1973 Chevrolet C10 Car Paint Colors

The 1973 Chevy C20 ushered in a brand-new look for Chevrolet’s pickup line—the start of the legendary square-body era. While the body lines grew boxier and more modern, the heart of the C20 remained the same: durable, capable, and ready for hard work. The fresh design came with a new palette of colors that matched the decade’s evolving style—bolder metallics, cleaner neutrals, and the vibrant reds and blues that defined 1970s Americana.

Original factory paints for 1973 included Medium Red (Code 74), Light Blue Metallic (Code 23), Silver Metallic (Code 13), and White (Code 11). These colors emphasized the sharp geometry and wide stance of the new C20 body, making every angle of sheet metal stand out under the sun. Whether in a single-color factory finish or a two-tone combo, these hues gave the C20 a striking presence that still turns heads at car shows and on job sites alike.

Our full selection of car paint colors includes these authentic GM shades in modern formulations—perfect for achieving period-correct results with the reliability and gloss of advanced paint systems. Each color is carefully matched to its original code, ensuring your restoration captures the look and feel of 1973 exactly as Chevrolet intended.

Finishes That Reflect a New Era

The square-body trucks of 1973 introduced a bolder canvas for creativity. A high-gloss finish enhances those crisp edges and deep contours, while a satin or matte treatment brings a contemporary, understated look to a vintage design. Our guide Gloss, Matte or Satin: Matching Finish Type to Your Project Vision helps you visualize how different finishes interact with colors like Medium Red or Light Blue Metallic.

If you’re choosing between a traditional single-stage system or a modern basecoat-clearcoat approach, our Single Stage vs Basecoat-Clearcoat article outlines which process best fits your restoration—whether you’re after ease of use or long-term shine.

Shared Color Models Across GM Trucks

The 1973 Chevy C20 shared its full paint range with the new-generation C10, K20, and GMC Sierra models. GM maintained identical formulas across divisions, ensuring that Medium Red (Code 74) and Light Blue Metallic (Code 23) appear the same on both Chevrolet and GMC trucks. This makes cross-model restoration easier while keeping color accuracy consistent for collectors and enthusiasts. To confirm your paint code or order a verified match, use our Color Request Form.

Restoring a 1973 Classic

Restoring a 1973 Chevy C20 means preserving the very first year of an iconic body style that would dominate for over a decade. The colors of this era—bright metallic blues, bold reds, and timeless silvers—reflect a time when design and durability shared equal priority. With UreChem’s OEM-accurate car paint colors, you can revive your C20’s factory beauty or create a custom twist that respects its square-body roots.

From a mirror-finish Medium Red to a soft satin blue, every color tells the story of Chevy’s bold leap into a new generation of trucks.