What are you driving?
It’s a 2005 V6 Nissan Elgrand. The first time I saw one of these was in Toyko; there’s something futuristic-kitsch about it that I love. Locals were surprised as they expected something retro-vintage to suit the surf scene.
The Elgrand is reliable with the power to carry all the heavy-duty gear. It rides low and the boxy form was a great canvas, easy to wrap giving it a “pimpalicious vibe”.
How long have you had this van?
About eight months now. I was looking at options and spotted this online. It was under half the cost of getting a new van and fitting it out. All I needed to do was apply a creative eye to the external look.
Tell us about the artwork …
Being an artist/designer and having wrapped a few cars, I always create the artwork to fit the vehicle’s design lines. This is a flatbed printed vinyl combined with three solids with the plan to overlay elements in foil. The boys
I work with at Frankensignz, Whangarei, are cutting edge and like pushing the boundaries of new vinyl capabilities. It’s mobile street art – and it always turns heads.
Who else drives this van?
My wife, Kirsty. It’s the first time we’ve worked together and the co-lab is going co-fab.
Any other vehicles in your garage?
Man, I wish we had a garage. We’ve just finished designing a studio garage where we can park our VW Alltrack and Tutukaka Roast Coffee van, unfortunately our run-about-allpurpose Corolla wagon has to stay outside with the beach.
Who started your interest in vehicles?
My dad has been a long-time lover of cars. A distinct memory from my childhood was him taking us to Pukekohe Racetrack and we had to hide under a blanket on the floor of our MkII Cortina so he could sneak us in without paying.
Dream car?
I think now that I have a family, I’d accept the following: an Alfa Giulia Quadrifoglio because it is so beautiful; an Audi RS6 wagon because it’s staunch, is good for surfboards and intimidates the hell out of Porsches, Ferraris and any other super car; a ’67 Camaro, no justification required.
How often do you clean it?
Over summer, we had a water shortage, so it mostly just got a wipe down daily. What’s cool is my eldest boy, Nikau, likes to clean it for pocket money. I hope that lasts.
Who taught you to drive?
Dad started teaching me to drive at the age of 16. It was a stressful time, which wasn’t made easy by his continual lurching across the MkII Cortina bench seat, stamping the clutch down, making the column gear change and wrenching the wheel hard left while yelling expletives. It took me until 19 to get my licence.
Any tips for young drivers?
Tips I would give to my young self is: “Bro, you have your licence, now you start learning to drive. Slow down and take it easy.”
Also “TXT 2 SELF. Turn your phone off before you start the car!”
Favourite day drive out of Tutukaka?
There are so many beautiful places here on the coast. I like to head north towards Russell along the Old Russell Road, stopping at the Helena Bay gallery to check the art and have a bite to eat, then head down hill for a swim in the bay.
Scariest thing you have done in a car?
When I was 17, my mates and I thought it was a choice idea to park up and sleep inside a two-door Mk1 Escort on Orewa Beach. The guy that waded out and woke us from our king tide slumber at 3am, didn’t think so.
● Shane will feature in the Design Junkies series which starts Thursday May 3, 7.30pm on TVNZ 1 or OnDemand.