1992 Daihatsu Touch Up Paint (1 OEM Colors)

The 1992 Daihatsu Vibe

1992 was the end of an era-literally. It was the final year Daihatsu tried to convince the States that the Rocky and the Charade were the future, and frankly, those of us in the spray booth respected the hustle. While everyone else was going crazy with 1990s teal and neon pink, the smart money was on the color that actually outlasted the recession. We've focused our efforts on the true survivor of the fleet: Silver Metallic. It was the quintessential "practical" shade for a car that was built to dodge traffic and sip fuel while the rest of the world was buying gas-guzzling tanks.

Paint Health Check

Welcome to The Peeling Era. In 1992, manufacturers were fully committed to the basecoat/clearcoat system, but they hadn't quite perfected the "sticking" part yet. On these Japanese subcompacts, the clear coat was often applied thinner than a layer of shop grease. If your Daihatsu has spent any time in the sun, you're likely dealing with delamination-that's the fancy word for when the clear coat starts to flake off like a bad sunburn. Once that clear "halo" starts forming around a rock chip, the clock is ticking; oxygen and moisture get under the lip and start lifting the rest of the finish like a cheap window tint.

Restoration Tip

If you still have original Silver Metallic on your panels, consider yourself lucky-but don't get cocky. The best way to save a 1992 finish is to seal every chip immediately. Don't wait until the clear coat starts to lift at the edges. If you see a tiny crater on the hood, clean it and dab on your touch-up and clear before the sun has a chance to cook the basecoat underneath. Once the clear coat actually starts "shedding" across the roof or trunk, you aren't detailing anymore-you're looking at a total strip-and-spray. Catch it early, seal the edges, and keep that metallic flakes locked under the surface where they belong.