In 1947, U.S. Air Force pilot Chuck Yeager broke the sound barrier in a Bell X-1 aircraft, officially becoming the first pilot to exceed Mach 1 on a level flight path. In 1969, Ford paid homage to this extreme feat of speed with a new high-performance option package dubbed the Mustang Mach 1. The Mach 1 would prove to be a formidable rival to the Chevy Camaro SS and Pontiac Trans Am, and worthy of its striking name.

Although the top-of-the-line Chevy Bel Air has always been popular among classic car fans, we've been pleased to see an increased trend of restoring other variants of the Tri-Five as well. Some of this is due to the popularity of Bel Air models making unrestored examples harder to find, but it's also a result of a growing appreciation for the entire line offered by Chevrolet from 1955 to 1957. If you ask us, all Tri-Fives are cool, from 150 to 210 and Bel Air to Nomad.

Every project has to start somewhere, and customers often tell us about the rough state their vehicles were in before restoration began. While we always enjoy hearing these stories and seeing the spotless completed projects, it's not often that we get to observe the starting point of these builds. But on rare occasions, rather than describing the unrestored condition of a car or truck, an owner will share some photos of exactly what it looked like on day one of ownership. Such is the story of this 1967 Chevy C10.

The term "shadetree mechanic" is used to refer to a do-it-yourselfer or tinkerer who works on vehicles, often at home in a driveway, garage, or literally under the shade of a tree. We've sometimes heard this term used with a negative connotation, implying that a hobbyist could be under-qualified and might be doing more harm than good by making repairs. However, we've seen firsthand that many of these so-called shadetree classic car restoration projects turn out great. In some cases, the care and attention to detail put into these home builds rivals the work produced by experienced professional shops.

This was the year it all began for the now-famous Tri-Five Chevy. In 1955, Chevrolet released the first model year of this iconic line. The 150 and 210 models were certainly well-received, especially when outfitted with the optional V8 engine. However, the flagship Bel Air was truly a sight to behold. Its carpeted interior, chrome trim, stainless window moldings, and script emblems set this '55 Chevy apart from the rest of the line, and made it memorable to this day.

The Chevy Impala has been associated with the lowrider subculture since its inception, and it's easy to see why. With its long, elegant body, abundant chrome trim, powerful V8 engine options, and smooth ride, the Impala was born to cruise and look good doing it. Hydraulics have always been popular in the lowrider scene, but the development of modern air suspension systems provides a smooth-riding alternative to hydros.

Every project vehicle has a beginning and, as the saying goes, Rome wasn't built in a day. Although we see plenty of complete builds with every last nut and bolt replaced, we also see quite a few in-progress builds, and we find these equally interesting. A partially-completed project tells a story about the journey it has been on as well as the intended destination.

1960 was a unique year for the Chevy Impala. That year, it followed the aggressive aircraft-inspired look of the 1959 model but preceded the more subdued 1961 redesign. As a result, its styling falls somewhere in between the two. It retains the prominent "bat wing" rear fins, but pairs them with a sleeker front grille, and replaces the '59 model's large teardrop tail lamps with three conical lamps on each side.

Many of the restored classic cars that show up in our Retail Showroom parking lot are driven frequently, and this fact always makes us smile. After all, while these timeless vehicles look great standing still, they're truly at their best in motion. The men and women who originally designed and built them intended them to be driven, so we're glad to play our part in making sure that's still happening several decades after these cars and trucks rolled off the assembly line.

Autocross is a form of racing that pushes a car and its driver to the limit. On the surface, it seems relatively simple: navigate a cone course as quickly as possible without hitting any cones or losing control. Most autocross courses are relatively compact, and don't provide enough room to reach the triple-digit speeds you might see on a full-size track. However, the sport places a heavy emphasis on precise acceleration, braking, and handling. Making a car dance through the cones is far from easy.