1987 Chrysler Touch Up Paint (30 OEM Colors)

The 1987 Chrysler Vibe

1987 was the year Lee Iacocca could do no wrong, and Chrysler was leaning hard into the "Luxury for the Masses" aesthetic. Whether you were hauling the kids in a Van (the revolutionary Caravan/Voyager twins) or cruising in All Other Models like the wood-paneled LeBaron or the boxy Fifth Avenue, Chrysler was obsessed with status. Our database shows a whopping 30 colors for this year, ranging from the corporate "Charcoal Gray Metallic" to the surprisingly adventurous "Misty Rose Pearl Metallic." It was an era of heavy metallics and the first real push into "Pearl" finishes-Chrysler wanted your driveway to look like a jewelry box, even if the car underneath was a K-car in a tuxedo.

Paint Health Check

Welcome to the heart of The Peeling Era. In 1987, the industry was fully embracing the basecoat/clearcoat system, but the chemistry hadn't quite caught up to the marketing. If your Chrysler has spent any time under the sun, you're likely dealing with "delamination"-that's a fancy word for your clear coat flaking off like a bad sunburn. This happened because the UV rays would punch right through the clear and cook the bond between the color and the primer. If you see white, chalky patches or giant flakes of "Twilight Blue Metallic" lifting off the hood, you're looking at a classic case of factory clear coat failure.

Restoration Tip

When you're touching up a 1987 survivor, your biggest enemy is the edge. If the clear coat is already starting to lift around a chip, don't just dab paint in the middle-that's like putting a band-aid on a dam break. You need to seal those chips immediately before the air and moisture get under the clear and start the "zipper effect." Use a fine-grit sandpaper to very gently feather the edge of the failing clear until it's smooth, then apply your color and clear. Building up the layers slowly is the only way to lock down that 80s finish before it decides to migrate south.