Nissan 280ZX Touch Up Paint (31 OEM Colors)

The Color Breakdown

Nissan really leaned into the "Mist" aesthetic with the 280ZX, offering a whopping 31 recorded colors during its run. They gave us everything from the moody Midnight Blue Metallic to the disco-ready Nugget Gold Metallic and the surprisingly elegant Jade Gray Metallic. Whether your Z is rocking a solid Rallye Red or the complex Diamond Mist Metallic, it's clear the designers wanted these cars to shimmer under streetlights.

What to Watch For

Before you start dabbing, pop the hood and look at the radiator core support (usually on the passenger side) or the strut tower for a small metal ID plate; that's where your three-digit paint code is hiding. Now, for the reality check: these cars are famous for "Z-rust" bubbles, particularly around the rear hatch, the windshield base, and the door handles. The factory paint was applied a bit thin, so horizontal surfaces like the hood and roof are prone to fading into a chalky "haze" if they've seen too much sun. If you see a tiny bubble, don't ignore it-it's just the car's way of asking for a little attention before it becomes a bigger project.

Driveway Repair Tip

Because so many of these colors-like Pacific Blue or Silver Mist-are heavy on the metallic flakes, you need to be the human version of a paint mixer. Shake your touch-up bottle for a full two minutes (play a song, it helps) to wake up those sparkles. When applying, think "whisper" rather than "scream." Use the very tip of your brush to apply thin, delicate layers. If the color looks a little dull at first, don't worry; metallic paints often require a clear topcoat to truly find their rhythm and match the rest of your car's shine. Just take your time-getting that Platinum Metallic to look factory-fresh requires patience, but your Z is worth the extra effort.