1991 Aston-Martin Touch Up Paint (1 OEM Colors)

The 1991 Aston-Martin Vibe

1991 was a strange, beautiful crossroads for Aston-Martin. While the rest of the world was busy obsessing over neon windbreakers and grunge, the boys at Newport Pagnell were still hand-beating aluminum panels for the Virage and the Volante. These weren't cars built by robots in a clean room; they were built by guys named Nigel who had been inhaling solvent fumes since the sixties. In our database, we've focused on the survivors-specifically the iconic Stornoway Silver. It was the color of "quiet wealth" before everything became a grayscale blur of plastic and LEDs. If you're staring at a '91 Aston today, you're looking at one of the last true hand-painted heavyweights.

Paint Health Check

Now, here is the cold, hard truth from the spray booth: 1991 puts us right in the thick of the Peeling Era. By this time, the industry had fully moved to a basecoat-and-clearcoat system. It gave the Virage that deep, liquid-metal look, BUT that clear coat is essentially a plastic skin that has a shelf life. After thirty-plus years, the bond between the silver base and the clear top-layer is probably getting tired. Look for "clouding" on the flat surfaces or, worse, delamination-where the clear coat starts to flake off like a bad sunburn. On these aluminum-bodied Brits, you also have to watch for micro-blistering. If moisture gets trapped under that clear coat, it reacts with the metal, and suddenly your "hand-built masterpiece" starts looking like it has a rash.

Restoration Tip

If you see a stone chip on a 1991 Aston, do not "get to it next season." In this era, a chip is an invitation for the clear coat to start lifting at the edges. Once air and moisture get under that clear, it'll spread across a fender faster than a rumor at a country club. Seal chips immediately with a high-solid touch-up to lock down the edges. When you're buffing, stay away from the sharp body lines; the guys at the factory often sanded those edges thin before the clear even hit the booth. Treat it like a survivor, and it'll keep looking like one.