BUILT TO BE SEEN

HOW JAGRAJ GREWAL TURNED A BODYSHOP UPBRINGING INTO A CAREER THAT SPANS HEAVY-DUTY REPAIR AND SHOW-WINNING CUSTOM CARS

In March, heavy-duty automotive repair technician and custom car builder Jagraj Grewal had his work placed at the front of the main hall at the 2026 Motorama Custom Car & Motorsports Expo in Toronto. The 1969 Dodge Charger R/T, known as VIIOLA, was positioned at the entrance, the first car visitors encountered as they stepped onto the show floor. “This lets us showcase what our team is capable of,” Grewal said. “I just didn’t expect it to get so much attention.” The car took 10 months to build, but reflects 13 years of practice. He first entered the show scene in 2013 with a heavily modified Jeep Wrangler, a long-term personal project he had been building since the late 2000s. The vehicle featured extensive fabrication, a 6.4-litre Hemi V8 swap, air suspension and show-level finishing.

That approach carried into one of his best-known projects: a 2020 Jeep Gladiator converted into a dually. The build required major structural modification, including adapting components from a Ram 3500, reworking the chassis and integrating a full air suspension system. The truck drew international attention in enthusiast media and appeared at major shows, including SEMA, marking Grewal’s arrival on a larger stage.

From there, his focus expanded into classic muscle cars and hybrid builds. Projects have included Eleanor-style Mustangs, custom Camaros and full body-swap builds combining vintage styling with modern heavy-duty platforms. The Charger project marked a shift in ambition, designed not just to compete but to represent the shop.

While his previous efforts had made waves, Grewal said the attention VIIOLA — which debuted at the 2025 SEMA Show in Las Vegas — has received eclipses his earlier work. He said his passion for the project pushed his abilities further.

“Growing up, I always liked the Charger,” he said. “I didn’t want it to be black. I wanted it to have its own identity.”

That identity reflects the environment he came out of. His father, Kuldip Grewal, founded the business in 1989, a year before he was born. By the time Jagraj was old enough to understand the shop, it was already running.

“I’ve never worked another job in my life,” he said. “I’ve always worked with my dad.”

The early version of the company operated out of a 186 m² (2,000-sq.- ft.) unit and focused on limousine fleet repairs. It was a two-person operation. Kuldip handled painting, metal work and estimating, building the business through long hours and incremental growth. Jagraj was there through it.

“Any PA day, any summer holidays, you name it, I was always here,” he said. “When he was working 16 to 18 hours a day trying to get it off the ground, I was with him.”

His earliest memories are tied to paint.

“When I was a kid, I was painting my Hot Wheels cars here,” he said. “Whatever colour the painter was spraying, that’s what my car was going to be.”

In 1995, the business made a defining shift. After moving into a larger facility, a former newspaper printing shop, it transitioned away from limousine fleets and into heavy-duty vehicles.

“Someone suggested getting into trucks,” Grewal said. “From there, we never looked back.”

“Trucks keep the economy going. They’re always going to be on the road.”

The move introduced more complex work. Heavy-duty collision repair does not follow standard patterns. Trucks arrive with structural damage from rollovers and jackknife incidents, often requiring adaptation rather than fixed procedure.

The shop responded by developing its own equipment.

“We specialize in everything from big trucks to restorations,” Grewal said. “The guys are well-rounded.” The Charger that anchored Motorama brought those elements together.

Built over 10 months, VIIOLA combined classic muscle car design with modern execution. Its placement at the entrance reflected recognition for a shop better known for heavy-duty repair. Today, the business operates in Mississauga near Pearson Airport, with a second location in Erin focused on heavy equipment. The Erin facility handles trucks, trailers and industrial vehicles. The Mississauga shop focuses on refinishing, insurance work and restorations.

“Over there, we do trailers, cranes — anything with wheels,” he said. “Here, it’s more refinishing. Paint work, restorations. We do everything.” For Grewal, the two sides of the business reinforce each other. Heavy-duty repair builds problem-solving under pressure. Custom work demands precision and attention to detail.

Together, they define the shop. “Honestly, I never really had another option,” he said. “This is what I was going to do.” What he has done is extend it.

The business his father built has grown in scope and capability, adding locations and developing its own systems while maintaining its focus on repair. Grewal’s work in custom builds adds another layer, demonstrating what that foundation can produce when applied without constraint.

The long-term goal is continuity. “I just hope one day I can pass it on to my kids,” he said. “Keep the legacy going.”

At Motorama, that work appeared in a single moment — a car at the front of the hall, representing decades behind it.