1989 Daihatsu Touch Up Paint (1 OEM Colors)

The 1989 Daihatsu Vibe

Welcome to 1989-the year Daihatsu was trying to convince America that three cylinders and a dream were all you needed to conquer the commute. Whether you were tossing a Charade into a tight parking spot or pretending your Rocky was a mountain goat in the suburban wild, the vibe was "sensible Japanese engineering." In our database, we've focused on the ultimate survivor of the era: Silver Metallic. It was the high-tech, futuristic choice for a car that looked like it was designed using only a ruler, perfectly capturing that late-80s transition from boxy to "slightly less boxy."

Paint Health Check

We are officially in The Peeling Era. By '89, the factory had moved to the basecoat/clearcoat system to get that metallic depth, but let's be honest: that early clear coat had the structural integrity of a New Year's resolution. The real threat here is Delamination. If your Daihatsu has spent its life under the sun, that clear layer is likely looking like a bad sunburn-turning brittle, turning white, and eventually lifting off in sheets. Once the clear goes, the Silver Metallic basecoat underneath has about as much UV protection as a screen door, and it'll turn into a dull, grey primer-lookalike faster than you can find a replacement part for a 3-cylinder engine.

Restoration Tip

If you still have original clear coat clinging to your panels, you're winning, but you're on the clock. You need to seal every single rock chip or scratch immediately. On these 1989 finishes, a tiny chip isn't just an eyesore; it's an entry point for moisture and air to get under the clear coat and start the peeling process. Grab a touch-up pen and seal those wounds before the "clear lift" turns your hood into a map of the moon. Keep it waxed, keep it out of the desert sun, and for heaven's sake, don't let a pressure washer anywhere near a loose edge.