Aircraft and aeronautics have been a frequent source of inspiration for cars, whether it was aesthetic elements such as cones and fins, functional aerodynamics to increase top speed and cornering capabilities, or simply their names. Most automotive historians agree that the Ford Mustang was named after the famous P-51 Mustang fighter plane, so it's no surprise that Ford continued the theme with the performance-oriented Mach 1 option package. Representing the velocity of an object equal to the speed of sound, the term Mach 1 is synonymous with going fast.

The love of classic cars transcends geographical boundaries, and that's why we're happy to help car enthusiasts all over the world restore their timeless vehicles. Björn Morhin, of Berlin, Germany, is a great example. As a child, he loved watching movies, and soon grew to love the muscle cars that appeared in these films. "In the end, they were the reason I didn't switch TV channels," he recalls. This eventually led Björn to purchase a 1970 Chevy Nova and rebuild it using parts from the Classic Industries Nova catalog.

Today, the roads are full of crossover SUVs that often feel like luxury cars with a little extra ground clearance. But back in the early 1980s, SUVs were much more rugged and utilitarian. This 1981 Chevy Suburban, affectionately nicknamed "Big Green," is a prime example. It belongs to our friends at Hemmings, who have been gradually restoring it and documenting the journey through their video series "Road to Improvement." On one recent episode, we had the opportunity to help Mike and Elana clean up its aging interior, replacing some worn-out components and refurbishing others.

Even for those of us who enjoy working on our own vehicles, electrical repairs can be especially challenging. If one of the electronic components in your car breaks or shorts out, diagnosing and fixing it on your own may not be as easy as turning a wrench on other mechanical parts. Knowing this, Classic Industries has worked hard to offer drop-in replacements for common items such as wiring harnesses and circuit boards. In a recent article, Mopar Connection magazine made use of our circuit boards to repair the instrument cluster on their '67 Dodge Dart project.

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!