Shop ClassicIndustries.com
classic-news-blog-main-header-1

D. Brian Smith

Recent Posts by D. Brian Smith:

Video: Righteous & Raucous Weight Transfer in a 1967 Mustang Fastback

If you work with your brain and your hands this could be your creation and your good fun. Civil engineering student and JBA Speed Shop builder Ethan has created a 1967 Ford Mustang fastback that pretty much every gearhead on the planet would want to drive and enjoy.

Family Ties: Charles Williams’ 1968 Chevrolet Camaro


Some classic cars are bought because they’re valuable. Others are chosen because they’re fast, rare, or simply the car someone has dreamed about owning since childhood. Then there are cars whose value can’t really be measured in dollars at all.

Charles J. Williams’ 1968 Chevrolet Camaro falls squarely into that last category.

Videos: Steve McQueen's 1968 Ford Mustang Stunt Car - End of the Rainbow


Just imagine the great luck that accompanies stumbling onto/discovering the 1968 Ford Mustang GT390 Bullitt movie stunt car that the King of Cool, actor Steve McQueen drove as San Francisco Police Department Detective Frank Bullitt. There's also a mountain of work that ensues once such a figurative pot of gold is found at the end of the rainbow, in terms of renovating a historically and painstakingly accurate, 100-point ground up restoration. 

Restoring Family Pride: The 1973 Chevy C-30 Cheyenne Dually

Some classic trucks are restored because they're rare. Others are restored because they're part of the family.

This beautifully restored 1973 Chevrolet C-30 Cheyenne Super Camper Special dually falls into the latter category. Its story began more than five decades ago, long before its current owner took possession. It is a story of family, unforgettable road trips, and a promise fulfilled.

Built in a Barn: Chad Compton’s Award-Winning 1974 GMC C15 Super Custom

Some custom trucks begin with a clean survivor, a running project, or at least a complete vehicle. Chad Compton’s 1974 GMC C15 Super Custom wasn’t any of those things.

When Compton acquired the short-bed Fleetside in 2022, it was essentially a full-size jigsaw puzzle. There was no engine in the truck, the bed wasn’t mounted, body panels had been removed, and assorted parts were packed away in boxes. Three years later, that collection of pieces emerged from a literal barn as a meticulously detailed, LS-powered square body wearing a custom Sky Blue and white two-tone finish—and carrying a Best of Show – Paint award to prove just how far the project had come.

Pontiac GTO Judge: History, Specs, Model Year Differences, & Production Numbers

Pontiac built the GTO Judge for only three model years, but in that brief span it created one of the most recognizable American muscle cars ever made. Here’s a detailed history of The Judge, including production totals, engines, specifications, year-to-year changes between 1969 and 1971, and all the other details enthusiasts should know when identifying or restoring a Pontiac GTO Judge today. We even included guides to help you spot one at a glance and verify whether it came from the factory with the Judge option package.

The Rare Legend of the 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle 454 SS LS6

If you’re the kind of person who can recognize a big-block idle from half a block away, you already know the 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 454 occupies a sacred corner of muscle-car history. But within that world, there’s a particular halo car: the LS equipped factory-installed big-block (Chevrolet’s baddest in the Chevelle lineup), and one of the defining “peak muscle” statements of the era.

The Legendary Trans Ams of 'Smokey and the Bandit': A Hidden History

Few automobiles have ever become as inseparable from a motion picture as the black-and-gold Pontiac Trans Am from Smokey and the Bandit. James Bond had his Aston Martins, Steve McQueen had his Highland Green Mustang, and the Duke boys had the General Lee—but no Hollywood car did more to transform the fortunes of an American performance model than the 1977 Pontiac Trans Am. 

Video: How to Authenticate a Real 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 454 LS6

With values as high - and production as limited - as the 1970 Chevelle SS 454 LS6, authenticity is everything. Because many Chevelles have been upgraded over the decades, documentation and details matter more than horsepower claims. Here’s how knowledgeable collectors separate real LS6 cars from well-built tributes.

1969 Pontiac GTO - A Father's Gift Becomes His Dream

There are certain cars that don't simply arrive - they make an entrance.

On any given Southern California weekend, Jack Kee's custom blue-and-white 1969 Pontiac GTO rumbles into a local cruise night wearing a confident stance on wide American Racing wheels. The deep exhaust note from its healthy Pontiac 400 announces its arrival long before curious spectators begin drifting toward the car. Some admire the brilliant custom paint. Others recognize the unmistakable Endura front bumper and sculpted Coke-bottle body lines that helped make the 1969 GTO one of the most celebrated muscle cars ever built.