Volvo T Paint Info
The Color Breakdown
The Volvo T (affectionately known in DIY circles as part of the legendary "Brick" family) kept things remarkably simple with only 3 recorded colors. Whether you're sporting the clinical Cascade White, the punchy Tomato Red, or the sophisticated Dusty Green Metallic, you're driving a rolling piece of Swedish history. They didn't need 50 shades of grey back then; they just needed colors that looked good while outlasting the neighbors' cars.
What to Watch For
Since these cars have been on the road since the Reagan era, the biggest hurdle isn't the paint itself-it's what time has done to it. You'll likely find that your Tomato Red has shifted toward a lighter "sunburned salmon" due to years of UV exposure. Before you start dabbing, locate your paint code to be sure; on the T series, you'll usually find a stamped metal plate under the hood, either on the firewall near the heater box or tucked onto the passenger side inner fender. Keep an eye on the roof and the tops of the fenders, as the paint there tends to get "thirsty" and thin out over the decades.
Driveway Repair Tip
If you're holding a bottle of Dusty Green Metallic, your secret weapon is the "sixty-second workout." Metallic flakes are heavy and love to nap at the bottom of the bottle; shake it until your arm hurts to ensure those sparkles actually end up on the car. For the solid colors like Cascade White, the trick is "The Toothpick Technique." Instead of using the giant brush that comes in the cap-which usually applies enough paint to bridge the Grand Canyon-dab a tiny bit of paint onto a toothpick. Use it to fill the chip layer by layer. It requires patience, but your Volvo will thank you for the precision.
