Brazilians "prospect" rusty Kombis in Brazil for R$ 5,000, spend about R$ 220,000 on each, and send them to the USA, where they exceed R$ 400,000 at auctions.

Brazilians “prospect” rusty Kombis in Brazil for R$ 5,000, spend about R$ 220,000 on each, and send them to the USA, where they exceed R$ 400,000 at auctions.

Written by Romário Pereira de Carvalho

Published on 01/06/2026 at 15:16

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Jaime Morais and Alexandre Gonçalves buy old Kombis in Brazil, invest up to R$ 220,000 in artisanal restoration, and take the models to auctions in the United States, where some exceed R$ 400,000

Old Kombis found in Brazil for values between R$ 5,000 and R$ 10,000 have become the basis of a restoration business aimed at the U.S. collectors’ market. For 12 years, Jaime Morais and Alexandre Gonçalves have been restoring destroyed vehicles, investing up to R$ 220,000 per unit, and have already sold 26 restored models at American auctions.

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Restored Kombi is born from nearly condemned vehicles

The operation begins with the search for old Kombis in critical condition. Many were used by market vendors, became covered in rust, or reached a point where they would be seen only as scrap.

After purchase, the work moves to a long and artisanal stage. The vehicle is completely dismantled for sheet replacement, door reconstruction, rust removal, and recovery of the electrical, suspension, mechanical, and paint parts.

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Restoration can reach up to R$ 220,000 per vehicle

The investment is one of the central parts of the business. According to Jaime Morais, one of the partners at AJ Revival, each project costs between R$ 150,000 and R$ 180,000 just in restoration.

When transportation, documentation, logistics, and shipping to the United States are included, the total cost can reach R$ 220,000 per vehicle.

The amount shows that the operation does not rely solely on the cheap purchase of scrap but on an expensive and specialized process.

The Kombis leave the Port of Santos in containers, usually with two cars per shipment. The initial destination is the port of Houston, Texas. Afterward, the vehicles head to Las Vegas, where they participate in classic car auctions.

Auctions start at $1 and can exceed R$ 400,000

The sales strategy also draws attention. The duo places the vehicles in auctions without reserve, meaning no minimum price is guaranteed. The bidding starts at just $1, and the market determines the final value.

Despite the risk, some Kombis restored in Brazil are sold for more than R$ 400,000 in the United States.

To attract buyers, Jaime also bets on striking presentations, such as entering while playing the tambourine and juggling a ball next to the Brazilian Kombi.

Brazilians turn old Kombis into gold in the USA — Image: Disclosure / Personal archive

Kombi Samba increases interest among collectors

Among the most valued versions is the Kombi Samba, a 23-window configuration originally created for tourism in Europe and never officially sold in Brazil.

The model became known for its canvas sunroof and skylights on the roof, designed to allow passengers to observe landscapes such as the European Alps.

Since there are few examples of this type in Brazil, the team produces recreated versions in tribute to the original model.

The combination of classic visuals, artisanal restoration, and connection to Brazilian culture helps explain the interest of American collectors.

After 12 years and 26 Kombis sold in the United States, Jaime and Alexandre have consolidated a niche that transforms nearly abandoned vehicles into sought-after pieces abroad.

For Jaime, the Kombi also carries a part of the Brazilian identity: “The Kombi carries the name of Brazil along with it.”

This article was prepared based on information from the provided source material, with data, numbers, and statements preserved as per the consulted material.

Brazilians “prospect” rusty Kombis in Brazil for R$ 5,000, spend about R$ 220,000 on each, and send them to the USA, where they exceed R$ 400,000 at auctions.

Jaime Morais and Alexandre Gonçalves buy old Kombis in Brazil, invest up to R$ 220,000 in artisanal restoration, and take the models to auctions in the United States, where some exceed R$ 400,000

Restored Kombi is born from nearly condemned vehicles

Restoration can reach up to R$ 220,000 per vehicle

Auctions start at $1 and can exceed R$ 400,000

Kombi Samba increases interest among collectors

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Brazilians “prospect” rusty Kombis in Brazil for R$ 5,000, spend about R$ 220,000 on each, and send them to the USA, where they exceed R$ 400,000 at auctions.

Jaime Morais and Alexandre Gonçalves buy old Kombis in Brazil, invest up to R$ 220,000 in artisanal restoration, and take the models to auctions in the United States, where some exceed R$ 400,000

Restored Kombi is born from nearly condemned vehicles

Restoration can reach up to R$ 220,000 per vehicle

Auctions start at $1 and can exceed R$ 400,000

Kombi Samba increases interest among collectors

A giant printer called the “Ferrari” of concrete has landed in Latin America and can already build a 120-square-meter house in just 48 hours, making the traditional construction site look like something from the last century.

Great Atlantic Sargassum Belt has ceased to be a climatic phenomenon and has become a biological system that feeds on itself, with 8,000 kilometers in length, 37 million tons of algae, and scientists confirm that it is now permanent.

Brazil will harvest a record crop of up to 357 million tons of grains, but it does not have the capacity to store a large part of it. The storage deficit has reached the highest level in history and is equivalent to almost the entire production of Argentina.

She started by collecting oyster shells from restaurants and today she has already accumulated more than 10 tons to restore reefs, recover coastal habitats, and demonstrate how a common waste can become a tool for ocean conservation.

Scientists have discovered that the Earth recycles its own continents in the depths, dragging pieces of crust down during plate collisions and returning them later as magma, in a mechanism called relamination that has helped build the continents for billions of years.

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The European hypersonic plane that seemed impossible: 300 passengers, 400 tons, liquid hydrogen, and a speed of 6,100 km/h to cross continents almost always over the ocean.

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