This VW Camper Is A Custom Candle-Making Machine: Members’ Rides

In our last Members’ Rides episode, we looked at Grant’s incredible and eclectic fleet of cars. I think my favorite thing about making these posts is just the massive variety within Autopia. It’s just fun to see how animated people get about their cars. It doesn’t matter if it’s a Prius, or a fleet of Porsches. We’re all enthusiasts, and we all love talking about our cars and I thank you for letting me be a part of it.

Welcome to Members’ Rides! This is where we share the cars and stories of Autopian Members. The potential to be featured here is a perk for Autopian Members of every level, from the ultra-affordable “Cloth” tier all the way up to “Rich Corinthian Leather.” Click that link and join today!

Now, this was completely unintentional, but I realized as I was making this post that despite the intense variety we’ve featured over the last month, there’s been something in common with the featured rides. Going back to October 23, every post has had at least one thing in common. Any ideas? I’ll spoil it in the comments, but it’s not much of a stretch so I think you’ll get it.

We have featured work trucks and cars used for work a few times here, but today is a bit different. Today we get to look at a van that isn’t just used for work purposes, the van itself is a part of the business. Today I get to introduce you all to Mark. Mark owns and operates a candle-making business in the Chicago area, and bought a 1969 VW Pop top bus to use as a mobile storefront. He also has an excellent 2020 Mazda CX-5 Turbo.

How did you get into cars?

I subscribed to Road & Track and Car & Driver since I was a 13-year-old. I would call every car company in the magazines and ask for brochures to be sent to my house. My parents hated it, I loved it. I once had a car brochure with a picture of a convertible Beretta by Chevrolet, and was disappointed that it never came to market. I wish I still had that brochure. More recently, I read every article on Jalopnik from the day it launched until the day The Autopian launched.

Let’s start with the bus. How long have you had it?

My partner and I bought the bus in January 2022. I’ve wanted one since I was 3 years old. It only took me 45 years, but I eventually got one! My parents had a similar bus when I was born, and I remember vividly playing in it. I also remember being dismayed when they sold it for a sedan when they had a second child.

You said it’s set up as a mobile boutique for your business, what’s the business?

My small business is Edgewater Candles. We started our business in 2016, and have done over 300 festivals, craft shows, farmers markets, etc. where we would put up a 10×10 or 10×20 tent. After having 18 months of no events due to the lockdown, we realized that we still wanted to do shows, but do them in a much easier way. We thought of dozens of ways to make it happen, and landed on the Candle Camper. We can easily load the VW up with dozens of candles, and just keep them in the VW for the next event. No more breaking down the tent and putting everything away for the next event. 

Did you buy it for this purpose or did you have it and then later convert it?

I bought it for this purpose. I do drive it now and then for Home Depot runs because it can hold really long items that our Mazda could never.

What modifications did you have to do to make it a better boutique?

We redid the interior to be better suited for a mobile boutique. We built a counter that’s revealed when we open the sliding door. It holds 12 dozen candles inside of it and displays 12 candles on top of it. We drilled out little indentations so the display candles are always organized. Then we built a floating bench seat inside the main area of the VW to hold more candles. We also disassembled the “coat closet” from the original conversion and installed pegboard on the windowless interior wall of the VW.

When we launched our foaming soap in 2023, we built a pull-out working sink in the back of the VW so people could test out the soap. It was a really fun way to feel that vanlife moment and give our customers a cute way to interact with the Candle Camper and our soap.

We also installed an extending canopy on the side of the bus to shelter visiting customers from sun/drizzle. It’s strapped to the pop-top. We have a battery to power a variety of lights we installed on the bus – some for decoration and others are for signage. We festoon the luggage rack at the front of the bus with flowers in spring/summer, orange leaves in the fall, and lit garland in the winter.

Has it given you significant old car issues?

Recently, the driver’s side window wouldn’t roll back up. In my teens and twenties I wrenched and my mom taught me how to change my oil, replace disc/drum brakes, belts, etc. Nowadays I don’t have a garage or time to do that kind of wrenching, so I just took the VW to a specialist to have that and some other small issues taken care of. 

Has it been hard to keep on the road?

Not particularly. The previous owner took excellent care of it and it had a significant rebuild.

