Dave Kindig turns out one-of-a-kind vehicles for his demanding, and sometimes famous, clientele. Working on all types and periods of cars, Dave and the crew design, build and restore from the ground up.
The team goes full throttle to finish the 1956 Porsche, with a lot of late nights and long hours leading up to its debut at the SEMA show.
A friend comes to Dave with a unique project -- turning a 1950s VW Bug into a beach cruiser, adding more power, better drivability and new systems.
When Dave and Kev get a call from the government of South Australia to come and host a show based around the Adelaide 500 race, they jump at the chance.
A 1933 Roadster has a great paint job but needs reimagining; the owner of a 1968 Camaro has a load of upgrades he wants to accomplish.
The Ridler car's engine and transmission are married for the last time and installed, and the team moves on to the wiring and other systems. As the car is prepped to fire up for the first time, a dent threatens to stop the whole build in its tracks.
Dave's CF1 client challenges him to come up with a build plan that incorporates all of the bells and whistles of a vintage '60s era British race car, complete with custom color, roll cage, racing straps and new gauges.
The Ridler build arrives at the Autorama, and at the initial drive test, Dave and Kev scramble to fix a transmission problem. The next day, the show opens to the public and the judging begins. It's also their first chance to size up the competition.
The '58 Corvette owner's idea is to top off his collection with a custom CF1, which Dave would love to do; the client's wish is to debut them both together, so Dave now has his work cut out for him.
It's the first time Dave and Kev auction off one of their CF1s and the first time they've attended Mecum's biggest event of the year; they're also on the lookout for a deal for themselves.
Ever since Dave set the market with his Safari bus build, he has been itching to get his hands on another VW and have some fun; this car might be more than he bargained for, as the car itself is a heap of rusty parts and a broken-down engine.
A few years back, Dave and Kev had a blast checking out cars at the Adirondack Nationals in Lake George, NY; now they are back East checking out all of the oddball cars in Syracuse.
A friend of Kindig-It Design arrives at the shop with a new build that has Dave's creative juices overflowing.
The crew at Salt Lake City's Kindig-It Design restores classic cars and creates custom vehicles.
The pinnacle of the custom car world is the Don Ridler Award, given out every year at the Detroit Autorama; Dave Kindig has always had a Ridler-sized itch he needed to scratch and finally found the right client and idea to make it a reality.
After almost a year of fabrication, the team starts assembling panels into the shape of a car; the chassis is also made of aluminum and after a painstaking frame-design process, the two shapes are melded together for the first and last time.
The team passes a big milestone in the Ridler build as the body and chassis are merged with mock-ups of the other major elements of the car; for the next step, the body shop matches every panel, gaps the car seamlessly and fixes any flaws.
The pinnacle of the custom car world is the Don Ridler Award, given out every year at the Detroit Autorama. Dave Kindig has always had a Ridler-sized itch he needed to scratch, and has finally found the right client and idea to make it a reality.
A loyal Kindig-It client has decided to jump on the latest trend -- he wants Dave to build him a show-off, off-road vehicle; after they get past the rust repair, it'll be new fender flares, engine and custom chassis for this 1974 Bronco.
The Bronco's owner is lukewarm on Dave's radical idea for the interior; Dave must resist going too far with this build so they can actually enjoy it on dirt roads without feeling like they're beating up a museum piece.
While maybe not the most popular of models, the Fox Body Mustang is actually making a comeback, and the one that rolls into the shop needs a lot of love. The build list calls for a huge engine upgrade, new custom wheels, suspension and exhaust.
Dave has been interested in dipping his feet in the electric car world, and with his CF1s providing the perfect canvas. Turning this into reality will take a new level of engineering and learning a new automotive language.
Dave has a soft spot for all kids in need; so when a car show in Oregon that benefits the local children's charity called, Dave eagerly said yes; the guys take the rig to the show; there's a rumor that Kev may actually get a spot in the drag races.
One of KevDogg's favorite cars has arrived in the form of a stock post Bel Air, and he will lead the charge on the build; when Kev's pride and joy takes a turn for the worse, he enlists the help of a local dealer to help him get back on the road.
