1996 Daihatsu Touch Up Paint (3 OEM Colors)

The 1996 Daihatsu Vibe

1996 was the year of the pocket rocket and the city-sized workhorse. Whether you were zipping through traffic in a Charade, tackling the weekend in a Terios, or hauling gear in a Hijet, these cars were built to be used, not pampered. In our database, we've focused on the survivors of the era-the colors that actually stayed on the metal. We're talking about the functional trio: Blue Metallic, Silver Metallic, and White. It was a no-nonsense palette for a no-nonsense era, back when "compact" actually meant you could park it on a postage stamp.

Paint Health Check

Welcome to the heart of the "Peeling Era." By 1996, Daihatsu was leaning hard into basecoat/clearcoat systems for their metallics to get that showroom shine, but the factory application was-let's be honest-a bit thin. If your Silver or Blue Metallic roof looks like it's suffering from a bad case of sunburn, you're dealing with delamination. The clear coat loses its bond with the color underneath and starts to lift in flakes. Once the air and moisture get under that clear edge, it's a slow crawl toward a total respray.

Restoration Tip

If you see a chip or a small "cloudy" spot where the clear is just starting to lift, you need to act before the wind catches it. Clean the area with a grease remover and seal those edges immediately. For these 90s finishes, a steady hand with a touch-up pen can bridge the gap between the base and the clear, locking out the oxidation that turns a small chip into a dinner-plate-sized peel. Don't wait for the roof to go white; seal the "bridge" between the layers the moment you see a break in the surface.