1988 Jeep Touch Up Paint (22 OEM Colors)

The 1988 Jeep Vibe

Welcome to 1988, the year the boxy XJ Cherokee was officially crowned the king of the suburbs and the Wrangler YJ was busy offending purists with its "modern" square headlights. Jeep was hitting its stride under Chrysler's new management, and our database reflects that golden era with a robust 22-color lineup. We've tracked down everything from the earthy, wood-paneled nostalgia of Coffee and Medium Suede Metallic to the vibrant Vivid Red that made those Comanches pop. Whether you're restoring a Grand Wagoneer for the beach or keeping a base-model SJ Truck alive on the farm, this was the year Jeep proved that "rugged" didn't have to mean "colorless."

Paint Health Check

If you're staring at your hood and it looks like it's suffering from a giant, flaky sunburn, you've hit The Peeling Era. In 1988, the industry was deep into the transition to basecoat/clearcoat systems, especially for those fancy metallics like Spinnaker Blue or Sterling Metallic. The "But" here is a big one: the early clear coat technology of the late '80s was notoriously UV-shy. Once a rock chip or a scratch breaks the surface, the clear coat loses its grip on the base color and starts to "delaminate"-that lovely white flaking that eventually leaves your Jeep with a dull, chalky patch of exposed basecoat.

Restoration Tip

The secret to stopping the spread on an '88 is to seal the edges. If you see a chip, don't just "dab and go." You need to bridge the gap between the failing clear coat and the metal. Apply your color to the center of the chip, but make sure your final topcoat slightly overlaps the surrounding clear coat. This "staples" the original finish down and prevents moisture and air from getting underneath the clear and lifting it further. If you catch it early, you can keep that Grenadine Metallic looking like it just rolled off the lot in Toledo.