Vintage Art & Vinny Byrne Bring a 1960s VW Bonnet to Life | Season 6 – Episode 49
Wheels Jun 02, 2026
Welcome to a behind-the-scenes look inside the Vintage Art workshop as we team up with auto paint specialists Vinny Byrne Paints to create an unusual 1960s VW “Hippy” bonnet. Founded in 2025, Vintage Art is an offshoot of Ireland Made – stories of Irish transport, created by Kevin Reid, John Furlong and Philip Darling.
WALL ART
On Vintageart.ie we rescue and reimagine pieces of transport history, from funky VW Beetle bonnets and illuminated Jeep grilles to vintage prints and imagined aircraft panels, turning them into bold, one-of-a-kind wall art with real story and soul.
Our plan is a simple one: to work with transport museums across Ireland, finding new purpose for old parts. We buy and reimagine pieces once bound for storage or scrap, bringing them back to life as artworks that keep their stories alive. And with each piece sold, a little goes back, creating a small but meaningful revenue stream to support the transport museums that have been keeping Ireland’s transport heritage in safe hands.
VINNY BYRNE PAINTS
We recently collaborated with auto paint specialists Vinny Byrne Paints on an unusual 1960s VW “Hippy” bonnet. After seeking expert advice on suitable paint choices from the team at one of Vinny Byrne’s two Dublin branches, work began on what became a weeks-long project, from repairing and preparing the bare metal bonnet for paint, to sketching the design, transferring it onto the metal, and hand-painting it in bright psychedelic colours.
IRELAND’S PAINT EXPERTS
Established in 1978, Vinny Byrne is a leading supplier of paints, consumables, tools and equipment for automotive, industrial, home and hobby applications. Operating from two Dublin branches, the company specialises in precision paint mixing and colour matching for both professional and DIY users, from bespoke aerosols and touch-up pots to large-scale paint orders.
Alongside its extensive paint range, Vinny Byrne supplies ancillaries, workshop equipment and specialist tools required to achieve a professional finish. Backed by experienced staff with strong technical knowledge, the company provides expert customer support, practical advice and training resources trusted by body shops, industry professionals and DIY users alike.
SCRAP TO ART
The project proved to be a great collaboration between Vintage Art and Vinny Byrne Paints, combining creativity, craftsmanship and expert technical advice to give new life to a forgotten piece of motoring history. What began as an old 1960s VW bonnet was transformed into a colourful piece of nostalgic wall art, celebrating the spirit and individuality of the era while preserving a small piece of transport heritage. After more several weeks of work, the finished “Hippy” bonnet turned out exactly as envisioned and is now available for sale through the VintageArt.ie website.
See the finished VW ‘Hippy’ bonnet and our Products page on www.vintageart.ie
For your next project, check out the great range and advice at www.vinnybyrne.com
Sources of Information, Photo, Video & Music Credits:
All music and sound effects used in Ireland Made – Stories of Irish Transport are royalty free and are fully licensed through Epidemic Sound. Ireland Made – Stories of Irish Transport therefore holds the legal right to use this audio material within its productions under the terms of the Epidemic Sound licensing agreement.
