Where It All Started
Look, I'll be honest with you - this whole thing started because I got fed up with shops that didn't really get European cars. Back in 2012, I was working at a dealership and kept seeing folks get charged crazy money for basic stuff, or worse, have their pride and joy treated like just another car on the lift.
Started AstryVeil Forge in a tiny rented bay with one lift and a dream. The name? Well, my grandfather used to say working on these machines was like forging metal - you gotta understand the material, respect the craft, and put in the hours. The 'veil' part comes from how these cars hide their secrets... you really gotta know what you're looking for.
First couple years were rough, not gonna lie. Lived off instant noodles and coffee while building our reputation one car at a time. But word spread - turned out there were plenty of BMW, Porsche, and Mercedes owners who wanted someone who actually cared about their cars as much as they did.
Now we've got this amazing team, proper equipment, and a client list that reads like a European car show roster. Still feels surreal sometimes when I walk through our bays and see what we've built.
Marcus Vaughn
Founder & Master Technician
Our Journey
The Beginning
Opened our doors with a single bay and a toolbox. First customer? A '98 E36 M3 that three other shops couldn't diagnose. Spent two days on it, found a weird ground issue. Owner told everyone he knew.
Growing Pains
Moved to a bigger space with three bays. Hired our first tech, Jamie - guy's a wizard with air-cooled Porsches. Started getting into restoration work when a client brought in his dad's old 911.
Leveling Up
Invested in proper diagnostic equipment - the good stuff that dealers use. Added performance tuning to our services. Completed our first full ground-up restoration on a '73 BMW 2002.
Building The Dream
Finally found our current location on Industrial Way. Custom-built facility with 8 bays, dedicated fabrication area, and climate-controlled space for restorations. Team grew to 12 people.
Recognition
Won "Best Independent European Specialist" from Vancouver Auto Magazine. Started getting calls from collectors across BC. One of our restoration projects featured in Classic European Cars monthly.
Today & Tomorrow
We're booked out months in advance for restoration work, but still make time for regular maintenance clients. Looking at expanding our fabrication capabilities and maybe adding another bay. The dream keeps growing.
