You never know where life will take you, but one thing is for sure…you gotta enjoy the ride! Sometimes you’re tooling down life’s road and you meet someone - just happenstance, really - and you become business acquaintances, then professional friends, then genuine friends, and then you realize you share more than the same road. You share interests, beliefs, and passions. Before you know it, you share a business. So goes the story of Mad Viking Customs.
Several years ago, Zach Wagers worked for a company that performed custom work on vehicles. John Harris took his truck in for various custom jobs - a bed topper, side steps, and a custom computer screen for navigation. Impressed with his attention to detail, Zach quickly became John’s go-to man for custom work. “I was the only one he would trust with his truck,” Zach laughed.
Zach eventually moved on and started another company. When John noticed he was gone, he looked him up. Zach had started Cool Vu Window Tinting, but the pair stayed in touch. A couple of months later, John suggested a partnership - Zach had the tools and the know-how, John was looking for a new venture after working in the construction/drywall industry, and they both shared a passion for customizing vehicles. The timing was right and Mad Viking Customs was born in November 2023.
“We are kind of a one-stop shop for automotive work,” Zach said. From dent removal, paint chip repair, ceramic coatings, and window tinting to electronics like audio, remote starts, radar, dash cams, and rock lights to truck gear and accessories like bed covers and side steps, Mad Viking has it all. They even do auto repair and maintenance like tune-ups, oil and brake changes, and engine rebuilds. But their passion lies in the restorations.
“My favorite jobs are the custom restorations where we have to use our brains to tear it down and build it back up. We’re working on fabricating a bed frame for a ‘46 Ford truck right now,” Zach shared. “We both have a soft spot for trucks.” These projects are where their slogan - “Where Rides Become Legends” truly comes to life, blending craftsmanship, innovation, and individuality into every job. “Every vehicle is as unique as its owner,” Zach explained. “Each custom job is an opportunity to create a piece of art…a piece of art with four wheels and an engine that can be driven down the road. It’s the best job ever!”
“I can’t believe it’s already been a year,” Zach said. “I couldn’t ask for a better business partner. I was looking to build a business that I could pass down to my kids one day and it turns out, so was John.” Zach and his wife Lindsey have five sons and a daughter. “John’s son already works for us and my boys always beg to come to the shop. It’s really like one big family,” Zach laughed. “My kids call him ‘Uncle John’. We both feel lucky to be doing what we love and building a legacy for our kids.”
When it comes to protecting, maintaining, or customizing your vehicle, trust Mad Viking Customs. If you’d like to learn more about truck and automotive customizations, stop by or call. Mad Viking Customs is located at 805 N. Kansas Avenue in the NOTO Arts & Entertainment District. (785) 329-5091 FB @MadVikingCustoms
“We're kind of a one-stop shop for automotive work," - Zach Wagers