The Chevelle makes it through paint and into the assembly area, where it comes back to life; new upholstery gives the car the real upgrade it needs, and just like that, Dave is the hero of the family again.
In high school, Dave's wife Charity drove the wheels off her '67 Chevelle; when the couple started their business, they sold the car with the hopes of one day getting another; the crew works to get it ready.
It's no secret that while Kev can appreciate cars of all shapes and sizes; deep down, he's a truck guy; when a truck show comes through town, KevDogg shows Dave what is what with all the great builds that have descended on Salt Lake.
Dave's latest client wants him to outlaw a Porsche 356 A, which means a ton of modifications, including smoothed-out bumpers, louvered deck lid, through-the-hood fuel filler and more; but this will be a Bitchin' Outlaw and have the Kindig touch.
Since launching the project in 2021, Dave Kindig's CF1 has been a smashing success; never one to rest on his laurels, Dave has decided it's time to move on to the next generation of the car, and this one will be adding the option of a Carson top.
KevDogg and Dave take the rig to the Triple Crown of Rodding show in Nashville; this is one of the few shows they've attended in the South, and they are chomping at the bit to check out all of the local builders, and get into some shenanigans.
A week in the life of a shop like Kindig-It Design is a mix of beauty and chaos; a look at one week includes multiple stories of what actually happens behind the scenes of the show, along with all the projects underway that week.
A '55 Bel Air that sat unused for over 10 years arrives to get off the lift and back on the road; a unicorn project arrives in the form of a 2002 Ferrari 360 Spider in need of a new canvas top.
From the outside, a '57 Bel-Air has all the markings of a classic, but a closer inspection reveals rust in the rockers, sloppy gaps and damaged trim; while fixing up the obvious, the customer also wants a bigger engine.
Dave tries to come up with a one-of-a-kind color that incorporates the client request to get purple into the build; body work, assembly and some nifty mechanical work get this car in great condition, but the interior needs a complete overhaul.
A 1971 Chevy Nova with tremendous pedigree arrives at the shop to get classic Kindig-It styling cues; Dave wants to make this car into a hardtop; tucked-in bumpers, front valance and a new engine provide a good test for the crew.
Will makes miracles happen, and Dave decides to make a wholesale change to the car's color; challenges mount at each stage of the build, and the upholstery shop changes up their routine as the client arrives for a reveal years in the making.
While the shop perfects its process in building the CF1s, word about the car spreads and potential buyers line up; the latest client has a big problem when he can't choose the perfect color combination.
Dave and Kev take the show to the Midwest, as more than 2,500 cars descend on the Summit Motorsports drag strip for a weekend of fun; Kev gets a ride in a lean, mean drag racing machine; Dave steps up his autocross game.
A client enlists Dave on a mission from God to make his dreams of a father/son road trip along Route 66 come true; getting the client's mechanically unsound reproduction of the Bluesmobile ready for the road will test the crew's mettle.
Training the next-generation car builders is near and dear to Dave's heart, and after years of planning, he's finally realized his passion project, the Kindig Academy.
A 1969 Camaro comes in; when Dave and team get a closer look, they determine with the owner that it requires a full rebuild; since the team will be starting from scratch, the client decides to go all-out on the chassis, engine and details.
With the Camaro's design firmed up, the build continues, but hits a roadblock when it comes to getting the engine dialed in just right; Dave has second thoughts about the color combination.
A simple engine repair slowly turns into a patented Kindig slippery slope, as a show-ready 1935 Roadster V8 requires a full rebuild.
The shop hits the road to check out the competition; Will and Dave's cousin Brad comes along for the ride to share their view on the cars they come across; they team up to challenge Dave in an autocross.
The 1955 Nomad is an iconic car, but the original power isn't enough for the current owner, who wants the guys to put a blower on to boost the power; a new project for a secret client arrives in pretty rough shape, but emerges ready to rumble.
A new client, Rick Mezich from "Deadliest Catch," tests Dave's design prowess on his CF1, while the upholstery shop shows off some of the new processes it has developed to streamline the builds.