Any additional plans for it?

My goal is to take excellent care of it so that I can continue to delight our neighborhood by parking it in front of my little store in Edgewater whenever I can.

Why did you choose this for the mobile boutique?

There are many vehicles that would have been well suited for this purpose, but none would have given us as much joy. It is a dream to own a microbus. It’s instantly recognizable and makes people smile the second they see it. When we park it out front, people take selfies in front of it all day long!

 What’s your favorite thing about this one?

The way it has been meticulously taken care of, its elevated ride height (perfect for how we’re using it), the sliding door (versus the split-window bus doors), and the manual transmission. It is such a pleasure to drive a manual again. It took a while to get used to the idiosyncrasies of this transmission, but now we get along great. (Full disclosure – the first time I drove it, I did have to google how to get it into reverse!). Also, this video is my love letter to the VW.

The love that people shower on the Candle Camper is incredible. Driving it in the 2024 Chicago Pride Parade was one of the best moments of my life!

In the vast sea of crossovers, how did you decide on the CX-5?

Our previous cars were a 2007 Hyundai Sonata and a 2015 Subaru Outback. I knew I wanted a car that would be enjoyable and engaging to drive, with some pep. The Sonata and Outback were wonderful and served their purpose without any trouble, but they were never fun to drive. The CX-5 with the turbo seemed to be a darling in the automotive press. To our eyes, it was easily the most attractive CUV. I really do think the CX-5 of this generation is gorgeous.

How do you like it?

It feels like a spaceship compared to the VW. I really love it. I hope it lasts forever! The heated steering wheel, the auto-folding mirrors, the ventilated seats – these are all features I didn’t know I wanted. I could live without them, but having them sure is nice! The cargo capacity is spot on for our business. The second row is almost always folded down. I do wish it achieved better gas mileage.

Do you intend to hold onto this long term or are you already eyeing a replacement or anything? What would you replace it with if you are looking at that already?

I am always daydreaming about cars, but I aim to keep the CX-5 for as long as possible. If I have to replace it, hopefully the CX-5 Hybrid will be available then, or for a fancier fantasy purchase – a Genesis GV70 or used Porsche Macan could be fun.

What other cars have you had in the past?

• 81 Chevette Scooter (depths of misery)
• 92 Mitsubishi Mirage (meh)
• 88 Buick Skylark (extremely comfortable and competent – but dorky)
• 91 Ford Tempo (a reliable appliance with terribly inadequate AC for Corpus Christi summers)
• 1984 Honda Accord (base model!)

Which of those was your favorite?

My favorite was the 1984 Honda Accord, and it didn’t even have AC! I think I loved it because of the manual transmission, and the fact that I bought it for $1500 and then sold it two years later for $1500. It was a handsome ride and never let me down. 

And your least favorite?

The worst was the ’81 Chevette Scooter. The only option it had was the back seat. It didn’t have a passenger-side mirror – that’s how cheap it was. The brakes were downright dangerous. My mom put in a AM/FM/Cassette stereo with just one button. Pop in the cassette and it starts playing. Push the button a little bit and it was fast forward. Push it in further and it ejected the tape. 

What would be in your dream garage?

My current two cars plus a first-generation Honda CRX and NSX.

Why the first gen for the CRX?

The CRX came out when I was 8, and it looked like nothing else on the road. Blue with grey and a red stripe! I also love the sealed beam and recessed headlights. Get some louvers for the back window and I’m in love. I agree that the second is superior (that little vertical window on the back hatch!). There’s just something so fun about an economy car that looks so rad.

What do you love about the NSX?

The NSX came out when I was in high school (enough said, right?). It was a revelation and I remember thinking the scoop on the rear was the coolest thing I’d ever seen. Of course, I had Lamborghini Countach posters on my bedroom wall, but I ran out to get an NSX one too. Because it was a Honda product, it somehow felt more attainable to teenage me than a Lambo. Of course, I might never own either of those. I actually wrote a poem for my high school magazine that included a line about the NSX. “Berlina black, Sebring silver, Formula red.”

Thanks Mark!

Are you an Autopian Member? Don’t miss out, we have a lot of fun! Click Here to learn more and become a Member today!