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

D. Brian Smith

Recent Posts by D. Brian Smith:

1952 Ford F1 - A Resto Patina Pickup for the Open Road

Patina pickups have always made quite a statement without being able to utter a single word. If those red rust worn panels could only talk, they might tell a tale of some hard toil under a California sun at perhaps a vineyard up in Sonoma County where grapes are picked and smooshed to make wine or even just grape juice. 

2024 SVE Supercharged Yenko/SC Silverado Off-Road - 4 to Choose From

Let's say you have a 1969 Chevy Yenko Nova or are about to purchase a 2024 SVE Stage III Yenko/SC Camaro, and you need a super tough truck on the occasions that you don't want to drive your rare and approaching priceless American muscle car. The perfect pickup for towing may well be Specialty Vehicle Engineering's recently announced 2024 SVE Supercharged Yenko/SC Silverado Off-Road. 

2024 SVE Yenko/SC Camaro - 4 Supercar Versions - a Great Send Off!

A car as iconic as the Chevrolet Camaro deserves a fitting and fond farewell. In June of 2023, GM announced that sixth generation Camaro production will end with the 2024 model year. As the number one GM Specialty Vehicle Manufacturer in the United States, Specialty Vehicle Engineering (SVE) produces the limited edition Yenko Camaro/SC. SVE announced that they will produce three very limited edition Yenko Camaro/SC models for the 2024 Camaro. The 1,500-horsepower version Stage III variant will be SVE's ultimate Yenko Camaro/SC road warrior and track terror.

1973 'Cuda - American Muscle Car Owner Honors Big Brother

Automotive enthusiast Chris Figdore has an older brother named Steve. From 1969 to 1970, Steve served in the Marines in the Vietnam War. When Steve returned home from the service in the fall of 1972, he ordered a brand new 1973 Plymouth 'Cuda.

1971 GMC Jimmy 4X4 Named 'Pearl'

Automotive history reveals that GMC named the Jimmy - the upscale offering of the Chevrolet Blazer - to sound like its much smaller competitor, the AMC Jeep. The Jeep, the International Harvester Scout, and the Ford Bronco (in order of manufacture) originated the breed of small, sporty Jeep sized 4x4 sport utility vehicles (SUVs). 

1934 Ford Roadster Bonneville Salt Flats Special - Whiskey Throttle 13

Every once in awhile in the old car hobby a gearhead can have some good karma come along. Especially if said enthusiast has persevered for several years trying to find the car of his or her dreams to build, drive, and enjoy. 

1968 Ford Galaxie 500 XL Sportsroof Daily Driver

Somehow a terrible driving stranger in a 7-Eleven parking lot totaled Long Beach, CA resident Ethan Gentile's daily driven Subaru by backing into the Subie. So, what did Mr. Gentile do really fast? He did what any American muscle car aficionado might do. He found a 1968 Ford XL sportsroof on a website called Offer Up. Ethan then proceeded to negotiate a sweetheart of a deal for the Ford and drove home in the car.

Video: This CHP Fox Body Mustang Chases Porsches - Jay Leno's Garage

In highway patrol pony car parlance, SSP initially stood for Special Service Police when applied to the mighty 1982 Mustang. After evaluating a 1979 Camaro Z28 for an 18-month period, the California Highway Patrol asked The Ford Motor Company to deliver several Mustang notchback coupes for testing. The Ford Crown Victoria sedan was heavy duty enough for police duty, but it was underpowered and couldn't serve as a high speed pursuit vehicle. This is why the CHP had tested the Camaro Z28 and wanted to evaluate the Mustang. For whatever reason the CHP didn't select the Z28.

1954-87 Chevy Truck Bed Restoration: Bedsides, Fenders, Sills, Strips, & Wood Boards

If you're a General Motors short Stepside classic truck owner, you may already know the subtle differences between these 1954-1987 Chevy truck beds and GMC truck beds. However, if you're new to ownership of a GM short-bed Stepside, this article serves to detail the differences to help you find the truck bed parts you need. If your classic Chevy truck bed is in rough shape, you can purchase some new reproduction bedside panels from Classic Industries for your pickup. You might also be able to find a used truck bed in a salvage yard that's in better nick than yours, or buy new old stock (NOS) parts through an online auction site. No matter which path you take to restore your truck, knowing how to identify the different era Chevy truck beds is an essential first step.

A 1932 Highboy Ford Roadster for Surf City USA

The 1932 Ford, especially the full-fendered roadster and the no-fender highboy variants, are the most built and/or replicated classic cars in existence. These '32's aren't just built back to stock either. There are hot rods, street rods, restored, and restomod varieties to plan and build as projects, or to hunt down and find finished.