Off-road vehicles are few and far between at the shop, but when they do arrive, Dave and the guys love to go all out; this particular Hummer gets a huge conversion from two-wheel drive to four-wheel, a new LS engine, interior and a fresh paint job.
The shop has a busy week prepping for the 2022 SEMA show in Las Vegas, Nevada. Once in Vegas, Dave and Kev attend the first-ever concours d'elegance at the famous Wynn hotel and golf course, where their knowledge of cars will be pushed to its limits.
As the workshop buzzes with activities, the latest CF1 becomes a new challenge for the team, as Dave makes alterations to the original.
Scottsdale is about to witness one of the fiercest competitions at the last car show of the year; Dave gets all the help he needs with his toolbox.
The shop has a busy week prepping for the 2022 SEMA show in Las Vegas, Nevada; once in Vegas, Dave and Kev attend the first-ever concours d'elegance at the famous Wynn hotel and golf course, where their knowledge of cars will be pushed to its limits.
Getting the hood just right proves tricky and the guys invent a new process to make it work; the body work on this truck is where the art of the build truly comes out.
The C10 moves into final assembly, but getting the bed to fit perfectly and dialing in the new air ride are a challenge; the upholstery runs into one problem after another.
Of all the different years and generations of the VW Bug, there is one that stands out among the rest -- the Hebmüller; there are maybe 200 of them left, so in addition to being hard to find, they are truly the holy grail of VWs.
Normally when Kindig-It Design attends a car show, their cars are the ones being judged. But this time around, Dave and Kev hold the keys and will have to select the top 10 builders out of the hundreds of cars that arrive for the show.
Dave's clients have owned a car since they got married 25 years ago and want it restored so they can enjoy it for another 25. While the shop isn't really into straight restorations, adding some custom pieces and paint makes them "say yes" to the pro.
Dave is thrilled with the latest build, while KevDogg is barely lukewarm; Dave has done double-cab VWs, Bugs and Karmann Ghias, but now he is taking on something completely different, and even more rare.
Matching the two-tone paint job is the challenge of the day as the '53 Barn Door Deluxe build carries on; custom trim, a new, more powerful engine, 22 windows and a custom interior all come together to make this surprise worth the wait.
Dave and the guys at Kindig-It proved they could execute Dave's vision of his production Corvette, but now that a few have sold, they have to get them completely finished.
Dave and the team put the finishing touches on the first-ever Kindig CF Corvettes to complete a lifelong dream; however, the clients argue about who will get the first one, all in advance of a once-in-a-lifetime debut at SEMA.
Dave and Kevin, who have been an absolute treat for automotive enthusiasts for years, come back to the SEMA show with something special on their minds.
A Beatles fanatic challenges Dave to paint a modern Rolls-Royce to match the car John Lennon commissioned in the late 1960s.
Dave and Kev take the show as far east as they have ever gone and head to Lake George, New York, for the Adirondack Nationals; the town shuts down for the car show, attracting some of the best on the east coast.
A 1970s Pantera is an iconic sportscar, but once Dave gets his hands on it, the style will never be the same; the client has given Dave free rein to change the car as he sees fit, but has one request: he is 6'4" and can't comfortably get in it.
With the whole team in agreement over the body mods, the crew must make the designs into reality; their list of tasks include bulging out the fenders, creating a spider-shaped exhaust, executing the stretch and getting the car to body.
The Pantera is almost done, but nothing is simple with this car; Dave and Kev get a chance to upgrade their semi rig.
A past client returns with a 1965 Mustang Fastback, and though he likes the stock look, he wants to upgrade the drivetrain, instrumentation and as many modern amenities as possible; the assembly team gets a crash course in engine tuning.
Dave and the crew start on a 1966 Corvette, but his client doesn't want the color to be anywhere close to its original green.
The client is on board with the chosen shade of green, and the car moves into the paint booth.
An active-duty serviceman and his father are finally ready to finish their 1951 Ford pickup.
