1998 Dodge Touch Up Paint (57 OEM Colors)

The 1998 Dodge Vibe

Welcome to 1998, a year when the Durango was the new king of the suburban jungle and every third car in the grocery store lot was a Caravan. This was the peak of the "Ram Tough" era, where Dakotas and Pick-ups actually had some grit in their teeth. Our database for this year highlights the colors that truly defined the Mopar road presence-the Bright Whites and Stone Whites that kept the fleet moving, and the legendary Viper Red and Viper Silver Metallic that gave the Viper its "don't touch me" attitude. Back then, Dodge wasn't trying to give you fifty shades of beige; they gave you high-contrast reds like Flame Red and Radiant Fire that looked fast even when you were just sitting in a drive-thru.

Paint Health Check

Now, let's talk turkey. We are smack-dab in the middle of "The Peeling Era." By 1998, the factory had fully committed to the basecoat-clearcoat system, but the chemistry hadn't quite caught up to the marketing. If you're looking at an original '98 Dodge today, you're likely dealing with delamination. This is the stage where the clear coat gives up its grip on the base color, starting with little white bubbles on the hood or roof before flaking off in sheets like sunburnt skin. The white paints (looking at you, Stone White) were notorious for the color itself deciding it didn't like the primer anymore and jumping ship. If your clear coat still looks like glass, you've either got a garage queen or a miracle on your hands.

Restoration Tip

In this era, your worst enemy is an open wound. Once a rock chip breaks through that clear coat "shell," moisture and air start tunneling under the edges, and that's when the peeling begins in earnest. The Fix: You need to seal chips immediately. Don't wait for the weekend. If you spot a nick on the leading edge of your Intrepid or Stratus, dab it with a touch-up pen to lock the edges of the clear coat down. Think of it like a snag in a pair of stockings-if you don't stop the run early, the whole thing is toast. Keep the edges sealed, and you'll keep the "potato chip" effect at bay for another decade.