The term "survivor" invokes images of doing battle and coming out unscathed, against all the odds. Similarly, when applied to a classic car, the term "survivor" indicates a vehicle that has endured the passing of many miles and decades in near-untouched factory condition. These unlikely survivors still look brand-new, without the aid of extensive restoration work.

 
Here at Classic Industries, we love sleeper vehicle builds—even the name evokes mystery. Much like a sleeper cell of operatives that infiltrates a bigger group, waiting for the right time to strike, sleeper cars are perfect for hiding in plain sight. The dented beater that rolls up to you at a stop light might just blast by you with tires ablaze when you least expect it. This unexpected characteristic never fails to keep things interesting.

The Chevrolet Impala arrived in 1958 as an upscale alternative to the Bel Air, creating a more competitive mid-price ride with a sporty demeanor. With its cool crossed checkered flags and distinctive silhouette, the Impala quickly became Chevrolet's widely recognized flagship nameplate. Those old enough to remember the era understand '58 was a standalone model year, styling-wise, with a new X-frame chassis underneath that would remain a GM mainstay through 1964.

The all-new '59 Impala's futuristic styling completely eclipsed everything in the marketplace. This model's overwhelming presence made it an awe-inspiring mode of transportation. So, it made perfect sense to take a '59 Impala two-door hardtop and give it an incredible makeover.

Although there's nothing wrong with leaving your restoration project in the hands of qualified professionals at a trusted shop, there's something truly special about doing all the labor yourself. After countless hours of turning wrenches, and many late nights in the garage, you end up having personal knowledge of every last nut and bolt on your car.

This was the case for Larry Richards, of Seal Beach, California, who recently stopped by the Classic Industries showroom with his 1956 Chevy Bel Air. Larry restored this classic Chevy himself over the last five years, with some assistance from his friends on occasion. It features a 383ci stroker small-block V8 paired with a 700R4 automatic transmission. Disc brakes are visible through the windows of its chrome American Racing five-spoke wheels. We appreciate its vintage green and white two-tone paint, and abundance of intricately polished chrome accents.

One of our favorite qualities of classic cars is the history and sentimental value they carry. The 1970 Chevy Nova seen here is no exception. Jim Turner, of Van Nuys, California, drove out with his best friend to purchase the car over 30 years ago. Sadly, his friend was killed in a motorcycle accident a year later, but this tragedy brought Jim closer to his friend's family. Soon enough, Jim had married his best friend's sister, and the pair decided to hold onto the Nova and the memories that went along with it.

When Jim pulled into our showroom parking lot in the silver and black SS, we knew we had to get a closer look. The car has been beautifully maintained and restored inside and out, thanks to the addition of a few parts from Classic Industries and plenty of elbow grease. Jim cares deeply about this car, and it shows.

If you've ever restored a car, you know that setting an accurate timeline for the project can be a difficult task. Everyone starts out ambitious, excited, and ready to complete the build as soon as possible. Then, nine times out of ten, life gets in the way. Often, the car gets rolled into a garage or covered up, not to see the light of day for years at a time. Occasionally, projects are completely forgotten, left to rust and be resurrected as barn finds years later.

When you've got a classic car you truly care about, keeping it clean is a never-ending labor of love. It gets dusted, washed, waxed, buffed, and polished, until you're painfully aware of every last imperfection. Some of us spend hours meticulously polishing the chrome, or detailing the interior, until our significant others complain that we don't even give them this much attention.

Tim Bair, of Huntington Beach, California, is obsessed with keeping his '67 Camaro sparkling clean, and for good reason. After all, he bought the car with earnings from his metal polishing and plating company, California Polishing. One look at the car tells you that Tim is good at what he does—it is simply immaculate.

Like most good things in life, finding a clean base for a restoration project is often a long and arduous task. You can't just expect someone to show up at your doorstep and hand you the keys to your dream car, you've got to get out there and search for it (or pay someone else big bucks to do the leg work for you).

Mike Guido, of Costa Mesa, California, knew exactly what he was looking for, and had the patience to endure years of fruitless searching. In fact, he looked for the right classic pickup to restore for over two decades. That level of dedication demands respect.

Thankfully for Mike, the search paid off, and he came upon the 1946 Chevy truck seen here.

If, like us, you call yourself an automotive enthusiast, chances are good that you share an appreciation for a wide range of makes and models. However, there's always one car that trumps them all, and makes your heart skip a beat the moment you lay eyes on it: your dream car.

For Jeremy Fleener, of Encino, California, that car is the 1967 Plymouth Barracuda convertible seen here. Jeremy recently stopped by our Huntington Beach showroom, and we took the opportunity to get to know him, snap a few photos, and learn more about the car.

Don Hilderbrand's '73 Camaro Z28 L82, a High School Sweetheart

For those of us who grew up in the sixties and seventies, Chevy's Camaro has been the ever constant familiar face in a frequently changing automotive climate. We've ridden the tides of change, from hot factory high-performance cars in the 1960s, to the decidedly lame Detroit iron of the 1970s. It was a long dry spell before the lords of Woodward Avenue and Van Nuys Boulevard would get back to the business of burning rubber from traffic light to traffic light in the mid-1980s.