The 1951 Ford pickup is painted and ready for final assembly; the team encounters many problems trying to get it ready for a serviceman who is returning from a year away in a war zone.
After recovering from a terrible accident where his '32 Ford caught fire, a local business owner wants to see the car fixed as well; diagnosing the fire damage and what caused it is a priority; a 1967 Mustang arrives with a nasty engine vibration.
Dave designs a Mustang for the ages to compete in the Optima Challenge; the build includes a new front facia and hood and redesigning the rear end.
The 1965 Mustang makes its way through the metal shop and is now ready for paint and final assembly; making it function will test even the Kindig crew.
Dave has decided that the time is right to design his own concept car from scratch; it's a huge job that involves all the different departments in the shop.
All the Concept Corvette's elements are built and assembled, but Dave needs to find a buyer; a rock 'n' roll icon brings his '34 Ford coupe to the shop.
A simple repaint of a 1964 Corvette careens into much more after Dave upsells the client on a couple of design features, and the crew finds some damage underneath the original paint; the owner of an iconic Ford GTX1 tasks Dave with solving a dilemma.
An abandoned 1967 C10 that has been sitting for years has been sold to a client who wants a few new touches, but closer inspection reveals more work is needed.
The engineering on the convertible C10 works in theory, but making it work in practice is the next step; a team brings in a replica 1967 Cobra with a bad engine.
Delayed by numerous issues and setbacks, the 1941 Chevy is finished in the metal shop and ready for paint; fresh paint, new wiring and custom interior take this problem build to the next level.
Dave and the Kindig team add a tubbed bed and slivered Camaro bumpers to a classic Chevrolet C/K C-10.
A road warrior from Alaska arrives at the shop to add some improvements to an already solid build; to enhance performance, a new exhaust and tips are custom fabricated as well as a new set of wheels, tires and a custom interior.
The guys need to shake down a 1962 Corvette and make some design adjustments to a '55 Mercedes Gullwing; Kevin hunts for new ideas and rare finds in Los Angeles.
A simple yet classy Pontiac Tempest arrives for a ground-up build, but things get complicated after the car is completely stripped.
The Pontiac Tempest build continues as bodywork is completed and Dave has designed a killer new color; Kevin shows off his powder-coating skills on a custom chassis.
The pieces that have arrived at the shop are allegedly for a Nova, but the only thing recognizable is the body; the challenge will be to piece car back together and get the body ready so the client can paint it himself.
Dave and Kevin take the '67 Coronet, '55 Gullwing and '63 Corvette to a car show in Columbus, Ohio, where they will compete for street rod of the year.
Dave loves anything VW, and he finds a deal for a rare Transporter pickup that is too good to pass up. With a few modifications, he will finish the build, but then his real dilemma begins - whether to keep it or auction it.
Dave is challenged restoring a 1964 Cadillac to its original condition.
A car from Kindig's past arrives back in the shop for an engine upgrade; Dave and Kevin make a trip to Detroit to see the latest technology at Lingenfelter engine builders.
A client wants his '48 GMC to be Dave's baddest build ever, but when he throws Dave a curveball, it threatens the entire project. Celebrating 20 years in business, Kindig-It hosts a custom car show featuring a slew of past builds.
Dave restarts work on a 1948 GMC truck that has been sitting in the back of the shop for three years.
Dave and the team at Kindig It Design start a new year with a one-of-a-kind build they have never attempted before, a 1964 Ranchero; the car looks to have had a lot of work done, but what's underneath the metal sets the team back.
The Ranchero build is an epic achievement for Dave and the whole Kindig It Design team, but they hope the client sees it the same way; Dave seeks the perfect name for the perfect car.
A Canadian father-daughter team arrives to add a new ride to their impressive collection; building the little sister to the '62 Safari Bus is something close to Dave's VW roots; fresh off the showroom floor, a 2017 Cadillac CTSV.
An old build is back for new customizations, an interior revamp and a new name; with Kevin headed out of town, Dave tries to sneak a new and personal project through the doors.
