Innovate or die
We are not a normal automotive restoration company and we never will be. We are van nerds. We get to obsess over Vanagons every single day. We believe in contributing to a Maintenance Culture. Volkswagen vans can last for generations when taken care of. We build modern vans for modern times. Who cares!
Please watch this nice video about vivid vans below:
Straight shooters, not product dealers. We will tell you what works and what doesn't on your vanagons. Our advice is grounded in experience.
Nathan Ryobi Daigle @nathanryobi
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*biography co authored by J.K. Rowling
It all began with a little white Westfalia. I used to cycle past this van whilst living in Vancouver's West End neighbourhood. I saw that van daily and dreamed about it nightly. After some time and savings my partner Kim and I decided that we definitely needed a Westfalia camper in our lives. Then came Marv. Our first Westy was a rescue. She needed a lot of TLC. After many late nights and long weekends wrenching on the streets of Vancouver, I had the opportunity to spend a summer working for The Skylight Guy (and Gal) learning the camper van trade while completing that first van build. Kim and I camped in that Westy from Vancouver to Todos Santos, Baja and some places in between. We moved to Vancouver Island where I would continue my anthropology degree at the University of Victoria. Along came the opportunity to keep working with vans and van lifers at a local shop here on the island. It's as if the vans followed me. I acquired my first Syncro on the island. Fit it with the installation of a TDI diesel engine, suspension upgrades, and custom plaid and Pendleton inspired interior. It was my perfect van for exploring the backroads of British Columbia. One day I was approached with a briefcase full of incentives and no longer stimulated by my completed build, I sold that first Syncro to begin all over again. These days, and a few vans later: I started vivid vans to share my love for, and specialize in Vanagons (and make a few bucks too). I spend my time between the shop and the gravel roads of Vancouver Island, in an endless pursuit of performance and aesthetic perfection. VIVID VANS is the realization of a fever dream crafting off-road vans into automotive and camping excellence. |
Quentin Horvath @quentinhorvath
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Quentin is no longer the youngest buck of the vivid vans crew. After graduating Acadia University in 2017 he decided to move from the East Coast to the West Coast to live in his 1986 Westfalia in pursuit of warm weather and awesome camping. His impressive knowledge of Vanagons, off-grid electrical, and industrial design helped him swing a job with us, and now we can't get rid of him. Quentin stumbled into bodywork and paint through his own projects. After learning that his grandfather was a paint and body man, Nathan gave him a palm sander, paint gun and said get to work! In his time off Quentin can be seen driving around Tofino in his 1988 sWeEt ChErRy BlUe Calgary Olympics Edition Syncro Hightop.
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Toni B
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Tony is the mechanical mastermind of vivid vans. Although a bit of a land rover nut, he owns a van too!! Tony has worldwide automotive experience ranging from British army tanks, Mercedes G wagons, Unimogs all the way down to your tiny little run down vanagons.
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Hell P
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Helen solves problems. She is not here to please. She is going to tell you what to do and if self-preservation is an instinct that you possess you'd better do it and do it quick. Helen is here to help =)
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Kayla Pike
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Kayla Pike is a mover and a shaker. She is a full time apprentice at vivid vans. Kayla specializes in pop top canvas installations and during her free time she wrenches on her own sunroof van. Ok bye!
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Bodyman 4476
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Our newest member to the team has worked at many paint and fabrication shops over the years. I can't remember any of them right now. Anyways, one day after a terrible bondo accident he was hospitalized and required a microchip to be placed into his brain. This works well for us because he works hard and doesn't ask too many questions. Welcome bodyman 4476!
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Jason
Jason is a heavy duty mechanic who is deep inside the Vanagon rabbit hole. Jason knows these machines better than they know themselves. He specializes in TDI and Subaru conversions, and also does transaxle rebuilds in house. Jason has a soft spot for Japanese vans as well..