1997 Winnebago Touch Up Paint (15 OEM Colors)

The 1997 Winnebago Vibe

Welcome to 1997-the year of *Titanic* in theaters and the "Champagne" look in the driveway. If you were piloting a Winnebago Brave or a Minnie Winnie back then, you weren't just driving a motorhome; you were driving a mood. The industry was moving away from the flat, boxy beiges of the 80s and leaning hard into the "classy metallic" aesthetic. Our database for this year focuses on the true survivors of the era, featuring the heavy hitters like Sahara Metallic, Plum Metallic, and the deep, moody Umbra Brown. These colors weren't just paint; they were a statement that the 90s had finally arrived in the campground.

Paint Health Check

We are firmly in The Peeling Era. By 1997, Winnebago had fully committed to the basecoat/clearcoat system. When it's fresh, it looks like a million bucks with a deep, glassy shine. But twenty-five-plus years later? You're likely dealing with the "Great Delamination." This is where the clear coat decides it's done being friends with the color underneath and starts shedding like a sunburned tourist. You'll see it first on the roof radiuses and the front end caps where the sun beats down hardest. If your Graphite or Plum Metallic looks like it's developing white, flaky scales, that's the clear coat failing. Once it starts, it doesn't stop unless you intervene.

Restoration Tip

The golden rule for 1997 paint: Seal the chips immediately before the clear lifts. On these multi-stage finishes, a rock chip isn't just a cosmetic blemish-it's an entry point for moisture and air to get under the clear coat and start unzipping it from the base. If you've got a chip, don't just "blob" paint in there. Lightly sand the very edge of the surrounding clear coat with a fine-grit paper to feather it back, then apply your touch-up. This "locks down" the clear coat edge and prevents that small chip from turning into a peeling mess the size of a dinner plate by next season.