**Please read this entire page before submitting the intake form at the bottom. Thank you.
Paint and Bodywork Services
Located in La Paz, BCS Mexico 🇲🇽
**We are fully booked and accepting reservations for Jan 2025 and onwards. Plans do sometimes change and we have the occasional cancellation, so we do maintain a waiting list for those whom might hope to get down to us sooner**
Ready to Reserve your spot?
Please fill out the form at the bottom of this page to get started.
Please fill out the form at the bottom of this page to get started.
We kindly ask that you read this page in its entirety before submitting the form at the bottom. Most basic questions about our services are answered in the following paragraphs. Thank you!
Top Quality Work and Affordability don't usually go together... unless you're LiveTheVanlife Restorations
- Have your van restored by the best in the business.
- Utilize my years of expertise in Volkswagen Vanagon Restoration
- Enjoy a road trip to a beautiful tropical locale
- Tons of additional options from engine rebuilds, suspension, brakes, tinting, upholstery, and more
Hi, i'm Shane Jordan. I've been restoring Vanagons since 2014 when I bought my first Westfalia. With the knowlege and experience I gained in buidling my own Vans, I decided to set out and establish a small business of my own restoring vans for others. Baja Mexico beckoned, and I bought myself a 42ft sailboat and in 2018 moved with it to La Paz, at the southern tip of the Baja Peninsula to build myself a new life here. Since then, ive made a family here and a new life here, and established myself as among the most respected restorers of classic Volkswagen Vans. These vehicle are my passion, and not a day goes by that i'm not in or around them in some capacity. When you choose to restore your VW with me, you're getting something rare these days, personalized, 1 on 1 attention. We offer everything from Paint and Bodywork, to full mechanical restorations, including engines, suspension, transmissions, and more. There isnt much on a Vanagon (come to think of it there isnt anything on a Vanagon) that we can't do. Additionally most folks realize a 50% cost savings versus having similar quality work done back home in the states. So what are you waiting for? Read on for more details and examples of our work, and then start planning your trip of a lifetime to beautiful and sunny La Paz, Mexico.
Over the years my builds have been featured in Magazines, Youtube videos with over 1 million views, and have won best in show at car shows. I love taking tired old Vans and giving them a second life. In addition to paint and bodywork we can perform mechanical overhauls, from complete suspension rebuilds, VW engine rebuilds, brakes, interior upholstery, and even transmissions.
Why should I restore my Van in Mexico?
The cost of labor is dramatically less in Mexico. This translates to restoration costs that are often half what a comparable restoration might cost in the states. A typical comparable paint job in the US or Canada with body work and rust repair will easily run you $15,000-$20,000 dollars or more. Its quite common we have folks tell us they were quoted $30,000 or more for paint and bodywork stateside. And that's before you add on extras like upholstery, mechanical work, window tinting, undercoating, and all of the other services we have here with us.
Why should I restore my Van with Live The Van Life Restorations?
Finding the right craftsmen for the job at a reasonable price is only part of the equation. When you work with us, you benefit from our years of experience building Vans for ourselves, and for others. We know the things to watch for, we know the common areas that need to be addressed, and we have relationships with all of the big players in the industry. We've also learned from all of our previous builds what works, and what doesn't. In short, we've made mistakes and learned from them so you don't have to. Our builds have been featured in magazines, on Youtube and have won awards including best 2WD van at Syncrofest in California.
Who are we?
My first real adventure "South of the Border", was in early 2018 when I grabbed a buddy and took off from San Diego down Baja in my Westfalia. I was living on a houseboat at the time, and it wasnt long before I had just finished living full time in my van and traveling the United States. I had been to Tijuana and Ensenada plenty of times, but never further south. It was completely unknown and uncharted for me. The further south we went, the more I started to fall in love with Baja. It just kept getting better and better! When we finally arrived in La Paz, a city I had never heard of, a chance encounter led us on a double date with my now wife and her best friend. I threw caution to the wind and a few months later sold my houseboat, bought a 42ft sailboat in La Paz, dated the girl, and started a new life in Mexico. In 2020 as my world changed with the birth of our son, and the world changed with Covid 19, I decided that La Paz was the place I wanted to settle down, raise my family, and take a stab at building this business doing what I love. When I first started this business here I wasnt sure that anyone would come. Now several years later we typically have a waiting list 6 months long. Our family has grown to 4 and we welcomed a little girl in late 2023. Now I spend my time working on Vanagons and raising a family, in an incredible corner of the world, and I couldnt be happier that I took that first trip down Baja in 2018 in my van. We never know what life has in store for us. What might your Baja adventure have in store for you?
