DAWN PATROL

Lake Forest High School junior Fin Michael launched a venture to bring immaculately restored Land Rovers to customers on the North Shore.

IN A TIME WHEN MUCH of teenage life outside of school revolves around virtual experiences—toggling between multiple messaging apps amid rounds of video gaming and perpetual sharing on social media—there’s something to be said for investing oneself in the tactile world.

For Fin Michael, a junior at Lake Forest High School, it was a single image that sparked a real-world obsession that’s as timeless as it is personal—a passion for vintage automobiles and the open road, served with a side of American entrepreneurship.

Fin’s father, Todd, had been chatting with a work colleague who was restoring a ‘90s-era Land Rover Defender. The colleague shared a photo of the work in progress, which Todd shared with his son, thinking he might also find it interesting. The hook was set immediately. There was something about the rugged lines, face-to-face bench seating, and open-air aesthetic that instantly captured Fin’s attention and prompted him to reach out to his dad’s friend to learn more.

“I was just fascinated with the car,” Fin says. “I just kept asking for pictures … more and more and more pictures. And then, one day, my dad’s friend asked me if I wanted to help sell them in the Midwest.”

It was an easy decision. The question was how to do it.

The sender of the original email was a South African named Aldon Castle, who runs Epic Auto Restorations out of Arizona. He does frame-off Defender restorations, with vehicle sourcing and restoration based in South Africa. (Due to the rough terrain and proliferation of game reserves, there are a lot of older Defenders in South Africa.) Fin and his dad sketched out a plan for a business venture.

They would purchase a vintage Defender, have it shipped to the North Shore, and drive it around the area as a rolling billboard. They would either sell that particular car outright or garner enough interest to have a custom order placed with Epic. (Customizations are nearly infinite, from paint color to upholstery, backup cameras to high-end audio, winches to wheels, and full on engine swaps.) They dubbed it Dawn Patrol Ventures after their family tradition of getting up early to watch the sunrise and chase an adventure. According to Todd, Fin was always game for these early morning exploits.

In the fall of 2023, as a warm up for their activities in the Midwest market, they sold their first Defender right in Epic’s backyard—at Barrett Jackson Auction in Arizona. Fin worked the floor, interacting with potential customers. It’s one of the things the 17-year-old likes most about the job.

“You just need to be yourself,” he says, sounding like a seasoned salesman already. “It’s not serious. You don’t need to overstress it, you just need to talk to them and have a good conversation.”

Their second truck arrived in Lake Forest in mid-April, and their third is currently being restored to their specs in Arizona. They had it converted to left-hand drive and a soft top convertible with integrated roll cage. The original 2.8 liter BMW M52 engine is being completely rebuilt and restored. For the cars he and his dad will bring to the neighborhood, the plan is just to engage naturally. “If someone’s like, ‘Oh, that’s like a super cool car. I wish it had a roof rack on it.’ I’ll let them know that I actually partner with someone who does that. And he could do that for you.”

Speaking with Fin and his dad, it’s clear how much enjoyment they both are getting from the venture. They are able to bond several hours a week over the classic car market, customer inquiries, new opportunities coming in from Arizona, and even the macro economy.

“We are getting a crash course in tariffs right now,” Todd says, explaining that they need to investigate what that could mean for pricing, and Fin is on top of the situation. “We expect an increase in interest in classic cars because newer cars are going to become more expensive. Also, Aldon has a large existing inventory of cars and parts in the states that would not be impacted. The long term impact is TBD, because we’re in the early stages.”

They both appreciate what the other brings to the venture, with Fin handling marketing, communication with Aldon, prospects, and customers. Dad handles financing, advising on pricing, and handling final transactions. Rounding out the family business, Fin and his mom Megan co-created the company logo.

In fact, Todd is having such a good time, he says that he wishes he had done something similar with their other two kids. He jokes that he’s been getting a hard time from his daughter about it.

“She tells me about it all the time,” he laughs. “But I try to find something unique to connect with each one of them on, whether it’s skiing or music. With Fin, this is our thing. It’s been great bonding. The most rewarding thing for me is to see him grow.”

Of course, in addition to the business experience and bonding, there are other fringe benefits. Like being able to cruise around town, top down, in a classic Land Rover. Fin is considering driving to school as the weather warms up. But the lacrosse and football player knows better than to leave it at a game where a fast flying object might come into contact with his inventory.

“I don’t want to risk anything—or just get it too dirty,” he says.

For Fin, who wants to study business in college, it’s been an ideal training ground for his future. He’s not sure he’ll work in the automotive sector forever, but the business skills he’s learning will be applicable no matter his ultimate path. In the meantime, he’s also saving money for college and he plans to put away enough from each sale that he can get a truck of his own someday.”Probably just a Beach Runner. A soft top 90,” he adds.

Judging from Fin’s summer employment plan, his chances look good. Not only will he be working on Dawn Patrol, he’ll also be lifeguarding and caddying. He sees the three enterprises fitting together like a synergistic puzzle. Defenders can carry golf clubs as well as a beach volleyball set or picnic basket.

“I’ve learned if you work hard at something, and it’s something you like,” he says. “Then good things will come from it.”

And good things often come in 4×4 packages.