One of our favorite things about late '60s and early '70s Mopar cars is their use of vibrant High Impact paint colors. From Sublime and Panther Pink to Go Mango and Lemon Twist, even the names of these hues made an in-your-face statement. They also played a large role in keeping these cars memorable, even to non-car-enthusiasts. One of your friends might not know the first thing about cars, but he'll certainly turn to stare at the bright green muscle car with the roaring V8 engine.

This 1970 Plymouth 'Cuda belongs to Alex Uribe, of Redlands, California. The car is painted In Violet, which was Plymouth's name for the purple known as Plum Crazy on Dodge models.

Growth from Necessity

The saying: “Necessity is the mother of invention” is true in so many of life’s scenarios, and has had an continuous impact on society. Where would civilization be without the wheel? Where would technology be if it weren’t for Bill Gates and Steve Jobs? Where would the exotic car world be if Ferruccio Lamborghini didn’t have his “unpleasant customer experience” when he tried to get his Ferrari fixed? Well, that last example was more about needing to “stick it” to someone rather than to build a car—but he still changed the automotive world!

It’s every car enthusiast’s dream to participate in a barnfind. We fantasize about discovering a rare, original, and highly sought-after classic car that had been stowed away in a barn, garage, or yard for decades, preserved like a time capsule from the past. Unfortunately, the reality is that these barnfinds are still old cars. They've been sitting in the same spot without use or maintenance, often for decades. So, if you come across one of these vehicles, how should you examine, repair, and restore it?

Be it your ’57 Bel Air, or Hemi Road Runner, classic vehicles have become more than just mere transportation…they’re investments. While car insurance is protection for your transportation—trying to get a standard run-of-the-mill insurance company to protect your “investment” can be problematic, at best.  As some would say in the medical field: You need a specialist.

Classic Industries Understands Collector Car Enthusiasts

Classic Industries understands the needs of enthusiasts, and are experts in filling the gap when there’s a need for high-quality parts and accessories. So, when it comes to insurance for your classic car, who better to understand the issues associated with classic car insurance, than Classic Industries? Using their vast experience, they have developed the Classic Industries Collector Car Insurance Program.

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.