One of Dave's all time favorite designs is the Mercedes Gullwing, and a new client arrives with a kit version of the car; the car kit has many flaws, which the team need to address while trying to get the car as close as they can to original.
Every inch of the Mercedes Gullwing has finally been addressed and the car comes to an epic conclusion; questions and challenges remain, including which color will be just right and whether or not the doors will actually function.
A '41 Chevy that has bounced around numerous shops rolls in for a quick trunk lid fix, but things go south very quickly; as if the shop wasn't busy enough, they kick off a Road Tour and the garage turns into an ER for broken down cars.
A new client arrives and asks Dave to envision a future where the Hummer H2 continued to be produced and to build what he thinks that car might look like 20 years into the future; it's out with the old and in with the new, as Kevin leads the charge.
Car show season is always a big time of year for the crew, but a show in Stockton, Calif., has called with an interesting request; along with bringing some rides to the show, they ask Dave to be a judge and present a special award.
Dave and the team swap the chassis in a 1955 Nomad and upgrade its performance, which will give this car the edge it was missing.
Lloyd was born in 1962 and his dream is to have something old, but in good shape just like himself; Dave's biggest challenge is to stretch the car four inches to give more room for driving, moving the gas tank and a few other necessary improvements.
Four years ago, Vinnie Massaro brought his Charger to Kindig It Design looking for some minor improvements, and what he got absolutely blew him away; now he's back to build the biggest, baddest Mopar on the planet.
The 1967 Coronet build continues as the metal work comes to an end and the car moves into the paint booth; Vinnie wanted to go all out on this build and Dave has done some of his most innovative design work to date.
An original FE engine, modified bumpers and some insights from Kevin make the revival of a 1957 Ford Fairlane a build to remember; a father and son challenge the team to make their engines roar.
The Fairlane build concludes, as the vehicle is bodyworked, painted, assembled and upholstered; getting the old-school engine fired and working properly proves to be a challenge.
A 1968 Chevrolet Camaro has a new owner who wants to finish off the build with a new front valance, rear spoiler and fresh paint; a 1965 Ford Mustang with mechanical issues gets an upgrade.
The guys set their sights on a major car show in Pleasanton, Calif., and work to get a Chevelle road ready for its owner.
Kindig-It Design finally finishes the 1967 Chevrolet Nova after 16 years of work; despite looking pretty stock on the outside, the vehicle boasts a unique power station underneath the hood.
Kevin and Dave gear up for the Back to the 50's car show in St. Paul, Minn.; Dave runs a sweepstakes to raise money for charity, awarding the 1929 roadster to one lucky contestant.
A repeat client and collaborator's new project for Kindig It is a 1927 Shadow Rod; a 2017 Bentley Bentayga receives some styling upgrades.
Tad Leach is eager to have his dream car built by Kindig It Design; Dave goes big on the build of a rare 1958 Lincoln Continental; the upholstery shop updates the seats and headliner on a rare 1969 McLaren.
The Continental build continues; the vehicle receives a custom blue color, massive V12 engine, and the green light from a living legend; Dave wants a new car hauler and enlists RMD Garage to help.
Dave and Kevin take the show on the road to Loveland, Colo., where they hope to capture a major award for the Copper Caddy and Mischief, a 1952 Pontiac; a 1966 Chevelle arrives for upholstery and an engine upgrade.
The entire Kindig family works hard to convert a '57 Corvette into a bitchin' ride as a retirement gift for Charity's father, but getting the kids motivated to help is easier said than done; a 1967 Malibu's AC is repaired.
The shop pulls out all the stops to take home the gold at the last car show of the season; the Fairlane and the Nomad receive extra attention; Dave and Kevin check out the best vehicles in Reno.
The metal masters take on a 1967 Chevelle with Great 8 pedigree and high expectations; Dave learns the hard way that builds do not always go according to plan.
Dave is tasked with finding and transforming a 1967 Pontiac GTO for a secret client from South Africa; Dave buys back one of his first builds, a Volkswagen Karmann Ghia, but does not know what he will do with it when he gets it back on the road.
