Mopar has partnered with Classic Industries to introduce a new Restoration Parts Web Portal that will allow customers to resource and buy Mopar-licensed restoration parts for classic Mopars. This is a most welcome resource, as searching for restoration parts that are high quality; authentically licensed products can be a challenge.The new Mopar restoration parts page, seen above, prominently features Classic Industries as the leading source for restoration parts and accessories. Users of this new site can download the latest Classic Industries Mopar parts catalog with a single click.

It's always tough to let go of a car you love, but sometimes these decisions become necessary. When we spoke to John Schwarz, of Huntington Beach, California, he told us about the 1970 Barracuda he owned in high school. When he graduated, John didn't want to sell the car, but he also wanted to go to college and improve his job prospects, so he made the tough decision to let it go and put the cash towards his education.

Ever since he sold his first Barracuda, John wanted to find another. In the summer of 2016, his hard work finally paid off, and he was able to purchase the 1970 Plymouth 'Cuda seen here from a friend. Thanks to his patience, he ended up with a car that's even nicer than the one he had back in high school.

Since the company's inception in 1976, Classic Industries has always been forging ahead to provide much-needed restoration parts for classic cars and trucks. The Classic Industries product line started with carpets for the first-generation Camaro, but it certainly didn't stop there.

After becoming the industry leader in Camaro restoration parts, Classic Industries expanded into Firebird / Trans Am, Chevy II / Nova, Impala / Bel Air / Biscayne / Caprice, Chevy and GMC Trucks, 1955-57 "Tri-Five" Chevy, and most recently Mopar Dodge / Plymouth A, B, and E-body. The innovation and expansion still isn't stopping — in Spring 2017, Classic industries proudly announced a new line of catalogs for Buick and Oldsmobile models.

We're often asked what shows and events Classic Industries attends, and in the past that list was short due to other pressing commitments. However, we're glad to announce that we'll be attending several new events in 2017! Keep an eye on our Events & Appearances section for more upcoming opportunities to meet us.

Every classic car has a story, and one of the best parts of our jobs here at Classic Industries is to hear these stories firsthand. This allows us to see the stunning end result of a project that was many years (or sometimes decades) in the making. It also serves as a reminder of all the blood, sweat, and tears that go into completing a difficult project, or realizing a lifelong dream.

When you really think about it, classic car parts are simply a precise amalgamation of metal, rubber, plastic, vinyl, and wood. The essential elements of authenticity, fit, and attention to detail also come into play, but a part is little more than a cool-looking paperweight until it's actually put to use.

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:

1970 Challenger T/A 340 Six Pak four-speed. This series of numbers and words will mean very little to the average person on the street, but say them in front of a car enthusiast, and you'll immediately have their attention. This EV2 Hemi Orange Mopar comes from what many consider to be the peak year of the muscle car generation, and only about 2,400 of these special T/A models were made during the single-year production run.

Every journey into classic car restoration has to start somewhere, whether that's diving in head-first with a basket-case wreck from a junkyard, or starting gradually by putting a few finishing touches on a partially-completed project. For Gilbert Villegas, of Anaheim, California, this 1968 Barracuda Formula S represented the beginning of a love for working on classic cars.

One of the many reasons we love classic cars is that each one tends to have a fascinating story behind it. Some cars are preserved untouched in garages for decades, without leaving the town where they were originally sold. Others were driven every day and abandoned in a scrap yard, only to be lovingly restored by a new owner many years later. These stories add character to every machine.