1996 Lotus Touch Up Paint (2 OEM Colors)

The 1996 Lotus Vibe

Nineteen ninety-six was a banner year for the boys in Hethel. It was the year the world first laid eyes on the featherweight Elise S1 and the year the Esprit finally got the V8 heart it always deserved. While the rest of the automotive world was drowning in a sea of "90s Teal" and questionable purple metallics, Lotus stayed true to its heritage. In our records, the only color that truly mattered for '96 was British Racing Green. It's the definitive look for a decade where analog driving was at its peak, even if the paint technology was just starting to figure out how to stay attached to a composite body.

Paint Health Check

Welcome to the Peeling Era. By 1996, the industry had fully committed to the basecoat-clearcoat system, but they hadn't quite mastered the chemistry of the bond. On a Lotus, you aren't fighting the usual enemy-rust is a non-issue with these fiberglass and composite shells-but you are fighting delamination. This is where the clear coat decides to have a messy divorce from the color underneath, usually starting as a small white "cloud" before peeling off in sheets. If your Lotus has spent its life under the sun, that clear coat is likely brittle and looking for an excuse to lift. You also need to watch for "micro-blisters," those tiny pimples caused by moisture or solvents trapped in the fiberglass that eventually force their way to the surface.

Restoration Tip

The golden rule for 1996 paint is: Seal the chips immediately. Because this era's clear coat is prone to lifting, a single rock chip is an open invitation for moisture to get under the clear and start the peeling process. When you're touching up a survivor, don't just "blob" some color in the hole. Clean the area with a proper solvent, apply your base, and make sure you seal it with a high-solids clear. If you notice the clear starting to look "chalky" or lifting around the edges of a chip, don't buff it-you'll just accelerate the peeling. Seal the edge of the lift with a precision brush to "tack" it down before it spreads across the entire hood.