From Ambulance to Volvo XC70 Adventure Wagon: A Raptor Paint Job Transformation
For those of you following along on my journey to de-ambulance my Volvo XC70, today is a big day—I’m finally tackling that bright yellow bonnet! My wife will be very happy about this, and honestly, so will I.
The First Attempt: Vinyl Wrap Fail
My initial idea was to cover the bonnet with some ghost camo vinyl I found on eBay. It seemed like a cool plan, but unfortunately, it was an epic fail. The vinyl just didn’t adhere well, and the result was far from what I envisioned. Time for Plan B.
A New Plan: Topographical Art
Since I’ve already added unique graphics to the side of my camper van, I considered doing something similar for the bonnet. However, my wife wasn’t a fan of that idea. So, I pivoted to something different—a painted topographical design. It’s just paint, after all, so if I don’t like it, I can always paint over it.
After sketching out the design with 3mm 3M tape, I was pretty stoked with how it looked. The next step? Mask it up and start painting!
Priming Problems
To get out of the wind and avoid overspray, I relocated to my friend’s warehouse. I used an Isopon primer, but that turned out to be a complete disaster. The primer essentially turned to dust, wiping off with just a damp cloth. I was extremely disappointed with the product—definitely not what I expected from a branded primer.
So, I had to go back to square one. I lightly sanded the bonnet with a 400-grit sanding block and cleaned it again with panel wipe. This time, I decided to go with my original instinct—Raptor paint. But instead of spraying it (which can be messy), I chose to roll it on, just like I did with my camper van.
Raptor Paint: A Game-Changer
While I was at it, I also decided to Raptor the roof. Since I had sealed up holes from the sirens, blue lights, and wiring, the roof had small indentations that needed to be covered. The textured finish of Raptor would help blend those imperfections while adding a rugged, adventure-ready look.
Before applying the Raptor coating, I used Raptor epoxy primer. Unlike the Isopon disaster, this primer applied beautifully with a roller. No need for a second coat—it had excellent coverage and dried perfectly.
The Moment of Truth: Applying the Raptor Coating
With the primer set, it was time for the fun part. I used a Raptor roller brush to achieve a textured, speckled effect. I also tinted the Raptor paint to a custom iron gray, a shade I felt would complement the car’s gray trim while still contrasting well with the yellow topographical lines.
As the paint began setting, I carefully removed the masking tape to reveal the final design. The result? Stunning.
The Wife’s Verdict
Once the bonnet, roof, and tailgate were all Raptor-coated, it was time for the ultimate test—my wife’s reaction.
Her response? “Wow, that’s amazing! Very, very cool.”
Mission accomplished! With the bright yellow ambulance look gone, my Volvo XC70 has fully transformed into an adventure-ready overland wagon.
What’s Next?
Now that the ambulance aesthetic is history, it’s time to hit the road. We’re planning a road trip to put this beast to the test. If you enjoyed this transformation, give it a thumbs-up, subscribe to the channel, and stay tuned for more exciting upgrades to our adventure wagon—now officially known as Ragnar the Raptored.
Thanks for watching and reading—see you on the next adventure!
