2003 International Touch Up Paint (1 OEM Colors)

The 2003 International Vibe

2003 was the height of the "Workhorse Era." If you weren't hauling a trailer or running a flatbed with an International 4300 or 4400, you weren't really in the game. It was a time of pure utility, where the trucks were built to outlast the drivers. While the passenger car world was drowning in boring silvers, International leaned into the color that defines the long haul: that unkillable, stoic Beige. It was the ultimate fleet-standard survivor-a color that hid the road grime and looked just as professional at the loading dock as it did under the depot lights.

Paint Health Check

Welcome to the peak of the "Peeling Era." By 2003, factory paint had moved firmly into the clear coat stage, but the bond between the color and the clear was... well, let's just say it had some trust issues. On an International truck of this vintage, you're likely staring at the business end of "Delamination." Once that clear coat starts to flake off like a bad sunburn-usually starting on the hood or the roof where the sun beats it senseless-the base color underneath is left completely defenseless. If you see white, chalky edges around a stone chip, that's not just a scratch; that's the clear coat preparing its resignation papers.

Restoration Tip

The golden rule for 2003 steel: seal those chips before the clear lifts. In this era, the clear coat acts as a protective shield, but once a chip creates a "shelf" for moisture and air to get under, the delamination will spread faster than a rumor at a truck stop. Your move is to sand back any flaking or "lifting" edges until you hit solid paint before you apply your touch-up. You aren't just adding a layer of color; you're performing a structural repair to keep the rest of the factory finish from deciding it wants to be somewhere else.