In January 2017, Classic Industries held its first Media Open House event. This event invited select members of the automotive press to visit our Huntington Beach headquarters for lunch and some big news.

First, Classic Industries CEO Jeff Leonard spoke about the history of the company, the growth of the automotive restoration industry, and the upcoming launch of all-new Classic Industries catalogs for several Buick models:

1970 Challenger T/A 340 Six Pak four-speed. This series of numbers and words will mean very little to the average person on the street, but say them in front of a car enthusiast, and you'll immediately have their attention. This EV2 Hemi Orange Mopar comes from what many consider to be the peak year of the muscle car generation, and only about 2,400 of these special T/A models were made during the single-year production run.

The 1967 through 1972 C10 pickup is a truly classic design. Its strong edges were a notable departure from the sculpted curves of the 1960-66 models, but it still wasn't quite as squared-off as the 1973-87 pickups which followed it. This is one reason why the '67-'72 Chevy trucks have remained popular for so many years.

Jonathan Pompey, of Compton, California, vividly remembers the first time he laid eyes on this 1964 Impala. It was November of 2004, and he was walking his dog down the street when he spotted it. The Impala was in rough shape, and parked at the curb in front of a house. Right then and there, Jonathan approached the owner and asked to buy it. Unfortunately, it wasn't for sale.

Take a good look at this 1955 Chevy Bel Air. This pristine ride belongs to Joel Sellers, of Garden Grove, California, and it's a beautiful example of a first-year Tri Five.

Of all the details to be found on Joel's '55, the thing that stands out the most is undoubtedly its Candy Apple Red paint. The hue is deep and rich, and the gloss looks so wet you might think it was painted yesterday. However, that's not the case. Far from it, in fact. Joel tells us that this paint was applied in 2000 — it sure doesn't look like a nearly 17-year-old paint job.

To many vehicle buyers, trucks are designed for utility. They're used to tow trailers, haul heavy loads, and traverse rough trails. As a result, they often get dented, scratched, used up and disposed of at the end of their service lives. This is why it's exciting to see a classic pickup truck in beautiful condition, especially when it has been kept that way by the same owner for several decades.

Dan Svegliato, of Long Beach, California, is a die-hard classic car guy. When he pulled into our Retail Showroom parking lot in the stunning 1968 Pontiac Firebird seen here, we started talking, and Dan began rattling off his previous project cars. Among them were a '67 Firebird, a '70 429 Cobra Jet Ranchero, and a Texas Highway Patrol Mustang designed for high-speed pursuits.

When starting a new classic car project, there are a number of choices to make. Some owners choose to restore every nut and bolt to factory spec, ending up with a vehicle that looks like it just rolled off the showroom floor. Jeromey Campbell, of Huntington Beach, California, was looking for something more distinctive when he started work on this 1991 Camaro Z28 convertible.

The '57 Chevy Bel Air is a timeless piece of Americana. It's one of the few vehicles that's identifiable to even those who wouldn't consider themselves automotive enthusiasts. It has been featured in countless songs, TV shows, and movies. Even if you're not a die-hard classic car fan, the '57 Chevy is simply cool.

This 57 Bel Air convertible belongs to Steven Miller, of Hawthorne, California. Steven tells us he's part of the Rollerz Only car club, and picked up the Chevy as a restoration project after finding it for sale in Texas. Rather than gradually replacing bits and pieces, he dove in headfirst, and completed a full frame-off restoration of this classic convertible.

Here at Classic Industries, we often get to see our customers' completed restoration projects in the parking lot of our Retail Showroom. It always brings a smile to our faces, and we do our best to document each vehicle and share it here on the Classic Industries blog. However, on certain occasions, we get a glimpse into these vehicles' origins, and have the opportunity to see how far they've come. These cases are especially interesting, since we get to see a "before and after" transformation take place as restoration occurs.