The Pop Up Sprinter

Not everything in the AF Garage needs to be fast.

Some things just need to work.

For years we've travelled to shows with vans full of stock, gazebos, tables, rails, tills, displays and everything else required to build a temporary shop for a weekend.

It works.

But it never felt particularly Auto Finesse.

So when the time came for a new event vehicle, we decided to approach things differently.

Instead of buying another van and treating it purely as transport, why not build the van itself into the shop?

Something that could pull into an event, open the doors and get straight to work.

And, obviously, it had to look good doing it.

The base was a brand-new, high-spec, long-wheelbase automatic Mercedes-Benz Sprinter.

Fresh from the factory.

Completely untouched. And not for long.

Usually when a new vehicle arrives at AF, one of the first conversations involves figuring out how far we can lower it.

Not this time.

The Sprinter was going up.

The whole visual direction was more support truck than delivery van — something rugged, purposeful and capable of carrying everything we throw at it while still looking completely at home parked alongside the cars in the AF fleet.

The suspension was upgraded with Koni components, while we worked our way through the catalogue at Dutch Van Parts for the exterior hardware.

Dutch Van Parts specialise in functional Sprinter upgrades including racks, ladders, steps, spare-wheel carriers, protection and suspension components, which fitted the direction of the project perfectly.

Then came the wheels.

A set of rugged Black Rhino wheels, wrapped in chunky all-terrain tyres, completely transformed the appearance of the van. Dutch Van Parts themselves offer Black Rhino setups specifically for current-generation Sprinters, so it's a combination that looks right because it genuinely belongs on something designed to work.

And because one wasn't enough, a full-size spare was mounted to the rear.

Partly practical.

Mostly because it looks cool.

With the outside sorted, the important work started inside.

Because underneath all the modifications, this thing has a job to do.

The entire rear of the Sprinter was designed around becoming a mobile Auto Finesse shop.

Pull up.

Open up.

Trade.

Interior shelving gives us dedicated storage and display space for the product range, with additional areas for clothing and merchandise.

Everything has its place, meaning we can arrive at an event with the van already organised rather than unloading half a warehouse and spending hours building a stand.

An onboard inverter and power system means the van is completely self-contained, supplying the electricity needed to run our internet connection, till system and ambient lighting throughout the shop.

Then there's the roll-out awning.

One of the simplest additions, but probably one of the most useful.

Roll it out and we've instantly got covered space alongside the van without unloading and building another gazebo.

Less equipment.

Less setup.

Less packing away.

More time actually talking to customers.

And that's really the point of this project.

The Sprinter isn't pretending to be an expedition vehicle.

It isn't a camper.

And despite how it looks, we're probably not heading across the Sahara in it anytime soon.

It's a working van.

It carries stock.

It travels to events.

It becomes our shop.

It gives the team somewhere organised to work from and gives customers somewhere that actually feels like Auto Finesse to interact with the brand.

But being practical doesn't mean it has to be boring.

That's always been the philosophy behind this one.

If something is going to spend thousands of miles travelling around the country representing AF, why shouldn't we put the same thought into it that we'd put into one of our cars?

So we did.

A lifted Mercedes-Benz Sprinter.

Koni suspension.

Dutch Van Parts hardware.

Black Rhino wheels.

All-terrain tyres.

Full-size spare hanging off the back.

And an entire Auto Finesse shop inside.

Built to turn up. Built to stand out. Built to work.