What is our process?
When comparing paint shops it is super important to be sure that the work is being done properly. You simply cannot skip any of the steps outlined below and have a quality paint job. Many low cost shops will simply mask off everything and spray it, but nearly every single Vanagon has rust under the window seals, and so in short order, your new cheap paint job will be worthless, and you’ll need to pay to do it all over again, the right way. Masking will also leave overspray all over the vehicle, which just looks terrible. Here is how we do things...
- Remove all exterior accessories, lights, grilles, antennas, hook up boxes, door handles, etc.
- Remove all windows including windshield and rear hatch glass.
- Remove all of the doors, the two front doors, the sliding door, and the rear hatch.
- Cut out any rust, and weld in new metal
- Pull out any dents
- Primer
- Paint (we use PPG paint)
- Sand
- Polish
- Wax
- Reinstall everything with brand new window seals, and other new seals as required (every van is different)
Pricing
A basic exterior paint job and bodywork without changing the base color starts at $8995 USD (plus the cost of window and body rubber, and any required replacement parts, panels, etc). More complex jobs, changing exterior and interior colors, more bodywork, rust, etc will increase the cost. A complete interior, with carpeting, front seats and rear bench seat reupholstered and door panels, starts at $3000 USD. Estimates are free, contact us to start the conversation.
Some Add-ons and approximate costs:
Some Add-ons and approximate costs:
- Truck Bed Liner along the bottom: $650
- New Vanagon Window Seals: starting at $450
- Vehicle undercoating: $650
- Ceramic Vehicle Tint Complete Van: $699
- New Pop Top Tent Installation: $499
- Complete Interior Upholstery (Front and Rear Seats, Mattresses, Carpet, Door Panels)
- Stereo and Speaker installations
- Power door locks and Alarm System: $699
- Lighting upgrades and installations
- Powder Coating
- Solar and Battery Systems design and installation
- Westfalia Specific Repairs and Upgrades
- Secure Van Storage in La Paz, Monthly: $125
We are located in beautiful tropical La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico.
An incredible and easily accessible drive from Southern California and the West Coast
An incredible and easily accessible drive from Southern California and the West Coast
Frequently Asked Questions
how do i get my vehicle to La Paz?
There are two options, you can drive your vehicle from the US to La Paz through Baja (an epic road trip), or drive your car to Tijuana and ship it to us via truck (we can assist with this). We ship vans for approximately $1000 from Tijuana to La Paz and $500 from La Paz to Tijuana through a third party truck transportation company (prices subject to change without notice). You could also ship it down, and then drive it back, flying into La Paz or Cabo San Lucas is very easy.
What are payment terms?
50% is required at vehicle drop off and the remainder is due at completion. Due to the nature of business in Mexico where cash is king, we ask for all payments to be made in cash in Pesos or USD. Payments made via bank transfer, paypal, venmo, zelle, etc will incur an additional 20% upcharge on top of the quoted price for services. This system is designed to save you money. Pay in cash, and save money.
Can you supply parts cheaper in mexico than in the uS?
No. In general most parts need to be imported from the United States and thus are much more expensive and difficult to get in Mexico than in the US. This is especially true for Vanagons which were never sold here. Your savings comes from the much lower cost of Labor here in Mexico, any parts that you'd like installed should be brought down with you. In an emergency where parts may be needed, they can be shipped to La Paz from the states via DHL, though there is often the need to use a customs broker, and pay import taxes (customs brokers fees plus 16% typically). Its a pain, so plan ahead and bring your own parts.
I have a Pop top tent, and some parts id like installed on my van, can they be installed?
Yes, we can install just about anything for you for an additional cost. You will save a lot of money on labor. The parts, you should bring yourself (see above)
I would like to have my camper painted inside and out, can that be done?
Yes, although a few things you should keep in mind. Disassembling and reassembling a Westfalia camper interior is a time consuming process, having us remove it, paint the inside of your vehicle, and then reinstall it can be done, but it will increase the cost of the service.
Can I change the color of my Van?
