1988 Daihatsu Touch Up Paint (1 OEM Colors)

The 1988 Daihatsu Vibe

In 1988, Daihatsu was the scrappy underdog bringing "big tech" to the compact world. Whether you were zipping through city streets in a Charade or bouncing down a trail in a Rocky, these cars were built with a rugged, utilitarian charm. While the late '80s experimented with plenty of funky tones, we've focused our efforts on the true survivor of the era: Silver Metallic. This wasn't just a color; it was the "high-tech" finish of the decade, designed to make these nimble machines look like they were carved out of a single block of Japanese steel.

Paint Health Check

If you're looking at an original 1988 finish today, you're likely staring at the poster child for the **Peeling Era**. By 1988, the industry had shifted heavily into the early basecoat-clearcoat systems. It looked deep and glossy on the showroom floor, but these early clear coats weren't exactly built for thirty-plus years of sun. The biggest threat here is **delamination**. Once that clear coat starts to get a white, cloudy "sunburn" or begins to flake off in translucent scales, the party is over. On these older Daihatsus, the paint is often thinner than you'd expect, meaning there isn't much "meat" left to buff out once the clear starts to fail.

Restoration Tip

The golden rule for 1988 steel: **Seal those chips immediately.** In this era of paint tech, a single stone chip is more than just an eyesore; it's an entry point for moisture to get between the color and the clear. Once that bond is broken, the clear coat will start to lift and "creep" outward like a bad sticker. Don't wait for a weekend project-dab on your Silver Metallic touch-up as soon as you see raw metal or a jagged edge. Sealing the edge of the clear coat now is the only way to prevent a total delamination disaster later.