Trucks are naturally utilitarian vehicles, so it's no surprise that many of them lived hard lives on farms, ranches, and job sites. As a result, it's often difficult to find well-preserved examples, especially those with low miles and all-original powertrains. Only a lucky few were stashed away in garages and barns, where they could be found and restored decades later. Such was the case for this beautiful 1970 Ford F-100 barn find, now owned by Georgia Sells, of Huntington Beach, California.

Ford introduced the Ranchero, a vehicle classified as a coupe utility, at the New York Auto Show on December 8, 1956. Though this was a new vehicle for the American market, some 22 years earlier Ford of Australia designer, Lew Bandt penned the first coupe utility in 1934. This was in response to Australian ranchers, who desired a vehicle that was rugged enough to haul livestock during the week and sufficiently elegant to go to church with the spouse on Sunday. This coupe utility became known as a ute in Australia. With a production run of 82 years (1934-2016), the ute was a smashing success down under. Read on as we take a look back at Ford Ranchero history from 1957 through 1979.

Photos courtesy of Mecum Auctions, Inc.

Ford’s marketing team named the full-size Ford the Galaxie. This was an effort to capture some interest in the car with an association to the Space Race that held the attention of the U.S. during the 1950s and 1960s. For the 1959 model of the full-size Fairlane 500, the top of the line Galaxie name was added. The Fairlane models moved to an intermediate platform in 1962. Galaxie now encompassed the full-sized Ford offerings. Read on as we examine Ford Galaxie history across four generations from 1959-1974.

From 1955 through 1957, Chevrolet produced the series of iconic vehicles that enthusiasts now refer to as Tri Five Chevy models. More than one million of these cars rolled off the assembly line every year to be distributed throughout North America and the rest of the world. However, as with any car, certain body styles and trim levels were common while others were rare. This is relevant to anyone who wishes to buy or restore a classic Chevy 150, 210, or Bel Air today, since it means that some variants will be easier to find than others. Read on as we take a look at the production numbers for each Tri Five Chevy sub-model.

When Ford Motor Company introduced the Ford Torino in 1968 for the North American market, it was intended as an upscale variant of the intermediate-sized Ford Fairlane that Ford produced from 1962-70. The car was so well received by automotive journalists and consumers, it wound up replacing the Fairlane nameplate altogether for all trim, powerplant, option, and accessory levels after the 1970 model year. The car is named after the city of Turin (Torino in Italian), where famous automakers Alfa Romeo and Fiat are located. Turin is known as "the Italian Detroit".

In a recent blog post, we provided a comprehensive guide to interior trim codes for 1955-57 Chevy cars. This week, we're moving our focus from the interior of the vehicle to the exterior. Tri Five Chevy cars were offered in a wide range of eye-catching paint colors and two-tone color combinations, and these options changed with each model year. Read on for a guide to identifying 1955, 1956, and 1957 Chevy colors and paint codes.

Many of the reference photos in this article are courtesy of Mecum Auctions.

We recently created a visual guide to identifying 1947-1959 Chevy trucks, including some of the subtle changes and options for each model year. In this article, let's take a look at more recent 1960-1972 GM trucks. If you've ever seen one of these classic trucks and wondered what year it is, or you're curious if the restoration parts on your truck match its original specifications, read through our 1960-72 Chevy truck model years identification guide below. As with the previous entry in this series, the images in this article have been scanned from original documentation, and show sub-models based on the Chevy C/K series truck platform for each model year.

Chevrolet trucks have changed a lot over the years, with each model year and generation offering unique features that helped them redefine what a pickup was capable of. Classic Industries is committed to supplying owners of these timeless pickups with restoration parts, but we're also committed to preserving their legacy. To this end, we've updated our visual guide to help you identify Chevy truck model years and learn about their differences. In this article, we'll cover 1947-1959 Chevrolet trucks one year at a time so you can identify year-to-year changes and new features.

By 1973, the Camaro had long since established itself as a fun and engaging vehicle, but Chevrolet was looking to expand the appeal of this successful model even further. For some drivers, a hardcore track machine was less attractive than one with more focus on comfort and refinement. In pursuit of a trim package that would draw in these buyers, Chevy developed the 1973 Camaro Type LT. This shift in direction was especially relevant considering the increasing emissions restrictions of the early '70s.