1997 Peterbilt Touch Up Paint (1 OEM Colors)

The 1997 Peterbilt Vibe

1997 was the year the Peterbilt 379 truly cemented its status as the "King of the Highway." While the rest of the automotive world was getting soft with rounded edges and plastic trim, the Denton, Texas plant was still pumping out chrome-clad legends with flat glass and three wipers. In our database, we've focused on the color that defined the owner-operator era: Medium Red. It's the shade that says you aren't just hauling freight; you're running a business with a 3406E under the hood and 13 gears to shift.

Paint Health Check

Welcome to the heart of the Peeling Era. By '97, Peterbilt was leaning hard into basecoat/clearcoat systems. They looked incredible on the showroom floor, but twenty-plus years of road salt and high-altitude UV rays have likely taken their toll. You're likely dealing with delamination-that heartbreaking moment when the clear coat starts to flake off the fiberglass hood or the cab roof like a bad sunburn. Once that clear lifts, the Medium Red underneath is left defenseless; it'll oxidize into a dull, chalky pink faster than you can find a decent parking spot at a truck stop.

Restoration Tip

If you still have original paint, your mission is simple: seal the chips immediately. In this era of paint, a single rock chip on the fender isn't just an eyesore; it's an invitation for moisture to crawl between the color and the clear. Once the bond is broken, the clear coat will start to "bridge" and peel away in sheets. Use our catalyzed spray can to hit those chips early. Because it's a catalyzed product, it creates a chemical bond that mimics the factory toughness, locking down the edges of the clear coat so it doesn't lift any further. Don't wait until you're staring at bare fiberglass-seal it now or you'll be stripping the whole hood by next season.