The late 1950s and early 1960s are often referred to as the era of the tail fin. These aircraft-inspired accents could be found on many cars from this time period, and few of those applications are more recognizable than the 1960 Chevy Impala. A winglike ridge lines each side of the bodywork, culminating in a squared-off tip at each corner. It was perfect for a society that had fallen in love with jets, rockets, thrusters, and all things aeronautical.

There's no question that the iconic 1955-57 "Tri Five" Chevy models were a tough act to follow. Even today, they're known as some of the most famous and popular classic cars of all time. So, when it came time to retire the Tri Five and develop a new design for 1958, what was Chevrolet to do? Well, true to form, they created a model that would go on to become just as famous as the cars before it: the Impala.

"Lost and forgotten" -- that's the condition this '62 Impala SS was in when Flavio Robles found it three years ago. It's always a pity to see a classic car left to rust and decay, so Flavio took it upon himself to give this old Chevy a second chance. Three years later, the Impala has been restored to immaculate factory condition, and you'd never know about its humble beginnings unless he told you. Thanks to many long hours of work and lots of restoration parts from Classic Industries, this '62 looks brand new again.

The term "bubble top" has become a catch phrase in the Impala restoration community, and we often hear people asking what it really means. Take one look at the rounded roof of this 1961 Impala coupe, and you'll start to understand. The curved glass, smooth lines, and lack of B-pillars cause this car's roof to appear similar to a bubble, hence the name. The term became especially important one year later in '62, because GM produced a select few Impalas with leftover '61 "bubble" tops before transitioning to the more angular "crinkle top" later that year.

The '64 Impala is what a student of literature might call an archetype. This word is defined as "the original pattern or model of after which all others are based". Essentially, an archetype is something that perfectly exemplifies a certain purpose or style. So, what exactly does the '64 Impala exemplify? Lowriding. The '64 Impala has become so closely linked with lowrider culture, it's almost hard to see the car built any other way.

If you're a car enthusiast, especially a classic car enthusiast, you'll no doubt know that air suspension can be a controversial modification. Some people love the ability to tuck big wheels and adjust ride height on the fly, while others claim air suspension degrades what would otherwise be a nicely restored classic. No matter your stance, it's hard not to appreciate a car with air suspension that looks this good. Eric Sass, the owner of this '62 Chevy Impala convertible, embraced the controversy by purchasing the car in mostly restored condition, then swapping the stock wheels and suspension for a set of 'bags and deep-dish billet wheels.

Here at Classic Industries, we see a wide range of customer cars, from modernized resto-mods to original-style restorations. Occasionally, however, we come across a car so pristine and original that it looks as if it just rolled off the showroom floor. Karen McDermott's '58 Chevy Impala is one such car. Its immaculate silver-blue metallic paint, glistening chrome, and multi-stripe blue vinyl interior instantly transport us back to the 1950s.

Here in southern California, the mention of a 1962 Impala makes many of us think of one thing: lowriders. Impalas, especially the '62 and '63 models, are extremely popular among the lowrider crowd, to the point that we see quite a few of these cars roaming the streets of SoCal while riding low on wire wheels and whitewall tires. Case in point: this '63 Impala SS that showed up in our parking lot not long ago. However, there's much more to this era of Impala than the common lowrider style. This '62 Super Sport coupe was built as a lightly modified cruiser, and features a timeless design that anyone can appreciate.

Each year, the SEMA Show packs the Las Vegas Convention Center full of some of the world's finest custom cars and trucks, and the 2014 show is certainly no exception. Walking the show, we have come across some truly jaw-dropping works of automotive art, many of which feature restoration and performance parts from Classic Industries. And, since the show isn't open to the general public, we're doing our best to share some of these amazing rides with you..

As car enthusiasts, we tend to think of our vehicles as much more than a simple mode of transportation—to us, they're rolling works of art. However, it's also important to keep in mind that these timeless automotive creations are meant to be functional, not just sit collecting dust like pretentious sculptures. Every car or truck has a purpose, a role it was designed to fulfill. As for this 1961 Impala SS convertible, its purpose is clear: this car was built to cruise.