1998 Eagle Touch Up Paint (19 OEM Colors)

The 1998 Eagle Vibe

1998 was the swan song for the Eagle brand, a year where you were either tearing up the asphalt in a turbocharged Talon or cruising the interstate in a tech-heavy Vision. By this point, the factory wasn't just slapping on paint; they were showing off. Our database tracks 19 distinct shades from this final run, a collection that leans heavily into the "jewel tone" obsession of the late nineties. We're talking deep, moody pigments like Deep Amethyst Pearl, Wild Berry Pearl Metallic, and Dark Plum Pearl-colors that looked like a million bucks under dealership lights but carried the heavy burden of 90s chemistry.

Paint Health Check

Welcome to the heart of the "Peeling Era." While the industry had fully transitioned to basecoat/clearcoat systems by 1998, the bonding agents used by Chrysler and Mitsubishi hadn't quite mastered the art of staying together for the long haul. On an Eagle from this vintage, you aren't just looking for typical oxidation; you're looking for delamination. This is when the clear coat decides it's done with the relationship and starts lifting off the base in translucent flakes, leaving the pigment underneath exposed and vulnerable. If your Cinnamon Glaze Metallic roof looks like it's suffering from a permanent sunburn, you're witnessing the classic clear coat failure of the late nineties.

Restoration Tip

The secret to saving a 1998 finish is "stopping the lift." If you see a small chip, do not wait. In this era, a stone chip is a gateway for air and moisture to get under the clear coat and start the peeling process. When touching up, use a fine-grit abrasive to very gently level the "cliff" where the clear coat has failed before applying your color. This prevents the new paint from just sitting on top of a loose edge. Seal it immediately with a high-solid clear touch-up to lock that bond down. Remember: on a Talon, the paint is thin, but the spirit is fast-don't let a peeling hood drag down your drag coefficient.