Our approach to rust repairs.
Even if it is just a small repair; 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 repaired as if we were going to own it ourselves, yet each one is tailored to the client’s specific tastes and requirements. We stick to what we know best and only restore Volkswagen Vanagons and Transporters.
Each repair follows the same well-planned course and is why our reputation receives the recognition it does. Yes, they photograph well, but the lasting value is in the quality of work and components used to fix 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 fix your the Vanagon so 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 repair 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 fixing up the chassis and body’s sheet metal. Once the metalwork is complete, we begin the 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 repair, big or small, from Quentin's Garage is hand built to a obsession-driven level of detail that goes unmatched by other Vanagon "specialty" 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 repair is done by hand, we have the freedom to tailor each one to each client's taste and utility needs. It varies based on original condition of the vehicle, the scope of the project, demand, and custom options. We track every hour of every repair we've ever done. Doing so allows us to accurately estimate the amount of time it will take to fix your Vanagon.
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When booking repairs, our availability is determined by how good of a fit each potential project lines up with our vision, interest, and shop workflow. The most exciting projects will receive priority. Difficulty of the job is not a concern to us and does not play a factor in booking. We will be crystal clear if we think we will be able to meet your expectations or not. 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 repair, we will take a deposit and begin to order the parts required for the job. For larger, uncommon repair panels ordering 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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High quality repairs use high quality products. High quality products are generally more expensive than lower grade alternatives. We use a number of different products on all of our work to ensure every repair made is a long lasting one. When it comes to priming, sealing, top coating, ect. Quentin's Garage is constantly looking for the best value on products for the sake of the customer. In most instances we don't even mark up the products being used.
We don't skip any steps. It's non-negotiable.
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Each project is documented from start to finish. You can expect hundreds of high quality photographs detailing every single repair. We have nothing to hide and are very proud of the quality of work we provide.
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Yes we can. There is only one legitimate way to fix it; cutting it out completely and welding in new metal.
If you just want us to media-blast and reseal your seams there is zero guarantee the rust wont come back.
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.
Lower B-pillar seam on Syncro that had been ground down, resealed with cheap grade seam sealer, and repainted.
Looked good from the outside. The inner flange tells a different story.
The rust hiding inside. Impossible to properly address without removing panels and exposing the overlapping flanges.