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Classic Industries Featured Restorations - Is Your Vehicle Ready?

Here's a quiz question for you that has several answers. Like with many tests, there is only one correct answer. The question is, "What do all of these cars shown in the lead photo have in common? 

4-Speed Therapy: 1978 Trans Am WS6 W72

"It's a head-turner, not only when it's going down the road but when it's sitting still. When people are out on the street and I get on that thing, it just turns heads! You don't see that today," said Gary Plowman, the owner of this '78 Pontiac Trans Am. His car features the famous WS6 suspension package and W72 T/A 6.6L V8 engine — a combination of options that made the Trans Am a top-tier performer, even alongside the Camaro Z28 and Corvette of that era. A recent video from Hemmings' Tested Muscle series takes a closer look at this bright red Trans Am.

Video: Twin-Turbo Widebody Trans Am

"I always wanted a V8, manual, rear-drive car... but I wanted something that's American. I come from New Zealand, so all the stuff here that's local is cool to me." Fueled by memories of watching Smokey and the Bandit as a kid, Gregg Hamilton started looking for the classic American muscle car of his dreams shortly after he moved to the United States. However, he didn't want just any Trans Am, he wanted one that he could make his own. "It's not always about the driving for me. It's about the build, it's about tinkering with it." With that goal in mind, Hamilton ended up creating the aggressive, twin-turbo, widebody Trans Am seen in this video from Petrolicious.

Video: Jay Leno in a 1979 Trans Am

"I love the fact that this is exactly how it left the factory," says Jay Leno while discussing this beautiful 1979 Trans Am. "No modifications, nothing added on, so you really get the feeling of what it was like back in 1979. This was a fast car... and it's still a fast car!" We're big fans of the Jay Leno's Garage series on YouTube, and often go back to watch our favorite episodes. This particular one, featuring a mint-condition Pontiac from the Audrain Automobile Museum, is certainly worth revisiting.

1969 Pontiac Firebird 400 Convertible - Heavy Rollin' Ragtop

My Firebird was built in Norwood, Ohio. The original color was Verduro Green. She sports a power top, power disc brakes, rally gauges, standard interior with a wood grain steering wheel, and dash face. The engine's backed by a Turbo 400 transmission, 2,800-rpm stall converter, with all that torque transferred to 3.42 gears stuffed in a 10-bolt rear end that was donated from a 79 Trans Am. The engine is the factory, numbers matching 400 that has been stroked & bored to 468 cubic inches of V8 power. The hydraulic roller cams have .623 degrees of lift and .240 duration. The Edelbrock cylinder heads and intake have been ported. There's also a beaudacious 950 cfm Holley four-barrel carb, two-inch Doug's headers, forged steel rods, forged pistons and nitrided crank in the mix for this prodigious mill. As far as the numbers go, the engine has 11.0:1 compression, makes 600-horsepower and 640-lb.-ft. of torque on 91 octane pump fuel. The paint scheme is the LeMans Blue hue from a 2006 Corvette.

1973 Pontiac Firebird T/A with Numbers Matching factory "Y" code 455

Bruce Johnson's 1973 Pontiac Trans Am was a labor of love and family support. He bought the car in Detroit and moved it to Texas. Securing the car was the easy part. In the year that he has had the car, he and his family have had the original, numbers matching "Y" code 455 rebuilt and slightly modified with an earlier model cam and exhaust manifolds. He also added an aluminum intake and HEI ignition. The car had been stored for 18 years. Since the paint was tired, Bruce had the entire exterior re-painted with new decals. New suspension components followed, and finally he got down to business changing out the maroon interior to black, with the help of Classic Industries. He ordered new seat covers, carpet, and headliner from Classic to complete the makeover.

Gallery: A Few of Our Favorite American Cars from Movies & TV Shows

The sort of vehicles that we get exposed to in our upbringing can influence the kind of cars and trucks that we wish to own later in life. If the vehicle is old enough (and the car's would-be caretaker has sufficient spending cash), it could be the sort of car/truck that an auto enthusiast wishes to purchase as a project vehicle to maintain (if it's running), renovate, or resto-mod. The various forms of media — radio, TV, movies, the internet, video games, etc. — all can contribute in a big way to this sort of automotive exposure and influence. Today, we'll discuss a few of our favorite American classic cars from movies and TV shows.

New Product: 1969 Firebird Dash Instrument Carrier Assembly

The first-generation Pontiac Firebird is a vehicle that experienced some substantial changes over its three-year production run, and the 1969 model is immediately recognizable as a result. It features an aerodynamic bumper and grill design that's unique to this model year, new front fenders with recessed fender ornaments, and eye-catching details such as bird-shaped side markers on the rear quarter panels. There were also some updates inside the Firebird, including a new dash carrier that contained the gauges, air vents, and radio. Classic Industries is excited to announce the availability of a new OER reproduction dash carrier assembly for the 1969 Firebird and Trans Am.

Overhaulin' 1967 Firebird Built with Classic Industries Parts

Over the years, we've been proud to help well-known automotive publications find the restoration parts they needed to complete their classic car projects. Few TV shows have done more to popularize classic car restoration than Overhaulin'. Since the series premiered in 2004, we have teamed up with Chip Foose and the rest of the Overhaulin' crew many times. This 1967 Firebird, which was completed back in Season 8, is one memorable example. It features a 500-horsepower LS3 crate engine, big brakes, double-adjustable coilover suspension, and slick custom paint.

'79 Trans Am - Staying in the Family

This restored '79 Trans Am looks great at face value, but knowing its backstory makes it even cooler. We recently had an opportunity to speak to this Pontiac's owner, Frank Perez, and learn all the details of the last four decades of its life. It all started back in 1979, when Frank's father purchased the car brand-new in Hawaii.