The term "torture test" is thrown around a lot in the automotive aftermarket, but what does it really mean? A torture-tested part is used in an extreme scenario that shows what it's truly made of, and whether it can stand up to the abuse. Here at Classic Industries, we like seeing our parts pushed to the limit on cutting-edge builds, so when PowerNation told us they wanted to try our Clear Vue valve covers on their 1000hp turbocharged LS engine build, we gladly accepted.

If you're anything like us, you didn't become a car guy overnight. You probably grew up around cars, and they've been a part of your life since childhood. A true passion for classic cars often begins while wrenching in the garage with Dad, cruising the streets with your best friends, or blasting down the drag strip on weekends. Then, over many years, it becomes an integral part of who you are.

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.

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.

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.

Jerry's '57 Chevy Bel Air Hardtop Sport Coupe

Classic Industries' Southern California customer, Jerry Jacobs, pulled into the parking lot with his glamorous '57 Chevy Bel Air. This 2-door hardtop sport coupe is a daily driver for Jerry, but looks like it should be pampered at a local car show. He's the second owner for the last 25 years and this Larkspur Blue/Imperial Ivory combination quickly transports us back in time.

The Thrill of the Chase