When Greg Raf pulled into our Retail Showroom parking lot in this clean 1965 Mustang, we knew we had to get a closer look. Greg, who was passing through Huntington Beach during a road trip from his hometown of San Jose, California, told us that this car has been part of his family since 1983. Unsurprisingly, he's not planning to let go of it. He has put a substantial amount of work into restoring and modifying this classic Ford.

Yes, you're reading that title correctly. Although it may not look like it, this is a 1978 Trans Am. It has been heavily modified with parts from earlier and later model years, as well as a rare convertible top conversion by National Coach Engineering. It also features some custom-molded body panels and black accents on its bright red paint. The result is a truly unique second-gen Pontiac that draws a crowd wherever it goes.

As classic car owners, we often develop a close connection with our vehicles and feel that they're irreplaceable. It's an understandable result of investing so much time, money, and sweat into making them look and run like new again. But few owners have a closer bond with their cars than those who inherited them from a family member. Angel Garrido received this 1969 Barracuda from his father, who bought it brand new in November of 1968. It's practically a four-wheeled member of the family at this point.

The first-generation of the Pontiac Firebird was the beginning of a legend. Launched in '67 alongside its sibling, the Chevrolet Camaro, the Firebird quickly developed into one of Pontiac's most famous vehicles. It would live on for 35 years across four generations. The 1969 Firebird seen here marks a significant year in the model's history, signifying the third year of its production, the final year of the first-gen, and the starting point for the Trans Am (an option package in 1969).

Take one look at this 1966 Chevy Nova, and it's clear that it falls into the restomod category. Some elements have been restored using original-style parts, while others have been modified or replaced with modern components. The lowered stance, large billet wheels, blacked-out bumpers and trim, and carbon fiber chin spoiler are all characteristic cues for this style of build. However, the changes to this Nova are much more than skin deep.

At first glance, Rick Scott's '54 Chevy truck looks a bit rough. The cab was transplanted from an earlier split-windshield pickup. Its sheetmetal is sprayed in a mottled coat of flat black paint, the grille is dented, and both the front bumper and tailgate are missing completely. But when you take a closer look at this truck, you'll start spotting some subtle (and not-so-subtle) hints that it was built with a singular purpose: speed. Rick turned his truck into an all-out drag-racing machine.

Classic cars often become family heirlooms, passed from generation to generation over the course of decades. Not only does this process ensure a vehicle remains in good hands by keeping it in the family, it also maintains a strong sense of appreciation for these timeless cars and trucks. After all, it's one thing to see them in pictures and read about them in magazines, and entirely another to get your hands dirty under the hood and feel the exhilaration behind the wheel. This 1969 Camaro RS was recently restored in preparation to be handed down from a grandmother to her grandson.

Mopar cars of the early 1970s are well-known for their array of eye-catching High Impact colors, such as Plum Crazy, Sublime, Go Mango, and Panther Pink. Those vibrant hues were impossible to miss, and closely associated with the in-your-face attitude of these classic Dodge and Plymouth muscle cars. But even without brightly-colored paint, these vehicles have immense presence on the road. This 1973 'Cuda is a perfect example of what we mean.

Classic cars were made to be driven, and the best way to appreciate them is from behind the wheel with an open road ahead. However, there's an inherent element of risk every time a car leaves the garage. Whether it's the result of a distracted driver or an honest mistake, there's always a chance that another motorist might crash into your prized vehicle. That's exactly what happened to this 1972 Road Runner. Fortunately, Thelma Garcia was able to rescue the damaged Plymouth and restore it to its original condition.

Anyone who was fortunate enough to have a car during high school has vivid memories of that vehicle. For some of us, it was a real junker, barely getting us where we needed to go as we struggled to keep it running. For others, it was a first project car, a little rough around the edges but something we took pride in restoring. John Velasquez, of West Covina, California, falls into the latter category. He bought this 1970 Camaro RS back in 1983 while he was in high school, and has owned it ever since.