Yes, however based on my experience having painted many vehicles now, I can tell you that the best results will be had when you keep your Van the stock color. Inevitably with use, your van will get chips and dings, and you dont want to see a different color underneath when that happens. Also, it is nearly impossible to paint every nook and crevice of a van to change the color, for example behind the dash, without tearing the van down to a bare shell (think lots of time and $$$) so there will always inevitably be little spots that you see that were the old color. If your willing to live with those caveats, then go for it! I have! But that being said, the best results will be had by keeping with your stock color. There are things we can do to make it more interesting, for example adding some pinstriping.
What is the turn around time from drop off?
All depends on the scope of the work, however for a basic paint job and minor rust and or bodywork the typical turnaround time is 4 months. We've found this amount of time allows for us to do the best possible job on your Van while keeping the pace sustainable for us. Extensive rust repairs, panel replacements, etc will lengthen the time required to 6 months or more, dependent on what is needed. Sure, maybe you can find someone who says they will do it quicker, but is this really something you want someone to rush on? More complex jobs, mechanical work, upholstery, etc will require more time than stated above. It is not uncommon for a full buildout of a Van to take 6 months to a year. Please do not schedule work to be done with us if you are on a super tight timeframe, need to get back home, and are in a rush. We work as fast as we can but things do come up and it's very stressful for everyone involved if there isn't some flexibility. If you have any concerns, please talk to us before booking. Most folks find it best to roadtrip or ship their van down to us, then return home while work is done, and then return to sunny La Paz and ship or road trip home in their shiny new VW.
Is my vehicle safe? Am I?
La Paz is one of the safest cities in Mexico and enjoys one of the highest standards of living. Your vehicle is absolutely safe and secure when it is here as are you! In addition, the baja peninsula from California to La Paz is VERY safe, really there's not much except open desert, and deserted beaches for almost 800 miles. Every single person who makes the drive (for paint or otherwise) comments how safe they feel here, and how wrong all of their friends/family and the media is.
Can I fly to or from La Paz?
La Paz is easily and very cheaply accessible via Tijuana with flights to be had often for $100 or less each way. Coming to or from San Diego is super easy via CBX (Cross Border Express) which allows you to access the Tijuana Airport from San Diego. Direct flights from the US can be had to Cabo San Lucas easily and inexpensively from many destinations. Cabo is approximately 2 hours from La Paz. Taxi service can be arranged and costs $50 to $75 each way.
I'd like to schedule to get my van to you, whats the next step?
In order to give your van the attention it deserves, and our full attention, we limit the number of Vans we work on at any given time. When we have agreed on a date for your drop off, we require a $500 non refundable deposit (this amount will be deducted from the full cost of the work) in order to guarantee you a spot on our calendar. This means we are setting aside this time for you and your van, and not double booking. This also means that if you later change your schedule, we will not have anything scheduled for your slot, so in order to help respect our time, we ask for a small deposit up front. If you pull out after the deposit is made, it will be forfeited.
Do i need to insure my vehicle when its in mexico
Yes, I would recommend checking out BajaBound insurance for a quote. It is inexpensive. www.bajabound.com/
id like to stay in La paz during the restoration, what do you recommend?
Spending some time here at the beginning or end of your restoration can be a great way to get to spend some time in our beautiful city and explore more of Mexico. That being said, we have found its not ideal when folks are staying here solely to wait out our services as the exact timeframes involved in this process are typically not exact. Your best bet if you'd like to stay here is to book a monthly rental through AirBnb. There are lots and lots of options for every budget, from very affordable to fancy and everything in between. I would recommend a central location if your budget allows so you can walk around the city. Please understand when thinking of staying for the restoration, that we cannot guarantee a finish date, and things can and do come up that can increase the scope of the work and time required. For this reason we do ask that you remain flexible with your stay and generally discourage this approach.
I'D REALLY LIKE TO BE A PART OF THE PROCESS, CAN I HELP? WHERE IS YOUR SHOP?
WHILE WE APPRECIATE YOUR ENTHUSIASM, WE KINDLY REQUEST THAT YOU LEAVE THE HARD WORK TO US AND REST AND RELAX WHILE WE COMPLETE THE WORK FOR YOU. OUR SHOP IS NOT OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AND WHILE WE DO NOT ALLOW VISITORS, WE MAKE SURE TO KEEP YOU POSTED WITH REGULAR UPDATES AND PHOTOS OF YOUR VEHICLES RESTORATION PROGRESS.
