Our approach to restorations.
Bringing a vehicle back from the dead takes time. Each Vanagon has a unique back story and properly restoring the underpinnings requires the patience of skilled craftspeople who have learned the specialized art of car restoration. Few people possess the skill, patience, or know-how to reconstruct and preserve the Volkswagen Vanagon. Quentin’s Garage does.
We don’t do quick paint jobs or try and get as many customers through the door as possible. We take a quality over quantity approach to anything that will be part of portfolio. Each vehicle is restored as if we were going to own it ourselves, yet each one is tailored to the client’s specific tastes and requirements. We only restore Volkswagen Vanagons and Transporters to order. Budget dictates the final product.
Each restoration follows the same well-planned course and is why our builds receive the recognition that they do. Yes, they photograph well, but the lasting value is in the quality of work and components used to build each one. Without a doubt you can easily find someone who will do for faster and cheaper, but you pay for it in the long term. Our goal isn’t to build you the Vanagon that just looks good the day you pick it up. Our goal is to build the Vanagon that 15 years later, looks and drives just as good as the day you picked it up.
Upon agreement of the restoration details, your deposit will set the process in motion. Leading up to the job we will source all the body panels and parts required. After everything has arrived you will be asked to drop off your vehicle. We will disassemble and launch into the labor intensive task of restoring the chassis and body’s sheet metal. Once the metalwork is complete, the exterior continues to finer and finer stages of body work and then paint. After this, the car really begins to hint at its final form and the fun of final assembly kicks in.
It’s extremely important that repairs are carried out a certain way in order for them to stand up to the test of time. There are no shortcuts when it comes to dealing with rust. If it’s not cut out entirely, it can’t be fixed, and it will come back. This reason alone is why we swear-by the practice of installing new body panels. It is the only way we can guarantee that you are getting 100% clean rust free metal. We work directly with vendors across North America, Europe, and the United Kingdom to source the best quality replacement panels; primarily Genuine VW Panels whenever they are available. In some instances it’s unavoidable and we’ll have no choice to repair panels when required. Extra precautions are taken and we only use the highest quality materials available to ensure that every repair made stands the test of time.
We will send regular project updates to help you understand where your car is in the process.
Rusty seams and paint bubbling. The results of a poorly done paint job.
Better view of what things look like hiding beneath the paint.
New high quality metal installed.
Completed repair. 100% rust free and not hiding anything.
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Sorry, but no. You get what you pay for. A restoration from Quentin's Garage is hand built to a obsession-driven level of detail that goes unmatched by other Vanagon "restoration" shops. Each project is completely unique from the next, and will be built to last. It is not a automotive service that can be easily confined by a set price. We will only use the best quality parts and materials for each restoration regardless of the price. No corning cutting, no exceptions. Costs are simply dictated by two things: the parts required, and the skilled labour to install everything.
There are plenty of shops who are happy to try and do the same work for less. Just understand that it comes at a cost.
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It depends on a few things. Since each restoration is built by hand, we have the freedom to tailor each one to each client's taste and utility needs. Generally, it takes approximately 8 months to a year after the vehicle has been dropped off. However, this varies based on original condition of the vehicle, demand, and custom options. It depends on the scope of the entire project as well.
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For restorations we currently only take on one and a time. We do not book further than 2 years out. This enables us to give our full uninterrupted attention to each project. When booking restorations, our availability is determined by how good of a fit each potential project lines up with our vision and interest. The most exciting projects will ultimately receive priority. Difficulty of the job is not a concern to us and does not play a factor in booking. As Quentin's Garage continues to grow we will begin to expand our workload.
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No. A cash deposit is not needed to secure a booking. After we both agree to the details of your restoration, we will take a deposit and begin to order the parts required for the job. Ordering parts in advance typically takes 6-12 months prior to Quentin's Garage receiving your vehicle. All parts must be paid for in full up front and serve as the "deposit" for the job. Should the client choose to cancel the project, they will be returned everything they have purchased at their own cost.
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Each project is documented from start to finish. You can expect thousands of high quality photographs detailing every single repair. We have nothing to hide and are very proud of the quality of work we provide.
Peeling back the layers, exposing the most hidden areas of rust.
The only way to deal with seam rust. Cut it out and install new metal.
Body panels are three dimensional. It's important to consider what both sides look like.
Known problem areas for rust, such as vertical seams and window sills, are installed using 3M Panel Bond whenever possible. The result is a extremely strong bond and perfect seal between overlapping sheet metal; a better than factory installation.
New clean metal is epoxy primed and sealed using a variety of products before being installed.
New-old-stock genuine VW panels provide the cleanest fit and finish possible.