After its release in 1962, the first-gen Chevy II / Nova didn't exactly scream "muscle car". In fact, the first 1963 Super Sport model didn't even officially offer a V8 engine. However, plenty of hot-rodders saw the little Nova as an ideal platform for their high-performance ambitions. Soon, V8 swaps were common, and before long, many dealers were offering to drop small-block engines into their new Novas for an additional fee. These lightweight V8-powered cars became hugely popular among enthusiasts, and thus a muscle-car icon was born.

There's no doubt the Chevrolet Camaro is a masterfully-designed piece of engineering. After all, this eye-catching appearance is one reason why it has stood the test of time, and captured the hearts of enthusiasts for more than half a century. But, have you ever wondered how each of the six iconic generation designs came to be? GM designers have given us a rare look behind the curtain, so we can better understand the design elements and Camaro history.

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If you're a car enthusiast, especially a classic car enthusiast, you'll no doubt know that air suspension can be a controversial modification. Some people love the ability to tuck big wheels and adjust ride height on the fly, while others claim air suspension degrades what would otherwise be a nicely restored classic. No matter your stance, it's hard not to appreciate a car with air suspension that looks this good. Eric Sass, the owner of this '62 Chevy Impala convertible, embraced the controversy by purchasing the car in mostly restored condition, then swapping the stock wheels and suspension for a set of 'bags and deep-dish billet wheels.

Here at Classic Industries, we see a wide range of customer cars, from modernized resto-mods to original-style restorations. Occasionally, however, we come across a car so pristine and original that it looks as if it just rolled off the showroom floor. Karen McDermott's '58 Chevy Impala is one such car. Its immaculate silver-blue metallic paint, glistening chrome, and multi-stripe blue vinyl interior instantly transport us back to the 1950s.

As classic car enthusiasts and restorers, our cars are often much more than simple machines or forms of transportation. Over many years, our cars take on personalities of their own and become irreplaceable parts of our lives—almost like members of the family. The '67 Pontiac Firebird seen here became a member of Tim Woolard's family back in 2000, during the midst of a stressful time in his life. Tim was acting as a caregiver for his ailing, elderly parents, and the restoration of his rusty old Firebird gave him an outlet for his near-overwhelming levels of stress.

If you owned an auto restoration shop, how would you advertise your skills? Sure, you could spend big bucks on billboards, TV commercials, and print ads, or you could cut to the chase and build a vehicle that shows off what you can really do. That's exactly what Edgar Hernandez did to promote his business, Starlite Rod & Kustom Shop, in Torrance, California. The slick customized '72 GMC C30 dually seen here is the result of his efforts. Even better, it's not just a show vehicle. It also serves as the parts hauler for the many restoration projects he works on.

If you imagine a muscle car, odds are that you picture something with wide tires, a loud exhaust, a huge motor, and aggressive styling cues. Although this traditional interpretation is undoubtedly cool, there are many ways that the idea of a muscle car can be interpreted. Here at Classic Industries, we love muscle cars of all shapes and sizes, and that's why Jack Petitt's refined take on a muscle car is so appealing to us. Jack restored this deep blue '69 Nova with the help of his daughter, and together they created a car that's as sophisticated as it is powerful.

As classic car enthusiasts, we tend to be skeptical of modern cars. After all, we love the cars of the '60s and '70s, and a lot has changed since that golden age of muscle cars. Back then, designers stuck to a simple formula: big-displacement V8 engines, alloy wheels with wide tires, aggressive flared bodywork, and bright paint colors that screamed performance. Thankfully, this formula is still alive and well in the 5th Gen Camaro ZL1. It has all the elements of a raw muscle car, plus plenty of technological improvements to make it a more livable and well-rounded vehicle. That's something that even the most skeptical classic car fan can appreciate.