Classic Industries has changed and grown a lot since it was founded in 1976. Back then, our founder and CEO Jeff Leonard was selling reproduction carpet kits through classified ads. However, even after all these years, there's one thing that will never change: our love for classic cars. That's why we always take every opportunity we can to showcase timeless vehicles restored to their original beauty. Recently, we created a pair of TV commercials that include a handful of the most iconic cars of the '50s, '60s, '70s, and '80s. Check them out and let us know which is your favorite!

We always love to hear the stories behind our customers' restored classic cars. No two are the same, and many are closely tied to fond memories from childhood. For Boynton Morris, of Buena Park, California, the Ford Mustang was a car he admired since he was young. Over the following decades, as he restored several other classic cars, the Mustang was always in the back of his mind. One day, an acquaintance decided to sell his '65 Mustang convertible project car, and Boynton knew the time had finally come to buy it.

Buying a classic car doesn't have to be expensive, since there are many affordable fixer-upper projects to be found if you know where to look. However, certain vehicles are so rare that their prices automatically reach well into the six-figure range. The Yenko Nova is one such car. Less than 10 of the 427ci-V8-powered Yenko/SC 427 Novas are known to exist today, and these originals go for $500,000 or more if you manage to find one for sale. Knowing this, Doug Watt decided to build his standard 1969 Nova into an affordable Yenko/SC 427 "tribute" car.

Appreciation for classic cars is often a trait that runs in the family. Sometimes, it's the result of a deliberate decision by a parent to use the car as a means of bonding with children. Many of us have childhood memories of helping our parents repair or restore their vehicles. In other cases, this enthusiasm arises naturally, as a result of simply riding in the passenger seat or seeing the car in the driveway. Michael Cohen, of Pacific Palisades, California, fell in love with this '65 Impala SS when it was owned by a family member. Eventually, he purchased it and became its second owner.

What do you do if you have two damaged cars that are beyond repair? Most people would sell them for scrap, or use them as parts donors for cars that are in better shape. The team at Tredwear had a much bolder idea: fuse the two cars together to create something truly unique. In this case, it was a 1978 Pontiac Trans Am shell blended onto the underpinnings of a C5 Corvette Z06. The result is an extremely cool wide-body muscle car with 1980s racing-inspired aerodynamic elements and graphics. Classic Industries contributed parts to this build, and we were able to get a behind-the-scenes look at how it all came together.

One nice thing about owning a first-generation 1967-1969 Camaro is the wide array of replacement parts available. You can buy original-style reproduction parts to restore your car to showroom condition, install a few subtle upgrades to modernize it slightly, or build a wild pro-touring car with the latest and greatest components. Today, we'll take a look at one easy upgrade that presents a few different choices: Camaro tail lights. First, we'll explain some of the replacement parts that are available, and then we'll show you how to install your new tail lights.

For many classic car enthusiasts, vehicles are more than mere objects. They serve as shared projects that strengthen bonds between family members, introduce owners to new friends, and sometimes even lead to life-changing business opportunities. Frank Villareal, of Anaheim, California, has experienced each of these effects through his 1969 Camaro project. He explains, "I started building my own car, and next thing I know I'm building parts for people who like what they see. This car is what put me there, it's my canvas."

Most old car projects involve many obstacles and challenges along the way that wind up making the completed build that much more satisfying when the finish line is successfully crossed. On some occasions, there are daunting and unexpected build problems that occur right from the start. That’s the sort of fork in the road where some car caretakers might just scrap a project and sell the car down the road before they barely get started.

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.

As the saying goes, "time waits for no one." Although this statement is accurate in many respects, we'd argue that time can be stopped dead in its tracks as it relates to classic cars. Better yet, we're able to reverse the aging process, restoring our favorite vehicles to their original glory. It's a unique experience, and one we never get tired of witnessing. This 1969 Camaro Z/28 is a perfect example of how restorers can turn back the clock.