How to Build a Patina Volkswagen: Including Bugs, Buses and Derivatives

The explosion of Patina Volkswagens on social media has inspired those car fanatics who realise that you don’t have to restore a car to end up with a good-looking ride. At last, you can stand out from the crowd, even on a tight budget. The look of the cars that result from patina builds is honest, unspoiled, and characterful; it has also inspired the media, movie stars and celebrities.

Interest in patination has undoubtedly resulted in increased car values, and turned a brand of cars that had always been a cheap, honest mode of transportation into something cool with a high price tag. The people the look initially inspired have grown with the hobby, finding ways to still be cool on a tight budget and producing a micro-industry that still manages to embrace the ‘built not bought’ ethos.

How to Build a Patina Volkswagen book takes a look at the differing styles of patina VW build, and imparts tips on finding and buying a project car, carrying out a sympathetic patina style renovation and includes a chapter on re-creating a patina finish on repaired areas or missing parts.