Automotive museum assists camp
KEITH DIXON - Wed Sep 28th, 2016 6:00pm
Garnet Nixdorf, founder of Nixdorf Classic Cars in Summerland, says that in his shop they turn rust to riches.
But there is more to the story than just the restoration of old cars. Nixdorf had a dream when he started his business 11 years ago. Though his passion was cars, his mission was to help children who have disabilities. It started with a buddy from Winnipeg who was disabled. He took this friend along when he went fishing. He saw the challenges the boy faced and also noticed the things that could make his life easier.
Most of those things cost money. So he decided to dedicate the profits from his company to organizations that helped children with disabilities. Agur Lake Camp, with an office in Summerland and a totally accessible camp at Agur Lake, caught his attention, and, for a start, he decided to channel his profits in that direction. The museum has donated five thousand dollars to ALC.
Setting up a classic car museum involved some strategic decisions.
Nixdorf was living in Vancouver when he bought his first cars. In the coastal climate, he found the humidity grew rust as fast as he could remove it. He eyed the dry Okanagan climate and decided to buy an empty Quonset building in Summerland.
He was determined to do restoration work that returned a car to the showroom standards of the day it was manufactured. He does not modify or “soup up” cars. He restores them totally, right down to the colour and quality of the original paint.
He is firm on that point and is scornful of what he calls “Mickey Mouse” restoration work which does not meet that exacting standard...
...Those who do come in for the tour leave saying that it was well worth the admission fee. Kyluik guarantees a full refund to any visitor who feels the tour is not worth the admission fee.
He said he has never been asked for a refund.
Though “Rust to Riches” may be a fitting motto for the museum, there is no wealth other than the 86 restored cars, and the satisfaction Nixdorf and his staff and volunteers get from pursuing their passion to restore classic cars.
Nixdorf is 83 years old and still coming to work every day. In addition he is putting his savings into boosting business so there will be profits he can share with organizations who are helping children with disabilities live fulfilling lives.
It will be time to retire, Nixdorf believes, when riches earned from banishing rust let him write substantial cheques to organizations like Agur Lake Camp.
When that happens his passion and his dream will have joined hands.
From the Summerland Review