1997 Bentley Touch Up Paint (1 OEM Colors)

The 1997 Bentley Vibe

1997 was the last year Bentley really felt like a private club before the German takeover. It was the era of the Turbo RT and the Azure-cars that didn't just occupy a lane, they owned the zip code. Inside, it was all Connolly leather and walnut, but outside, the only color that truly mattered was Racing Green. In the mid-90s, if you weren't driving a green car, you weren't really trying, and nobody did deep, forest-floor greens better than the boys at Crewe. These cars were hand-finished to a "mirror shine" that made them look like they were carved out of wet emerald.

Paint Health Check

Now, listen close, because we're firmly in The Peeling Era. By '97, Bentley was using high-build clear coats to get that legendary depth. It looks magnificent when it's fresh, but thirty years later, that clear coat is often the weak link. You're looking for "delamination"-that's when the clear starts to cloud up or flake off like a bad sunburn, usually on the roof or that massive hood. If the clear coat is lifting, no amount of buffing is going to save you; once the bond between the color and the clear is gone, the party is over.

Restoration Tip

If you've still got original paint, your number one job is sealing chips immediately. On these '97 models, a rock chip isn't just a cosmetic blemish; it's an invitation for air and moisture to get under the clear coat and start the peeling process. Don't wait until the weekend. If you see a nick in that Racing Green, hit it with a touch-up pen and seal that edge. A minute of work today keeps the clear coat from "walking" across the entire fender tomorrow. And for the love of Crewe, keep it out of the direct sun-UV is the primary reason these clears turn brittle.