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I have a 1980 with a factory original red paint job.
Being almost 30 years old it has the expected dings, scratches and even some small peel spots. I eventually am going to do a complete professional paint job, but that will be the last item on the "to do" list and probably won't be done for a couple years.
In the meantime I'd like to touch up some bad spots, as there aren't too many, if possible. Is there anything out there that actually works without making it worse? Especially looking for something a novice such as myself could do.
From: Minnesota in the summer, Las Vegas in the winter
Go to a REAL auto parts store: the kind that professionally mixes paint for professional body shops. Ask them if they can "shoot" your paint color with a handheld color computer. Ask them if they will guarantee a perfect match. Then have them mix a rattle can and a little bottle of brush-on acrylic enamel for you to use.
It will not compare with a professional paint job but it should make the car more presentable for not a lot of money. Ask them for tips regarding preparation if you have not done much of this before.
Go to a REAL auto parts store: the kind that professionally mixes paint for professional body shops. Ask them if they can "shoot" your paint color with a handheld color computer. Ask them if they will guarantee a perfect match. Then have them mix a rattle can and a little bottle of brush-on acrylic enamel for you to use.
It will not compare with a professional paint job but it should make the car more presentable for not a lot of money. Ask them for tips regarding preparation if you have not done much of this before.
You'll never get a pre-mixed red to match from a parts store. Red is notorious for fading.
First thing you want to do is buff out the whole car to bring back the color and then match the paint. I don't know what type of paint was used in 80 (lacquer or enamel) if it is lacquer that is the easiest paint to blend.
Most paint and supply stores will scan the paint for you for free if you take the car to them. If you do this keep in mind that the scanned color is only about 90 percent accurate. 69fastfun is correct too! Be sure to either buff or polish the area they will scan before scanning. This will get you the best match possible.
Ask before you pay if the color is not dead on, will they can tint it for you to match.
The best way to do make sure of your color is to dab some paint on something and hold it to the car. Most shops (the shops here will) tint the color for you to make adjustments if possible.
I don’t think any scanned color will be guaranteed to match 100 percent
If you're sure the paint is factory original, you can order some match touch-up paint that should be a very good match. However, it is important that you [or a professional] do a cut/buff or light color sanding of the paint to bring back the original color before you add new paint. I get my paint from PaintScratch.com and it was a perfect match. You can order small bottles of touch-up and/or cans of spray. They also sell cleaner fluid for prepping the work area (that won't harm the base paint).