1980 Jeep Touch Up Paint (15 OEM Colors)

The 1980 Jeep Vibe

In 1980, Jeep was leaning hard into the "earth tone" revolution while still clutching onto the loud, striped glory of the late seventies. Whether you were piloting a CJ-7 Renegade through a mud pit or hauling the family in a wood-paneled Grand Wagoneer, the color palette was undeniably rugged. We're talking about a time when Alpaca Brown Metallic and Russet Metallic weren't just colors; they were a lifestyle choice. With 15 factory-accurate shades in our vault-including the elusive, one-year-only Teal Blue and the punchy Saxon Yellow-we've got the exact DNA of the AMC era ready to go.

Paint Health Check

If you're looking at original 1980 paint, you're looking at the Single Stage Era. Back then, they didn't hide the color under a plastic-like clear coat; the gloss and the pigment were one and the same. The "Legend" might be bulletproof, but the paint has a shelf life. Without a thick layer of wax, these finishes succumb to "The Chalk"-heavy oxidation that turns your deep Navy Blue or Bordeaux Metallic into a dusty, matte ghost of its former self. Because there's no clear coat to delaminate, the paint doesn't peel; it just slowly evaporates until you're looking at primer.

Restoration Tip

When you're touching up a 1980 survivor, remember that single-stage paint is "live" and porous. Before you apply any touch-up, you have to get past the oxidation layer. Use a light polishing compound to bring back the shine on the surrounding area first; otherwise, you're trying to match your new paint to a layer of dead, chalky dust. Once you've filled those chips in your Cardinal Red or Classic Black, keep it sealed. In this era, wax isn't a suggestion-it's the only thing keeping your Jeep from returning to the earth.