These cars didn't "peel" like a 90s econobox; they just slowly turned into ghosts.

Restoration Tip

Here's the deal: this paint is thick enough to take a beating, but it needs a caretaker, not just a driver. If you're touching up a survivor, remember that single-stage paint is porous. Before you go slapping on fresh Azure Blue, you need to buff away that dead oxidation layer until you see "live" color on your pad. Once you've leveled it and made it shine, listen close: it needs wax or it dies. Without a high-quality carnauba or sealant to act as a sacrificial barrier, the air will start eating your hard work within a month. Keep it sealed, keep it shiny, and for heaven's sake, keep it out of the midday sun.