1987 Volkswagen Touch Up Paint (46 OEM Colors)

The 1987 Volkswagen Vibe

Welcome to 1987-the year of the square-jawed GTI, the high-revving Scirocco, and the "will-it-ever-die" Vanagon. It was an era of cassettes, synth-pop, and Volkswagens that felt like they were carved out of solid blocks of German engineering. While the rest of the world was getting soft, VW was doubling down on the Fox and the Jetta. In our database, the color that truly defined this era stands alone: Tornado Red. If you didn't have a red Golf or a Cabriolet with the top down in '87, you were doing it wrong. It wasn't just a color; it was a personality trait.

Paint Health Check

The mid-to-late '80s marked the dawn of The Peeling Era. Volkswagen was transitioning between the old-school heavy hitters and the early iterations of the modern clear coat system. If your '87 is a survivor, you're likely staring at one of two things: either your Tornado Red has oxidized into a chalky "Tornado Pink," or you're witnessing the dreaded delamination. This is where the clear coat decides it's had enough of the base coat and starts lifting in flaky, transparent sheets-usually starting on the roof or the hood where the sun hits hardest. It's not just a cosmetic itch; it's the protective layer giving up the ghost.

Restoration Tip

The secret to keeping an '87 Volkswagen looking factory-fresh is surgical precision with rock chips. Because this era's clear coat is prone to lifting once its bond is compromised, you need to seal chips immediately. If you see a tiny crater on your hood, don't wait until the next wash. Clean it out and dab it with a touch-up pen or a matchstick. Once moisture and air get under that clear edge, the delamination will spread like a bad rumor. Seal those borders early, and you'll keep that red looking like a "Tornado" rather than a "Light Breeze."