Final details on the 1967 Pontiac GTO include tanzanite blue paint, redline wheels and a custom interior; a Chevelle arrives for a small but poignant upgrade.
The guys work on a rare 1952 Pontiac but find something lurking beneath the metal that threatens the whole build.
The team struggles to get the trim, paint and upholstery just right on the '52 Pontiac; custom graphics are added to a 2014 Challenger.
The owner of a 1969 Chevrolet Camaro has a very specific mission for Dave and the crew; the upholstery shop repairs a worn-out convertible top; body man Brandon brings his ride into the shop.
The shop builds a gasser race car, but Dave and the client disagree on a color for the vehicle; Dave readies a 2012 pickup truck for his teenage son, who had bad luck with his first car.
Dave fixes up a 1972 Chevrolet Blazer he purchased three years earlier; Justin believes Dave needs to rethink his color choices; Nick struggles to get the vehicle's engine purring.
Dave plans to redesign a 1955 Ford F-100 with a custom hourglass-shaped bed, extended cab and sleek grill, but the client has his own ideas for the interior.
The guys scramble to get the Ford F-150's exhaust, car color and engine just right; Dave hopes the owner of the super car farm truck will like the color he selected for the interior.
Dave goes out on a limb and purchases a 1929 roadster to fix up and flip, but Kevin fears he's bought another lemon; Kris tackles an engine that won't cooperate and hopes a two-dollar fix can solve a million-dollar problem.
Dave returns to his roots when he purchases a 1965 Volkswagen Bus to restore, reupholster and flip; the 1968 Boss Mustang arrives for some upgrades.
A 2014 Jaguar with only 50 miles and a history of bad luck arrives at Kindig; golfer Dennis Walters wants Dave to repaint his vehicle.
Dave happily works his magic on a stock 1968 Chevrolet Camaro belonging to a man from Massachusetts; Dave devises a revolutionary way to customize parts.
Dave has his hands full trying to locate and build a 1959 Buick Invicta; twin 2014 Audis looking for some styling cues.
The Invicta build finally comes to a show-ready end after many challenges; Dave gets down and dirty on a 1970 Mustang that comes in to get its driveline unbundled.
The Kindig crew contends with a problem-ridden 1932 roadster and a 1940 coupe; Dave's dune buggy mysteriously vanishes.
The crew ups its game to modernize a 1994 Chevrolet Impala; a purple 1969 Ford Mustang poses mechanical challenges; metal fabricator Kris presents an original hot rod.
A 1954 Ford from the farm is transformed into a hot-rodding milk machine; a new Challenger receives retro updates; Will rides a vintage chopper.
A client brings his powerful 1964 Chevrolet Malibu into the shop; the crew works on a 1973 'Cuda; Dave drives a 1972 Datsun.
The team's newest member modifies the hood of a 2013 Mr. Norm's Challenger; a new rear suspension is installed on a 1948 Studebaker.
A white 1969 Chevrolet Camaro gets completely customized, while a green '69 Camaro purchased on the Internet becomes a bigger project than originally imagined.
The owner of 1960 Cadillac wants his vehicle transformed into a copper hot rod; a one-off 2010 Chevrolet Camaro requires repairs; the guys recall a 1972 Ford Bronco.
Former professional football tight end Chad Lewis desires customizations for his Audi R8 Spyder; a 1978 Trans Am needs tubs and wheels; a 1970 Dodge Challenger excites Kevin.
The shop readies for an important outdoor show; Dave's plans for a 1927 Ford Zipper do not go as expected; the crew recalls earlier work on a 1937 Chevy.
Dave hopes to transform an outdated 1953 Chevy into a modern hot rod; a 1934 Ford coupe "Kraken" needs an air ride refresh; a 1965 Ford Galaxie is taken for a major burn.
A 1933 Ford Tudor arrives for a challenging paint match, as well as interior and exterior refreshes; a 1970 Dodge Challenger is restored to its Mopar glory; Dave remembers a 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air.
The Kindig crew attempts to create a 1950-style Chevrolet Fleetside, a truck model that does not exist.