WINNIPEG — Bill Smedts’ love for Volkswagen started when his job was to clean them at a car dealership in British Columbia. He’s since started his own business and is now one of very few auto mechanics in Canada who specialize in vintage camper vans.
“Just about all the vintage Volkswagen owners in Southern Manitoba have been here at one point or another, or they know about me,” Smedts said. You might even miss his shop off of Highway 67 if it wasn’t for the hand painted satellite dish that reads ‘Old Volks Home.’
“I don’t really need to advertise, I get a lot of business through word of mouth.”
Smedts’ own camper is a 70’s inspired yellow vintage Volkswagen. He’s travelled through Canada, United States and Central America in it.
“Anybody can go on a vacation, but when you go on one in a Volkswagen it’s a little bit more special.”
Smedts said he gets monthly requests for fixed up camper vans but they’re very rare to find in good condition nowadays.
“It’s a dream that a lot of people have but it just can’t be realized, there’s just not enough of them around anymore.”
He said the best part of travelling in a camper is the reaction he gets from locals and fellow travellers.
“It puts a smile on everyone’s face when they see you travelling on the road.”