Skip to content
Syncronizados

About me

Hello, my name is Gonzalo...

...but before I go on with my introduction, I’d like you to watch this video


If it doesn’t set you alight from the very depths of your being,
despite everything, don’t do it.

Passion

that’s the word that sums up how I feel when I start a project. And that’s what this website is all about: a project, a passion.

My name is Gonzalo Solaz and I’d describe myself as someone who’s passionate about anything with wheels and an engine. I’ve always believed that if you really want something, you can do it. I’m not a mechanic, an engineer, a panel beater or a painter. My job has little to do with my hobby, so whilst I don’t have much technical knowledge, I’ve got passion to spare. And passion moves mountains.

 

Stage 1: The Vespas

I started learning and having fun with one of the most iconic motorbikes of all time, the Vespa. Two Vespa Primavera models and a PK75 Junior passed through my hands and turned out brilliantly. They were my first lessons in bodywork and paintwork, researching information and, above all, mechanics.

Classic light blue Vespa scooter parked on a concrete floorTurquoise-blue frame of an old motorcycle being restoredBlue metal frame of a restored vintage scooter on a cement floorGrey Vespa frame being restored in a workshop, shown in the about me sectionWhite frame of a restored classic Vespa-style scooterClassic white motorcycle with a black seat parked on the grassBlack frame of a dismantled old Vespa on a grey tiled floorBlack Vespa frame being restored in a mechanic's workshopOld black Vespa scooter parked on an outdoor tiled floorWeathered red Vespa-type motorcycle parked on a tiled floorRed scooter frame being repaired with tools and the engine removedOld motorcycle frame being restored in an outdoor yardRed frame of a dismantled Vespa 125 Primavera on a tiled floorRed Vespa frame being restored inside a mechanic's workshopRestored red classic scooter motorcycle in a mechanic's workshop

Stage 2: Classic Mini

From there I made the leap to cars, and what better way to do so than with another motoring icon: the Mini. Who doesn’t know the Mini? Small and simple, it was the ideal car to get started in the world of four wheels. I really enjoyed restoring the Mini and it was an incredible learning experience. I’m very proud of the work I did.

Classic red Mini car being restored in a workshopStripped body of a classic red car in a restoration workshopClassic car body being restored on trestles in a mechanic's workshopFreshly painted white body of a classic Mini inside a paint boothRestored engine with a red block in a mechanic's workshop specialising in the Volkswagen T3 SyncroClassic Mini Cooper with the engine visible during restoration in a workshopClassic white Mini parked in an open-air car parkClassic white Mini parked outdoors under a clear sky

Stage 3: Vans

In 2016, I made the leap to larger vehicles, such as vans. I bought the T3 Syncro, with a lot of hard work and challenges ahead. In 2024, after years and years of restoring the Syncro, I decided to buy the Exclusive with the aim of travelling from day one.


Blue Volkswagen T3 van parked on a residential streetBlue Volkswagen T3 van parked on a residential street in front of a brick houseClassic blue Volkswagen T3 van parked in the streetInterior with grey fabric rear seats in a Volkswagen T3 Syncro vanMechanic repairing a blue Volkswagen T3 Syncro van in the workshopFront view of a blue Volkswagen T3 camper van parked in a streetBlue Volkswagen T3 Syncro van parked in the streetVolkswagen T3 van body primed in a professional paint boothRestored grey Volkswagen T3 Syncro van body parked in a streetBlue Volkswagen T4 California Exclusive van with the side awning extended outdoorsVolkswagen T4 California van with a rear cargo box fitted outdoorsConverted camper interior with a central table and patterned seats in a Volkswagen van

Stage 4: Maker for Vans

In 2023, I embarked on a new chapter with the purchase of a second-hand Artillery Sidewinder X2 3D printer. It was my gateway into the world of making. I wanted to understand how to turn ideas into real objects and learn to design my own parts from scratch.

Over time, that curiosity turned into a genuine passion. I began creating functional parts and bespoke accessories for vans, tailored to the specific needs of each vehicle.

Continuous learning led me to take it a step further and acquire a Qidi Plus 4, a professional printer with an enclosed chamber capable of working with technical filaments such as ASA or nylon, ideal for strong and durable parts.

Now, in 2025, I’m expanding my workshop with laser engraving and cutting technology – a new chapter in my ongoing exploration of materials, finishes and creative processes.
A natural evolution that combines design, precision and customisation at the service of the camper van community.


3D printer running in a tidy mechanic's workshop to make spare parts for vansProfessional Creality 3D printer in a workshop making spare parts for camper vansSyncronizados 3D printing workshop with professional printers on a workbench

Stage 5: The BMW Mini

Back to the Mini, but this time in a modern version. In January 2026, I saw an advert in Germany: broken engine, full JCW package, Chili Pack, mechanical limited-slip differential. What many would have dismissed as ‘no way’ was, for me, the perfect project. I bought it sight unseen and towed it 2,300 km from Rostock to Valencia through a snowstorm. A 2005 Mini Cooper S R53 JCW — the last Mini with a mechanical supercharger, already considered a modern classic. I’ve documented the entire restoration on themakerjob.com.


Black Mini parked in front of the Giro Automobile GmbH premisesBlack Mini with a white roof parked on an outdoor cobbled floorSilver car towing a black Mini Cooper on a trailer along a snowy roadFront view of the open engine bay of a Mini Cooper WorksMechanic's workshop with a Volkswagen T3 Syncro undergoing major repairsVan engine removed in a mechanic's workshop during a technical repair