1997 Ferrari Touch Up Paint (16 OEM Colors)

The 1997 Ferrari Vibe

1997 was a hell of a year in Maranello. You had the F355 GTS screaming its lungs out at 8,000 RPM and the 550 Maranello proving that front-engine V12s were still the kings of the Autostrada. While the rest of the world was busy making beige sedans, Ferrari was refining a palette that didn't need a hundred options to make a statement. We've kept our focus on the survivors that actually defined the era-the clinical White, the tech-heavy Argento Metallic, and that deep, liquid Red Metallic that looks like it's still wet forty minutes after you've parked it.

Paint Health Check

By '97, Ferrari had fully committed to the two-stage system-a base color coat topped with a high-gloss clear. It gave the cars a depth that'd make a lagoon look shallow, BUT we call this "The Peeling Era" for a reason. These clear coats were notoriously soft and prone to delamination. If your Ferrari has spent its life under the Mediterranean (or Floridian) sun, that clear coat on the roof and engine lid is likely looking for any excuse to part ways with the base coat. Once it starts to cloud or lift at the edges, you aren't just looking at a faded car; you're looking at a finish that's actively trying to shed its skin.

Restoration Tip

You have to be a hawk about rock chips on these late-90s finishes. On a single-stage car, a chip is just a hole; on a 1997 Ferrari, a chip is an entry point for moisture to get under the clear and start a lifting party. Seal chips immediately before the edges of the clear have a chance to curl. When you're using our Argento or Red Metallic, don't try to fix it in one heavy go. Build your layers slowly, let the solvents flash off, and level it out. You're trying to mimic a factory finish that was applied when humans still had a hand in the booth-treat it with the same respect and don't just "blob" the repair.