Over the years, we've had many conversations with fellow classic car and truck enthusiasts about the history of our favorite vehicles. When we're speaking with someone who has decades of experience studying and working on classic cars, the conversation often brings up some interesting and little-known facts. In this article, we'll share 20 classic truck facts about Chevy and GMC pickups. Some of them are relatively well-known, while others are very obscure. See how many you know, and keep them in mind next time you're chatting with another classic truck fan.

The late 1960s and early 1970s were a groundbreaking time for American culture, music, and of course cars. Many consider this to be the pinnacle of the muscle car era, a period when vehicles were getting wilder than ever before, with aggressive styling, raucous V8 engines, and eye-catching color schemes. Mopar cars were at the forefront of this movement, and have become famous for their High-Impact colors that debuted between 1969 and 1971. Today, we'll be looking back at these High-Impact Mopar paint colors, as well as the meanings behind their creative names and the years they were available.

From 1955 through 1957, Chevrolet produced the series of iconic vehicles that enthusiasts now refer to as Tri Five Chevy models. More than one million of these cars rolled off the assembly line every year to be distributed throughout North America and the rest of the world. However, as with any car, certain body styles and trim levels were common while others were rare. This is relevant to anyone who wishes to buy or restore a classic Chevy 150, 210, or Bel Air today, since it means that some variants will be easier to find than others. Read on as we take a look at the production numbers for each Tri Five Chevy sub-model.

Dodge and Plymouth Mopar cars of the 1960s and 1970s offered a wide array of configurations, from practical family sedans and wagons to aggressive, head-turning muscle cars. This variety of body styles was matched by a variety of colors, from elegant black and white to eye-catching SubLime, Go-Mango, and Panther Pink. Mopar engines were much the same. You could choose from a nearly-indestructible Slant Six, a plethora of small block and big block options, or even the legendary 426 Hemi. Read on as we take a look at classic Mopar engine families and configurations.

Classic car enthusiasts are definitely not a dying breed. For evidence of this fact, look no further than the Santa Maria High School Race Team and the passionate students who built this 1968 Camaro drag car. The SMHS Race Team is an after-school program in Santa Maria, California, where high-schoolers have a unique opportunity to learn how to build and maintain race cars. The program is funded entirely by students, with the exception of donations from sponsors. Classic Industries is proud to have provided restoration parts for this build. Read on as we delve into the details of this '68 Camaro, and how it has evolved into a 565ci big-block-powered, 9-second speed machine.

The 1965-69 Full Size Chevy line of classic cars includes an array of timeless vehicles such as the Biscayne, Bel Air, Caprice, and Impala. Even after more than 50 years, these cars have a strong following among enthusiasts, and clean examples attract attention everywhere they go. Some owners choose to restore them to like-new condition, while others build them into lowriders, cruisers, or modernized muscle cars. Regardless of your preference, it's useful to know the original 1965-69 Chevy Impala specs and body styles that were available for each model year.

Back in the 1960s and 1970s, Dodge and Plymouth produced some truly fantastic vehicles, which many enthusiasts now refer to as Mopar cars. Classic Dodge models such as the Dart, Charger, and Challenger, and Plymouth models such as the Valiant, Barracuda, and Road Runner, are timeless icons of that era. However, if you're new to Mopar cars, it can be difficult to tell the difference between model years and platforms (the A-body, B-body, and E-body). That's why we've created an illustrated reference guide to help you identify classic Dodge and Plymouth cars.

Last week on our blog, we published a comprehensive guide to decoding 1955-57 Chevy VINs and trim tags, which can help you learn more about the original specifications of your classic Tri-Five Chevy. However, there's an aspect of that article that requires more detailed explanation: interior trim codes. These three-digit numbers indicate the original interior color and material combination for each vehicle. Today, we'll list each 1955, 1956, and 1957 Chevy interior trim code and the accompanying interior color, material, and model code.

If you've ever seen a 1955-57 Chevy classic car and wondered what its original specifications were, there's one way to find out for certain: examine the VIN plate and the trim tag. These two pieces of metal were riveted onto the body of all Tri Five Chevy vehicles, and each provides some valuable information on the way they looked when they left the GM assembly line back in the 1950s. Read on to learn how to use our 1955-57 Chevy VIN decoder and trim tag decoder to find out more about your own '55-57 Chevy, or one you're thinking about buying and restoring.

The 1958-1964 Chevy Impala and its Delray, Biscayne, and Bel Air siblings are hugely popular platforms for restoration and modification. These versatile Full Size Chevy cars were available in a wide range of configurations, from sporty 2-door hardtops and convertibles to family-friendly 4-door sedans and station wagons. As a result, it's easy to get confused about which of these vehicle series was paired with a certain model, or to mix up terminology (e.g. sedan versus hardtop). The Classic Industries R&D team has done a substantial amount of research into these details, so today we're going to share some of it with you. Read on to learn about 1958-64 Impala models and body styles.