I'm in a rush, can you work faster?
Our focus is on doing the best possible job, not cutting corners and rushing jobs. Haste makes waste as they say. That being said our services are way, way faster than any comparable restorations that we're aware of in the states or elsewhere. Ask around, it's not uncommon for vehicles to languish at paint shops for 6 months to a year or more without progress or completion! While we work as quickly as we can and understand that you miss your favorite car, we kindly ask that you try to bring your vehicle during a time that you are not in a rush to get it back. There are also things that sometimes come up that are out of our control, such as discovering parts need to be ordered, more damage than stated before drop-off, etc.
What's the best itinerary/route to take from San Diego/California
We have a page of our website dedicated to our recommended Baja travel itinerary. Please check it out under the "Baja Guide" link at the top of this page.
Do you offer storage of my van before or after my scheduled drop off/Pick up?
Yes! We have safe and secure indoor parking available for your Van if you are unable to pick it up when it is finished, or if you would like to drop it off before your restoration appointment. The monthly cost is $125. We do ask that you please pay your invoice when the restoration is complete, at which point we can arrange for vehicle storage for you if needed. We do offer a grace period, as its not our intent for vehicle storage to be a money maker for us, rather its an option for folks who cant make it down or need more time. As always, if you have any questions or concerns, simply chat with us and we'd be happy to assist you with this.
What are your hours of operation?
We are open Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm by appointment only. We only accept vehicle pickups and drop offs during regular business hours.
Do you have a shop? Where is it located?
Yes we do! We are conveniently located in La Paz, Centro a few blocks from our beautiful malecon. Since we are by appointment only, and in an attempt to keep our business small and focused, we do not have a public location, nor do we share our address publicly. This is so we can keep our focus on our work, and our prices reasonable for you.
What if my van arrives and it has more damage than what was stated or could be seen in the photos i sent?
From time to time vehicles will arrive to us with more (sometimes much more) damage, rust, poor bodywork, than was stated. Although this is always unintentional, the result can be a completely different restoration than was quoted. Often times this is the result of poor or improper bodywork in the past (read: globs of bondo over rust) and this is not always evident until we begin to peel back the layers of your van. Please understand that if this is the case, we will need to adjust your estimate to reflect the new level of work required. Our goal is always to offer you fair and affordable service, and you will be informed of what, if anything, we find that will change the quotation and we will have a discussion about it before any prices are adjusted.
I'd like to come down with my van fully loaded for camping, is that ok?
We completely understand the want/need to come fully loaded for adventure. After all, half the reason you're making the trip is for the experience of an epic Baja roadtrip! That being said, we will be completely tearing down your van. The windows will come out, the doors will come off, things will get dirty. We need the ability to climb in and out of your van, even if we are not painting the inside. We need to have unimpeded access to move around inside. Furthermore, we go to great lengths to ensure that nothing is lost or misplaced, for this reason everything that you drive down with, needs to stay with your van throughout the process. We have many vans in different stages or restoration, and we have found that this is the absolute best way to make sure that there are no issues. However, if your van is packed to the brim, we will need to take things in and out, everytime we need access, which is a lot. Not only does this make our job much harder, but it also increases the risk that something is accidentally misplaced or damaged. With all that said, we ask that to the greatest extent possible you pack your van in such a way that when you leave it with us all of your personal items can be packed away inside the cabinets of the van (if applicable). Blankets, pillows and bedding should be put in garbage bags so that they are not soiled by dust. If you must travel with more than can be packed away in your cabinets, then we ask that you rent a storage unit to store those items while we are working on your van. We have always recommended people inquire with La Paz Mini Storage which is next to the La Paz Airport, however there are others in town.
Why do you only work on Vanagons?
Every vehicle has its own unique set of flaws, peculiarities, and procedures. Rather than be a "Jack of all trades master of none", we have instead chosen to only focus on the Volkswagen Vanagon. This vehicle is our passion, we know it inside and out, what is required to do world class work, where to find the best parts, etc. The time that would be required, to offer this same level of service on a different vehicle, when we are so busy with Vanagon work, simply doesnt make sense to anyone (at this time). Might there come a time when that changes? Absolutely. Who knows what the future holds. But for right now, focusing on the T3 Vanagon platform is what we feel is the right way to be the best at what we do.