2013 Peterbilt Touch Up Paint (1 OEM Colors)

The 2013 Peterbilt Vibe

By 2013, Peterbilt was leaning hard into the "Efficient Legend" aesthetic. Whether you were piloting the aerodynamic 579 or the uncompromising 389, the vibe was pure professional muscle. While the industry was obsessed with silver and white "fleet-spec" boredom, the only color that really mattered for a rig with soul was Medium Red. It's the color that looks just as good under the lights of a truck stop as it does hauling a heavy load through a sunrise on the I-80. We've kept our focus on this survivor because it's the heartbeat of the 2013 lineup.

Paint Health Check

Welcome to the "Thin Paint Era." By 2013, factory robots had become masters of "just enough." They spray these cabs with surgical precision, which is a polite way of saying the clear coat is thinner than a diner's coffee. You'll likely see the first signs of trouble on the cab corners or around the rivets, where the paint starts to look a little "ghostly" before it gives up the ghost entirely. Because these rigs are often a mix of aluminum and composites, you've also got to watch for those tiny bubbles around the door handles and rivets-that's the factory seal failing and letting the elements start a slow-motion riot underneath your finish.

Restoration Tip

Since you're working with a catalyzed spray can for that Medium Red, remember: you are the robot now, but you need to be a better one. Do not try to get full coverage in one "hero" pass. If you blob it on, the solvents get trapped and you'll end up with a hazy mess. Build your layers slowly-three light, even coats are better than one thick one. Give the paint plenty of time to "flash" (get tacky) between passes. This isn't the thick lacquer of the 70s; it's a modern high-solid finish that needs air to breathe while it cures. Seal those rock chips on the hood the second you see them, or that thin clear coat will start lifting like a bad sunburn.