Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/458251
S P R I N G 2 0 1 5 | W E S T W O R L D 39 R estoring classic automobiles to true perfection does not come cheap, the owner of Carnduff Car- riage Works warns. Keith Neufeld treats his clients' restora- tions the same way he would his own – the same way he does treat his own. "ey don't always appreciate the bills at the end of the day, but the results they are going to get are a little bit further from ordi- nary," Neufeld says. "It's just my mentality and stubbornness. I want to take it to the extra level every time I can, because I'm not happy with ordinary." Neufeld, 35, opened his specialty shop with his wife and partner Denise in her tiny home- town of Carnduff (pop. 1,000) in 2006. A fourth-generation mechanic, Keith rebuilt his first car when he was just 12, growing up on a farm in southern Manitoba. His grandfather owned a Chrysler dealership and his father built a drag car while his mother was pregnant with him. Vintage cars are in his blood. Keith uses old-fashioned techniques on his restorations. He takes on older cars that would make most auto restorers quail, like the 1931 Chevrolet sedan he's rebuilding for a repeat customer. Elson McDougald has been involved in the oil industry in southern Saskatchewan for more than 46 years. Recently, he's treated himself to some well-earned perks, including classic vehicles restored to original condition. The first vehicle Neufeld restored for McDougald was the 1950 Chevrolet one-ton truck on which he had learned to drive. Now Neufeld is jumping further back in time with the 1931 sedan. McDougald is just the type of customer he loves – a true enthusiast. He demands noth- ing less than perfection. The sedan project may end up costing high into five figures, but it will look fresh from the 1931 assembly line. "Depression-years cars I consider to be a difficulty level of 10," Neufeld says. "A lot of the inner construction was wood, which either rots or gets so dry there's no integrity left. So you have to rebuild the wooden structure of the car. You have to essentially take everything apart piece by piece. ere are not a lot of people that are willing to work with wood any more." (opposite) Denise and Keith Neufeld in their Carnduff Carriage Works shop; a modernized 1970 Camaro sits on the hoist. (this page, clockwise from top) Keith uses a grinder on the Camaro and looks into its engine compartment; Schad Richea's work-in-progress 1969 Plymouth Roadrunner; Denise moves the Camaro for shop work.