You may have heard the term Mopar in reference to classic Dodge and Plymouth cars, but do you know what it really means? What is a Mopar car, and where did this term originate? Back in 1937, the marketing team at Chrysler Motor Parts Corporation was trying to come up with new branding for the replacement parts and accessories it offered for Chrysler, Dodge, Plymouth, and DeSoto vehicles. The words Motor and Parts were combined into Mopar. This catchy term was first used to market a new line of antifreeze, but would later be applied to all of the Chrysler group's official maintenance, repair, and performance parts.

Everyone from Classic Industries who saw this '70 Plymouth Road Runner Superbird at the 2020 Grand National Roadster Show was amazed at how great the car looked. The Road Runner was so nice we wondered whether any Classic Industries parts were used in the restoration of the car. We hoped so, because we'd use that as leverage, so that we could snap some photos and write an article for posting on the Classic Industries website.

Vintage American cars are really big in Sweden. We learned just how popular our muscle machines and cruising land yachts from the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s are when forty or so avid American car enthusiasts from Sweden visited Classic Industries last Monday. Every year Bilsport Classic Magazine, a Swedish publication, hosts a week-long trip to California to visit various prominent car shows, swap meets, famous professional build shops, and vintage car companies in the Golden State.

Ever since we introduced the Classic Industries Mopar catalog in 2010, we've been known as the leading source for Dodge and Plymouth A, B, and E-body restoration parts. However, we're always working hard to expand our lines and support more vehicles. In addition to the A, B, and E-body, we've been gradually accumulating some parts for a few other Mopar platforms, such as the C-body. This 1968 Polara 500 convertible is a beautiful example of the C-body platform.

Over the years, we've seen quite a few restomod builds arrive at the parking lot in front of our Retail Showroom. This category of vehicles combines original-style restoration parts with modern components to create a unique blend of old and new. Many restomods add only a handful of subtle changes under the skin, and some take this further, replacing the entire engine and suspension with brand-new parts. However, few restomods we've seen are as extreme as this 1973 Charger. In fact, so many of its parts have been swapped out that some might say the term doesn't adequately describe it.

Classic muscle cars were built for speed, whether it was at the drag strip, on a road course, or between stop lights on the street. These days, with many of them restored to immaculate condition and prices climbing higher for preserved examples, it's understandable that most of these cars live more relaxed lives than they did in the '60s and '70s. However, Chris Thompson still takes his 1969 Super Bee on cross-country road trips and often puts the pedal to the metal at the track. Every horsepower under the hood of this muscle car still gets used to the fullest.

Many of the great muscle car innovations were born from a desire to beat the competition at the drag strip. In the early '60s, automakers were cramming the largest and most potent V8 motors they had into ordinary production models, then stripping out weight, upgrading suspension components, and installing wider tires to create specialized track cars. Such was the case for Chrysler when its engineers took a 1963 Dodge 300 and dropped a Ramcharger 426ci V8 under the hood.

As classic car owners, we often develop a close connection with our vehicles and feel that they're irreplaceable. It's an understandable result of investing so much time, money, and sweat into making them look and run like new again. But few owners have a closer bond with their cars than those who inherited them from a family member. Angel Garrido received this 1969 Barracuda from his father, who bought it brand new in November of 1968. It's practically a four-wheeled member of the family at this point.

Mopar cars of the early 1970s are well-known for their array of eye-catching High Impact colors, such as Plum Crazy, Sublime, Go Mango, and Panther Pink. Those vibrant hues were impossible to miss, and closely associated with the in-your-face attitude of these classic Dodge and Plymouth muscle cars. But even without brightly-colored paint, these vehicles have immense presence on the road. This 1973 'Cuda is a perfect example of what we mean.

Classic cars were made to be driven, and the best way to appreciate them is from behind the wheel with an open road ahead. However, there's an inherent element of risk every time a car leaves the garage. Whether it's the result of a distracted driver or an honest mistake, there's always a chance that another motorist might crash into your prized vehicle. That's exactly what happened to this 1972 Road Runner. Fortunately, Thelma Garcia was able to rescue the damaged Plymouth and restore it to its original condition.