The 1961 Impala is often referred to as a bubble top car, and when you look closely at the styling, it's not hard to see why. The A-pillars that flank the windshield have a distinct curvature, giving the impression that the front of the greenhouse is bowed outward.

Then there's the large back glass, which incorporates thin and heavily-sloped C-pillars. On the sides of the car, the frameless windows can be rolled down to reveal no central B-pillar, completing the smooth bubble appearance.

Chevrolet has produced some extremely iconic cars over the years, including the '57 Bel Air and the '69 Camaro. But few models are more revered than the '64 Impala SS, especially in the custom cruiser and lowrider communities. This car has been immortalized in movies, TV shows, music, and even video games. Its long, smooth lines look just as good today as they did in 1964.

We've met many Impala fans over the years, but none have been more passionate about this car than Joe Ali, of Huntington Beach, CA. Joe currently owns two 1964 Impalas, and we previously featured his Adobe Beige '64 Impala SS on The Parking Lot. Prior to these two cars, he owned six 1965 Impalas — yes, you read that right, six.

It's not uncommon these days to come across a classic car that has undergone an engine swap. In fact, for some models, there are many more examples that have been swapped than those that retain the original-spec engine. However, it's certainly less common to see a vehicle that has gone through as many different engines as this 1968 Camaro.

The '68 Camaro seen here belongs to Steve Koster, of Huntington Beach, California. Those who are familiar with these cars might guess it has a 327, 350, or even a 396. While it likely rolled off the factory floor with one of those engines, it's long gone now.

One of our favorite things about late '60s and early '70s Mopar cars is their use of vibrant High Impact paint colors. From Sublime and Panther Pink to Go Mango and Lemon Twist, even the names of these hues made an in-your-face statement. They also played a large role in keeping these cars memorable, even to non-car-enthusiasts. One of your friends might not know the first thing about cars, but he'll certainly turn to stare at the bright green muscle car with the roaring V8 engine.

This 1970 Plymouth 'Cuda belongs to Alex Uribe, of Redlands, California. The car is painted In Violet, which was Plymouth's name for the purple known as Plum Crazy on Dodge models.

When someone mentions the name Impala SS, most people think of the 1961 through 1969 Super Sport models. That shouldn't come as a surprise, since this original 9-year production run yielded some of the most iconic vehicles of the muscle car era. We'll always love these early cars, but there's another Impala SS that developed its own cult following and certainly deserves recognition: the 1994-1996 Impala SS.

In 1994, General Motors resurrected the Impala SS name to create a high-performance car based on the Caprice platform. The new SS cars received performance-oriented suspension, four-wheel disc brakes, and a 5.7L LT1 V8, among other upgrades. The model was discontinued in 1996 after a three-year production run.

Growth from Necessity

The saying: “Necessity is the mother of invention” is true in so many of life’s scenarios, and has had an continuous impact on society. Where would civilization be without the wheel? Where would technology be if it weren’t for Bill Gates and Steve Jobs? Where would the exotic car world be if Ferruccio Lamborghini didn’t have his “unpleasant customer experience” when he tried to get his Ferrari fixed? Well, that last example was more about needing to “stick it” to someone rather than to build a car—but he still changed the automotive world!

Last week on The Parking Lot, we featured a beautiful 1969 Chevy C10 owned by Darin Smith of local restoration and performance shop DWS Classics. That truck was rescued from the desert and painstakingly rebuilt from the ground up. This week, we have another one of DWS Classics' creations: a 1964 GMC shortbed.

Like Darin's other truck, this GMC was found baking in the desert sun, and was purchased to undergo a full restoration. Fortunately, due to the low moisture of its surroundings, the truck stayed mostly rust-free. Darin stripped it down to the bare frame, and began a frame-off build.

In more ways than one, this Chevy C10 isn't what it seems. Glancing at the front end, you'll see cues that indicate it might be a 1967 or '68 model: the lower-profile hood, "Chevrolet" lettering, and grille style all match these earlier model years. The lack of side markers on the fenders and bedsides would make seem to indicate a '67 model, but the cab's large rear window says it's at least a '68 model, since 1967 trucks had a small rear window.

The owner of this truck — Darin Smith, of Huntington Beach, California — tells us it's actually a 1969 Chevy C10. Darin found the truck out in the California desert, and rebuilt it with a mixture of parts to achieve the look he wanted. He liked the appearance of the '68 front end, so he purchased a replacement hood, grille, and emblems for that model year. The fenders and bedsides bear no side markers, because he liked that clean appearance only found on the '67 trucks.

Here at the Classic Industries Retail Showroom, we often see vehicles you might call "head-turners". They're decked-out in red, yellow, green, or purple paint, airbrushed with stripes or flames, and covered in sparkling chrome galore. However, a few vehicles we see in our parking lot take things in the opposite direction with an understated stealthy look.

At first sight, this 1970 Camaro had us subconsciously humming "Paint it Black" by the Rolling Stones. Every inch of the car's exterior has been blacked-out, from the split bumpers and projector headlamp housings to the steering wheel, Wilwood disc brake calipers, and 19-inch Intro billet wheels wrapped in Pirelli tires.