California Westys

California Westys is a VW Vanagon specialist in El Cajon, California, handling full restorations, Subaru engine swaps, and ongoing maintenance for 1979-1992 Vanagon and Westfalia models. This is a classic-VW-only shop — they do not work on Sprinters, Transits, or other modern platforms. Full restorations follow a strip-to-shell approach: the vehicle is taken down to bare metal and rebuilt from the ground up, including mechanical, body, and interior work. A complete restoration typically takes around six months. Subaru engine conversions — replacing the original VW powerplant with a more reliable Subaru four-cylinder — are their signature service alongside the restorations. The shop also handles routine maintenance and repairs for Vanagon owners who need a specialist. Owner Cesar Torres has over two decades of experience with air-cooled and water-cooled VW vans. The shop regularly has around 30 vehicles at various stages of work, split between customer vehicles and Vanagons being restored for resale. California Westys has won multiple awards at the San Diego Air Cooled auto show, including Best of Show and Best Vanagon Camper, and maintains a strong reputation on TheSamba.com, the largest VW enthusiast forum.