1997 International Touch Up Paint (1 OEM Colors)

The 1997 International Vibe

Back in '97, an International Truck wasn't a fashion statement; it was a paycheck on wheels. Whether you were piloting a 4700 series medium-duty or a heavy-hauling 4900, these rigs were built for the long haul, not the showroom floor. The color palette of the era reflected that "get to work" attitude-no flashy pearls or experimental metallics here. We've focused our attention on the survivors of the job site, and in 1997, the only color that truly mattered for these workhorses was a dependable, no-nonsense Beige. It's the kind of shade that hides a week's worth of road grime and still looks respectable at the weigh station.

Paint Health Check

Welcome to the peak of the Peeling Era. By 1997, the industry had fully committed to the basecoat-clearcoat system, but the chemistry hadn't quite figured out how to stay married forever under the brutal sun. On these old Internationals, you aren't just fighting rust; you're fighting delamination. Once that clear coat decides to part ways with the beige basecoat, it starts as a small "bubble" or a white, crusty edge and quickly turns into a full-blown skin peel. If your hood looks like it's recovering from a bad sunburn, you're looking at classic clear coat failure.

Restoration Tip

The secret to keeping a 1997 finish together is speed. You have to seal chips and scratches immediately before the clear coat starts to lift at the edges. Once air and moisture get under that clear layer, it's game over for the surrounding area. If you've already got some peeling, use a grey Scotch-Brite pad to very gently feather back the "crunchy" edges of the clear coat before applying your touch-up. This stops the peeling from spreading like a wildfire across your fender. Treat every stone chip like a leak in a dam-plug it now, or the whole face of the truck is going to flake off.