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Sadly, Jeff McSweeney can’t keep the shag carpet, disco balls or eight-track players.
The Vernon man is fresh from a successful first summer spearheading his new business, Vantastic Rentals.
He rents out three classic Chevrolet “Boogie” vans as an alternative to pricier—albeit newer—RVs and motorhomes you see cris-crossing the highways more these days.
All of McSweeney’s vans are between the 1971 and ’81 model years. Once he finds one, he guts it, restores it and gets it road worthy.
“The cost of a motorhome is just unattainable for most people,” he said.
“And who doesn’t love the 70s and 80s Chevy Boogie vans?”
All three vans were virtually sold out this summer, he said. Cost of a rental is roughly $800 per week, and he’s getting good response from European travellers wanting a quintessential Canadian road trip.
Most Chevy vans of this vintage only sleep two people, but he has one that sleeps four. They all have modest kitchen facilities like a cold-water sink, fridge and hot plate. McSweeney provides the basics and will rent you a van for a night, a week or a month.
He struck upon the idea during a camping trip, realizing he wanted a little more from the experience.
“I got tired of sleeping in a tent.”
The business began renting vans and two trailers. But the trailers didn’t get much response and everyone wanted the van.
He sold the trailers and bought two more vans, instead. His success has led to plans for three more vans to be road worthy next summer.
It’s not an easy task. The vans are often sheltered away in backyards or the back 40.
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Rust is the enemy. Sometimes, they’ve been neglected for 30-plus years.
He’s found stock across the Interior, and does much of the work himself, relying on mechanics for the bigger jobs.
“Safety is my No. 1 priority,” he said. “I’m not going to send anything out until it looks good and I’m happy with it.”
He’s chosen Chevy vans of the 1970s because he loves Chevy and the company started adding too many moving parts later into the ’80s.
For rentals, it’s best to keep it simple, he said. These vans don’t have air conditioning or power windows.
“I don’t want all the new technology,” he said.
It’s also why he has to rip out the carpet so popular in these classic vehicles.
His idea also turned heads from fellow businesspeople.
McSweeney was a finalist in this year’s Enterprize Challenge sponsored by Community Futures.
Image: Submitted.
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