Volvo 850 Touch Up Paint (19 OEM Colors)

The Color Breakdown

The Volvo 850 is the legendary "Swedish Brick" that proved boxes could actually be beautiful. Volvo didn't hold back on the palette, recording 19 distinct colors for this model. They really went for it in the mid-90s, offering everything from the understated Dark Gray Metallic to the eye-popping Autumn Gold Pearl Metallic (famously known as the T-5R "Yellow"). Whether you're driving a Nautic Blue Pearl wagon or a Classic Red sedan, these cars were built to stand out in a parking lot full of rounder, less confident shapes.

What to Watch For

While the 850 is built like a tank, its "skin" can be a little sensitive to the sun. Over the decades, these cars often develop what looks like a bad sunburn-the clear coat starts to flake or peel, particularly on horizontal surfaces like the roof, hood, and the top of the trunk. You might also notice some bubbling near the door handles or window trim. To find your exact match, open the hood and look at the driver's side strut tower (the metal mound the suspension bolts into). You'll find a silver plate with a three-digit code; that is the DNA of your specific shade.

Driveway Repair Tip

Since so many 850 colors are Pearls or Metallics, you aren't just applying paint-you're applying tiny flakes of shimmer. Before you touch the car, shake your touch-up bottle or pen for at least 60 seconds to wake up those heavy metallic particles that like to settle at the bottom. When you go to fill a chip, don't try to be a hero and fix it in one thick glob. Apply two or three very thin layers, letting them dry in between. Matching these complex 90s pearls requires patience, but taking it slow will keep your brick looking sharp for another few hundred thousand miles.