1987 Nissan Touch Up Paint (46 OEM Colors)

The 1987 Nissan Vibe

Welcome to 1987, the year Nissan decided that everything-from the high-tech 300ZX to the boxy, unstoppable Pathfinder-needed to look like it was moving at Mach 1 while standing still. It was the era of the pop-up headlight and the birth of the "Hardbody" truck, a machine built specifically for people who thought a tailgate was just a suggestion for where to put a dirt bike. While we've narrowed our focus down to the absolute survivors of the era, the vibe is unmistakable. If you aren't cruising in a Super White Sentra or catching the sunset in a Coral Sand Metallic Pulsar, were you even there? This was the peak of "Japanese Luxury-Lite," where a Maxima felt like a spaceship and a Stanza... well, it was a very reliable way to get to the mall.

Paint Health Check

Now, listen closely, because we're deep in The Peeling Era. In 1987, the industry was still perfecting the dark magic of basecoat-and-clearcoat systems. They were great for giving that Coral Sand Metallic its shimmer, but the bond between the color and the clear wasn't exactly a lifetime contract. On these '87 survivors, you're likely dealing with "Delamination." That's painter-speak for your clear coat acting like a sunburned tourist-it starts with a little white flake and ends with the clear lifting off the roof in sheets. Once that UV-protective layer gives up the ghost, the metallic base underneath will turn chalky faster than you can say "radwood."

Restoration Tip

The golden rule for 1987 iron? Seal those chips before the clear lifts. On these older solvent-based factory finishes, a tiny rock chip is an invitation for moisture to crawl under the clear coat and start the "halo" effect. Once you see a white, air-filled ring around a chip, you're looking at a full panel respray. Grab a touch-up pen and fill those dings the second you see them. You aren't just fixing a spot; you're anchoring the rest of the paint to the car. And for the love of the Z-car, keep it waxed-that old clear coat needs all the help it can get to fight off the sun.