1997 Nissan Touch Up Paint (48 OEM Colors)

The 1997 Nissan Vibe

The year was 1997. The Macarena was finally dying out, but the 240SX was just beginning its reign as the king of the drift scene. Whether you were hauling the family in a Quest, ruggedizing your weekend in a Pathfinder, or pretending you were in a touring car race with your Maxima, Nissan was leaning hard into the "jellybean" styling of the late '90s. We've focused our database on the heavy-hitting survivors of this era-the colors that actually stayed on the metal. We're talking the essentials: Aztec Red, Cloud White, and the classic Black (with that specific Rocker Panel Black for the guys still rocking the original Truck or Pathfinder two-tone look). These weren't just colors; they were the uniform of a decade that didn't know the internet was about to change everything.

Paint Health Check

Welcome to The Peeling Era. By 1997, Nissan was fully committed to the basecoat-and-clearcoat system, but let's be honest: that clear coat hasn't always aged like a fine wine. It's more like a bad sunburn. You've likely seen it on the roofs and hoods of older Altimas and Sentras-that white, flaky "delamination" where the clear coat decides it's done being friends with the color underneath. This era was notorious for "map peeling," where a tiny rock chip becomes the starting point for a clear coat revolt that eventually covers the whole panel. If your Aztec Red still looks red and not pink, or your Cloud White hasn't started shedding like a snake, you're one of the lucky ones.

Restoration Tip

The golden rule for 1997 iron: Seal those chips immediately. Because this is the era of delamination, a small chip isn't just an eyesore; it's an entry point for moisture and air to get under the clear coat. Once the air gets in, the clear starts to lift, and once it starts lifting, you can't just "polish" it back down. When you're touching up your 200SX or Truck, make sure you clean the area thoroughly and seal the edges of the chip. By locking down the perimeter of the damage, you stop the clear coat from "unzipping" across the rest of your fender. Catch it early, or you'll be looking at a full respray before the next eclipse.