In case you've missed the big news, Classic Industries recently announced eight all-new catalogs for Buick and Oldsmobile models, and we're excited to offer a wide array of classic car restoration parts for these models in the near future. Our catalogs will be coming soon for many of these vehicles, but the first one of these lines has already been released.

Every classic car restoration project has a starting point. Sometimes it's a rusty basket case sitting on cinder blocks in a backyard, other times it's an excellent-condition survivor that just needs a few replacement parts. More often than not, projects start somewhere in between these extremes, with a running and driving car or truck that's a little rough around the edges.

1970 Challenger T/A 340 Six Pak four-speed. This series of numbers and words will mean very little to the average person on the street, but say them in front of a car enthusiast, and you'll immediately have their attention. This EV2 Hemi Orange Mopar comes from what many consider to be the peak year of the muscle car generation, and only about 2,400 of these special T/A models were made during the single-year production run.

Jonathan Pompey, of Compton, California, vividly remembers the first time he laid eyes on this 1964 Impala. It was November of 2004, and he was walking his dog down the street when he spotted it. The Impala was in rough shape, and parked at the curb in front of a house. Right then and there, Jonathan approached the owner and asked to buy it. Unfortunately, it wasn't for sale.

Here at Classic Industries, we often get to see our customers' completed restoration projects in the parking lot of our Retail Showroom. It always brings a smile to our faces, and we do our best to document each vehicle and share it here on the Classic Industries blog. However, on certain occasions, we get a glimpse into these vehicles' origins, and have the opportunity to see how far they've come. These cases are especially interesting, since we get to see a "before and after" transformation take place as restoration occurs.

After the groundbreaking success of the 1955-57 "Tri Five" models, Chevrolet had some big shoes to fill in subsequent years. Fortunately, the automaker managed to launch the successful Impala line the very next year, with the 1958 model becoming an instant classic. And rather than resting on its laurels, Chevrolet redesigned the Impala again the very next year, producing a design that hit the peak of the tailfin styling trend in 1959.

Larry Wikert, of Riverside, California, likes to turn heads. So, when it came time to repaint his prized 1957 Bel Air, Larry chose a red, white, and blue color scheme that's certainly eye-catching. When this unique hot-rodded '57 pulled into our Showroom parking lot, we simply had to go outside and learn more about it.

The science of aerodynamics is closely intertwined with the history of automotive design, especially when it comes to race cars. By the late 1960s, the high-banked NASCAR oval tracks were becoming more competitive, and manufacturers were looking to improve lap times by reducing their vehicles' drag coefficients.

Back in 1969, the term "SUV" didn't exist, and even the concept of the minivan was still in its infancy. At that time, if you wanted a vehicle to transport your family and all their belongings in a single vehicle, you looked to the venerable station wagon. These long, low-slung vehicles combined the practicality of a sedan (like the Chevy Impala) with the spaciousness of a full-size truck (like the Chevy Suburban).

The collector appeal of classic trucks is growing, and it's easy to see why. After all, these utilitarian vehicles were never seen as anything particularly special or collectible back in the 1940s and '50s, much like today's base-model work trucks are viewed now. However, times change, and these once under-appreciated old pickup trucks are now being restored, modified, and cared for more with each passing year.