Through his work on Overhaulin' and newer TV series such as History's Fully Torqued, Chip Foose has become one of the most well-known figures in the automotive restoration world. We're certain that Foose's designs have sparked an interest in many viewers, leading those viewers to start classic car projects of their own. Recently, we had an opportunity to provide some parts for a 1971 Chevy C10 restomod build that was sketched by Foose on Season 1 of Fully Torqued.

Truck restoration projects always put a smile on our faces, and it's easy to see why. There's something encouraging about watching a classic pickup that has lived a long, hard life receive a top-to-bottom rebuild. It erases decades of wear and tear, and allows us to see these workhorses brought back to their original beauty. In some cases, they're also upgraded with performance parts and modern accessories. Today, we'll be taking a look back at five Chevy and GMC truck restoration projects that feature parts from the Classic Industries GM Truck parts catalog.

Here at Classic Industries, we like to see projects in all stages of completion. Sometimes we'll see customer cars that are still covered in cobwebs after being rescued from a dark garage, and other times we'll come across builds that are completed and polished down to every last detail. It's all part of the classic car restoration process.

At face value, the term "parts hauler" sounds like a negative description for a vehicle. When you hear about a shop's parts hauler truck, you'd likely imagine a beat-up, dented old workhorse—a vehicle made for running errands, nothing more. If you're anything like us, you certainly wouldn't imagine something as clean and tastefully modified as this 1987 Chevy Silverado could be an ordinary parts hauler. Then again, once you hear the identity of the shop that built it, you'll understand why it looks as good as it does.

This week's featured customer car story is a little different. We received the following letter from Steve Martinson, of Idaho Falls, Idaho. The Martinson family (Robert, Steve, and Darcie) owns the stunning blue 1968 C10 restoration project seen here, and Steve described the build so perfectly, we decided to share his words verbatim. Enjoy!

Today, new truck buyers choose from a limited selection of paint options, typically including variations of black, white, silver, and occasionally a subdued metallic champagne, burgundy or navy blue. However, this wasn't always the case. Back in 1969, even utilitarian pickup trucks were available in a wide range of vibrant hues such as bright red, orange, yellow, olive green and turquoise. They may not be available anymore, but these exciting colors proved that even if you needed a work truck, it certainly didn't have to be boring.

Up through the 1960s, GM trucks were famous for their smooth sculpted lines and aerodynamic curves. Even though the 1967-72 models were a slight departure from the curvy styling with their beveled beltline, the C10 trucks still retained their sleek look into the early seventies. Then, in 1973, everything changed with the introduction of what soon became known as the "square body".