Having been held 71 times, the Grand National Roadster Show is the world's longest-running indoor car show. Classic Industries has been a part of this venerable event on several occasions, most recently for the show that was held Friday, January 24 through Sunday, January 26. Over the three days, 50,000 fans witnessed first hand the more than 490 world-class muscle cars, roadsters, hot rods and customs inside the several buildings at the Pomona, California Fairplex. Especially on show-Saturday, there were also well over 700 cool cars and trucks that drove in carrying more muscle car mavens and hot rod heroes that graced the outdoor landscape of the L.A. County Fairgrounds. 

Back in the days before SUVs and crossovers became the family-haulers of choice, the station wagon was the ultimate vehicle for carrying kids, four-legged friends, and all your belongings safely from point A to point B. Many of us have good memories of long road trips in the family wagon, and this nostalgia has led some classic car fans to seek out long-roof vehicles to restore. Michelle Garcia chose this '66 Nova wagon, and spent nearly two decades restoring it.

The Chevrolet Camaro has been an icon of performance and speed for more than five decades. Its blend of a sleek exterior and raucous V8 engine has carried on across generations. Today, some choose to restore these vehicles to factory-fresh original condition, while others have fused elements of early and late Camaro models to create something unique. This second-gen 1972 Camaro SS falls into the latter category, with an LS3 V8 and 6-speed manual transmission transplanted from a fifth-gen model.

For car enthusiasts, it's always enthralling to watch classic vehicles appear on the silver screen, whether they're piloted by the dashing hero or the nefarious villain. Engines roar, tires squeal, and inevitably some unfortunate street vendor's fruit stand gets knocked over during the chaos. But in the end, these cameos can provide new appreciation for our favorite vehicles, and also inspire younger generations to learn to love these cars as we do. The 2000 action film "Gone in 60 Seconds" has an incredible lineup of classics, with the most recognizable being a '67 Mustang known as "Eleanor."

Classic Industries is all in favor of California Legislation AB 210 passing. It is incumbent that every Classic Industries customer and every automotive enthusiast who resides in California, spreads the word that this bill needs to be heard and passed. This legislation has been introduced in California to exempt motor vehicles prior to the 1983 model year from an emissions inspection requirement. Current law requires the biennial (once every other year) testing of all 1976 and newer model-year vehicles. This bill is still pending and needs a hearing in the committee by January 17. The hearing has to be scheduled prior to the legislative deadline if the bill is to move forward. 

Over the years, we've seen quite a few restomod builds arrive at the parking lot in front of our Retail Showroom. This category of vehicles combines original-style restoration parts with modern components to create a unique blend of old and new. Many restomods add only a handful of subtle changes under the skin, and some take this further, replacing the entire engine and suspension with brand-new parts. However, few restomods we've seen are as extreme as this 1973 Charger. In fact, so many of its parts have been swapped out that some might say the term doesn't adequately describe it.

The 1955-57 Chevy "Tri Five" is an undeniable classic that has remained popular and desirable across generations of automotive enthusiasts. Its sleek lines and elegant curves look just as good today as they did at Chevrolet dealers more than six decades ago. As time passes, it brings new trends, and the Tri Five has been adapted to fit many of them, from gassers to hot rods to modern pro-street or pro-touring builds. And of course, many of these vehicles have been restored to original condition or lightly resto-modded to fit the owner's taste.

Shopping and searching for great bargains is a big thing during the Holidays. With the rousing success of the first two Classic Industries Scratch & Dent Sale blowouts, held in May and August of this year, we decided to have a Scratch & Dent Sale Holiday Bargain Bonanza. On Saturday, December 14, we sought the help of one of Santa's Helpers direct from the North Pole and extended an invitation to Classic Industries local customers to our Huntington Beach Retail Showroom for great deals on open-box, less than perfect and clearance restoration parts and accessories.

Christmas has come and gone, and the jolly bearded guy clad in red and white has returned to his North Pole abode once more. We know his traditional method of transportation is a flying sleigh and pack of reindeer, but a customer recently stopped by our Retail Showroom in a vehicle that looks like it'd be a fitting four-wheeled alternative for Mr. Claus. Rudolph and his pals can take some time off, because this red and white two-tone '56 Bel Air forgoes reindeer-power in favor of good old horsepower.

Just as Rome wasn't built in a day, it takes considerable time and patience to complete any classic car restoration project. But good things come to those who wait, and patience pays off in the end. All the work and waiting just makes seeing the finished vehicle even more satisfying. Such was the case with this 1967 Firebird, which was restored by Ernesto Castro and his sons in their home garage.