As much as we love seeing the end result of a full vehicle restoration, it's equally interesting to see where it all began. The process becomes even more special when you're able to talk to the builder whose blood, sweat, and tears turned an unloved shell of a car into something beautiful. In the case of this 1968 Nova, Aram Ayvazian is that builder, and the man who brought this iconic muscle car back to life.

If you've visited our Huntington Beach, California, Retail Showroom in the last few months, you'll no doubt recognize this week's featured car. That's because this 1970 Challenger R/T is currently on display in the center of the room! The Classic Industries Retail Showroom serves not only as a restoration parts storefront for local customers, but also as a showcase for timeless cars like this one. After all, what better way to demonstrate our ever-growing Mopar parts line than with a real car?

This week's featured customer car story is a little different. We received the following letter from Steve Martinson, of Idaho Falls, Idaho. The Martinson family (Robert, Steve, and Darcie) owns the stunning blue 1968 C10 restoration project seen here, and Steve described the build so perfectly, we decided to share his words verbatim. Enjoy!

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.

One of the things we love about classic cars is their ability to instantly transport you back in time. They remind us of different periods of our lives, and different periods in our country's history. This 1964 Chevy truck, for example, takes us back to a time when pickup truck design (and car design, for that matter) was changing dramatically. This period marked a transition from the sleek aircraft-inspired style of the '50s to the more angular designs of the '70s. This '64 model exhibits characteristics from both eras, but still manages to blend them seamlessly into a style of its own.

In today's world of extremes, subtlety is an often underrated trait. When it comes to automotive restoration, there's certainly nothing wrong with building a vehicle that turns heads everywhere it goes, but sometimes it's nice to fly under the radar. Tony Pellegrino, the owner of this 1972 GMC truck, wanted to build a pickup that featured tasteful modifications without going over-the-top. So, he chose a 3/4-ton C2500 long bed model with subdued white paint, and added a few parts to make it his own.

As classic car enthusiasts and restorers, our cars are often much more than simple machines or forms of transportation. Over many years, our cars take on personalities of their own and become irreplaceable parts of our lives—almost like members of the family. The '67 Pontiac Firebird seen here became a member of Tim Woolard's family back in 2000, during the midst of a stressful time in his life. Tim was acting as a caregiver for his ailing, elderly parents, and the restoration of his rusty old Firebird gave him an outlet for his near-overwhelming levels of stress.

As much as we love time-tested, untouched classics, there's also something to be said for building a car that's truly original. After all, that's the spirit of hot-rodding—putting together something unique with little more than spare parts and ingenuity. It may not be popular with everyone, but it'll certainly turn some heads and raise some eyebrows. Rebelling against the status quo might yield a total failure, or it might yield something that changes the world—you never know until you try.

No matter what your automotive background is, the term "SS" is immediately recognizable as a sign of high performance. Super Sport—it's a name that means exactly what it says. Everyone knows and loves the Camaro SS, Nova SS, Chevelle SS, and El Camino SS, but none of these models were the first to bear the designation. In fact, it was a model that many at the time would have considered to be more luxury cruiser than sports coupe—the Impala.

If you're anything like us, you didn't become a car guy overnight. You probably grew up around cars, and they've been a part of your life since childhood. A true passion for classic cars often begins while wrenching in the garage with Dad, cruising the streets with your best friends, or blasting down the drag strip on weekends. Then, over many years, it becomes an integral part of who you are.