Page 12 - Harnett Life Winter 2020

Transporter Werks recently completed the rebuilt of this beautiful 1984 4-wheel drive Syncro for a customer in
Tennessee. Taking a year and a half to complete, Fraser and his staff are most proud of this project.

described by one online follower as “a good group of people gon custom-build his team is about to finish. One technician
that host campouts and such with potluck dinners and break- at Transporter Werks has worked on the van every day, Fraser
fast that will fill the biggest of bellies.” The recommendation calculated, for over a year. “It is the highest level of restora-
comes from https://www.thesamba.com/vw/, the site named tion in the country, and we are going to miss it terribly. Every-
after The Samba, a term used for the 23-window Deluxe Bus thing on the van was restored or fabricated by hand here in the
in Europe. shop or outsourced locally. I try to use local people like the
NAPA — which is literally across the street — and Advanced
Of these meetups, Fraser said, “Vans and buses come from Auto Parts, for example, and local products if I possibly can.”
all different years. There could be 10 cars; there could be 100
or even more. They take over a whole campground. They do Elaborating on Dunn’s service-oriented downtown, Fraser
social media, newsletters, meet up and more.” said that was one of the top things attracting him to the area.
“In Raleigh,” he explained, “we were downtown, but it was a
The bus buzz extends to Harnett County, too. In the back of the 20-minute drive or longer to get some screws, bolts or stuff we
shop, Fraser is currently working on a rare specimen. “Here’s regularly needed. Here supplies and even custom suppliers are
a 1960 23-window bus,” he pointed out. “It did have three almost within walking distance or at most a two-mile radius. I
rows of seats, but we will not put the middle seat back in it. find that very attractive.”
This is a very serious reconstruction that is as intimate as you
can get. From California, the vehicle was pretty bad to start Location, along with quality craftmanship, task commitment,
with. But the customer has known me forever and brought it professionalism and passion, sets Transporter Werks apart.
to me because he knows we will do it right. He is very excited, “We get very attached to the builds,” he confessed. “It is hard
and if I finished it tomorrow, he would get it and be driving it to see the vehicles go.” Reminiscent of a parent sending a
around. This kind of work takes a lot of time.” child off to college, Fraser finds the hard work and heart for
these Volkswagens to pay off in the end. Connect with them
His favorite VW project to date is a no-expense-spared Vana- in downtown Dunn, on Facebook or Instagram and by visiting
Page 12 their website, http://transporterwerks.com/.