1996 Lexus Touch Up Paint (39 OEM Colors)

The 1996 Lexus Vibe

In 1996, Lexus wasn't just building cars; they were building an empire of quiet confidence. While other brands were busy shouting with neon highlights, Lexus mastered the art of the "Executive Silhouette." Whether you were piloting a bulletproof LS400 or the timeless SC400, the look was defined by depth and sophisticated contrast. We've dialed in the survivors of this era, focusing on the heavy hitters like Black Onyx and those specific metallic claddings that gave these cars their iconic two-tone aesthetic. Back then, if you weren't rocking that contrasting lower-body trim, you weren't doing '90s luxury right.

Paint Health Check

Here's the reality for a Lexus from the mid-90s: the mechanicals will likely outlast us all, but the clear coat didn't get that same immortality serum. We are firmly in "The Peeling Era." By now, those horizontal surfaces-the hood, the roof, and the tops of the trunk-are prime candidates for delamination. This isn't just a bit of "chalky" oxidation you can buff out; this is clear coat failure where the protective layer literally gives up the ghost and starts lifting away from the base color. If you see white, splotchy areas or edges that look like they're flaking off like old skin, your clear coat is failing. Once it lifts, the base coat underneath is a sitting duck for UV damage.

Restoration Tip

If you've still got original clear coat, guard it like your life depends on it. The second you see a rock chip, you need to seal it immediately. In this era of paint technology, a tiny chip is an open invitation for moisture and air to sneak under the clear coat and start a peeling spree that no amount of wax can stop. When you're touching up those chips or those low-hanging bumpers, ensure the surface is surgical-grade clean. Seal the edges of any tiny chips to prevent the wind from grabbing a "lip" of clear coat on the highway and turning a small repair into a dinner-plate-sized disaster. Remember: a sealed chip today is a saved hood tomorrow.