In January 2017, Classic Industries held its first Media Open House event. This event invited select members of the automotive press to visit our Huntington Beach headquarters for lunch and some big news.

First, Classic Industries CEO Jeff Leonard spoke about the history of the company, the growth of the automotive restoration industry, and the upcoming launch of all-new Classic Industries catalogs for several Buick models:

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.

Back in the late '50s and early '60s, cars didn't necessarily have "generational" styling like they do today. These days, designers often create a model that stays cosmetically the same for 3 to 5 years, and eventually release small tweaks, or refresh the design with new lights, bumpers, and wheels. Back in the 1950s and '60s, there were many cases where every model year was unique, with huge stylistic changes every 12 months.

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.

Speak to any classic car enthusiast, and you'll realize that memories are often a big part of their love for vintage cars. Seeing these vehicles during childhood, taking road trips with the family, and learning to drive—these memories stick with you, and create a personal attachment that's unforgettable.

Jesse Green, of Midway City, California, shares this sentiment. He remembers sitting behind the wheel of his older brother's 1963 and 1964 Impalas during his teenage years, and it made an impact on him. Many years later, he had the means to buy an Impala of his own, and make new memories behind the wheel, so he did just that.

Station wagons, estates, family-haulers, or long-roofs—no matter what you call them, you're probably aware that these vehicles had humble origins. Rather than tearing down the racetrack, station wagons were originally intended to transport large groups in comfort, along with all their belongings.

We love classic cars, whether they're factory-style restorations, fuel-injected restomod muscle cars, or old-school customs. This gorgeous blue 1967 Impala SS falls into the third category—it's a cool throwback to a different time.

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).

It's been said that too much of a good thing can be a bad thing. While this may be true in some cases, we'd certainly disagree when it comes to classic cars. For many of us enthusiasts, there's no such thing as "enough". We continually search for new vehicles to restore, and even when we've accumulated 3 or 4 (or more) ongoing builds, we're always looking for the next cool project to take on. For Joe Ali, of Huntington Beach, California, this never-ending interest has been focused on one vehicle: the Chevy Impala.