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.

Breaking News: at the SEMA Show this week in Las Vegas, Mopar announced its official restoration partnership with Classic Industries. This announcement comes as part of the unveiling of Mopar.com/restoration — a new online resource for owners and restorers of classic Dodge and Plymouth vehicles.

The first-generation Plymouth Road Runner was one of the quintessential muscle cars of the late '60s, and remains an icon of the era to this day. The long-nosed body, quad headlamps, and sweeping C-pillars offer a distinctive and memorable look.

The metallic green 1969 Road Runner seen here belongs to Joe Bahash, of Huntington Beach, California.

One of our favorite things about classic Mopar cars is their unabashed use of bright, head-turning colors. These cars were not afraid to show off their "in your face" attitude, with famous High Impact colors such as Sublime, Vitamin C, Top Banana, and Plum Crazy. There's nothing subtle about a roaring V8, flashy chrome, and vibrant paint.

The science of aerodynamics is closely intertwined with the history of automotive design, especially when it comes to race cars. By the late 1960s, the high-banked NASCAR oval tracks were becoming more competitive, and manufacturers were looking to improve lap times by reducing their vehicles' drag coefficients.

We always enjoy seeing the enthusiasm for classic cars passed down from generation to generation. This family trait ensures these vehicles are valued and cared for as they should be, even after being passed on from one owner to the next. The story of this 1974 Duster reinforces our thoughts on the subject.

For many of us, high school was an exciting time, thanks to the independence of finally being able to drive. There was no more requirement to ride a bike or beg friends and family to drop you off—with your first car, the world was your oyster.