1974 Jeep Touch Up Paint (12 OEM Colors)

The 1974 Jeep Vibe

1974 was the year Jeep decided to get serious about "lifestyle" before that was even a buzzword. It was the debut of the SJ Cherokee-a two-door sport utility that looked just as good at the trailhead as it did at the hardware store. While the CJ-5 was still the king of the dirt, the 1974 palette reflected a world transitioning from psychedelic neon to the heavy earth tones of the mid-70s. We've got 12 colors in the vault from this vintage, and they're a perfect snapshot of the era. You had the "I'm here to party" shades like Renegade Plum and Trans-Am Red, balanced out by the "I might be a park ranger" tones like Olive Drab and Harvest Gold Poly. It was a time when a Jeep wasn't just a tool; it was a vibe.

Paint Health Check

If you're looking at original 1974 factory paint, you're looking at the Single Stage Era. Back then, there was no clear coat to hide behind-the pigment and the protection were mixed into one thick layer of acrylic enamel. The bad news? This stuff is a magnet for "Oxidation." If your Copper Poly or Fairway Green Poly looks more like a dusty chalkboard than a metallic finish, that's the paint literally dying on the surface. Without a clear top layer, the sun eats the pigment, leaving a chalky, white residue that kills the shine. On those "Poly" (metallic) colors, the tiny flakes are sitting right near the surface, and once they oxidize, they lose their sparkle and start to look like dull sandpaper.

Restoration Tip

When you're touching up a 1974 survivor, remember the golden rule of single-stage: It needs wax or it dies. Before you apply any fresh paint, you have to "exhume" the color. Use a light rubbing compound to buff away that chalky oxidation until you see the true pigment of the Jetset Blue Poly or Mellow Yellow underneath. If you paint over the oxidation, your touch-up will peel off faster than a bad sunburn. Once you've finished your repair, keep that body sealed with a high-quality carnauba wax. That wax is the only thing standing between your Jeep's soul and the sun.