Recently, while scrolling through YouTube, we came across a video from the channel Rare Cars that caught our eye. It lists recommendations for six pre-1982 muscle cars that can serve as fun and affordable projects for under $20,000. After watching the video, we were pleasantly surprised by how thorough the the analysis was, even going so far as to recommend specific years, body styles, and drivetrains that can maximize bang for the buck. Rare Cars also took into account the availability of restoration and performance parts for each of these affordable muscle cars.

The Chevrolet Nova (originally called the Chevy II) is a cornerstone of American automotive history. Introduced in 1962, the Nova quickly became a symbol of performance, affordability, and style in the compact car market. Over the decades, the Nova has captured the hearts of car enthusiasts, with its popularity peaking during the muscle car era and continuing through the 1970s. Whether you’re restoring a vintage 1962 Chevy II, building a performance-oriented 1969 Nova SS, or customizing a 1974 Nova, the Classic Industries Nova / Chevy II Parts and Accessories Catalog is an indispensable resource for finding the right parts to bring your car back to its prime.

The internet car community often tends to gravitate towards the most extreme, no-expense-spared car builds. Although we love to see these over-the-top projects with thousands of hours and hundreds of thousands of dollars invested into making every detail perfect, we also recognize they're out of reach for many Americans. Most of us work on our cars in our own garages and have much more restrictive budgets. That's why we also like to see blue-collar, self-made projects like this weathered Chevy Nova, owned by Joe Whitney.

Last week, we featured a '65 C10 big window conversion DIY video from our friends at Old Anvil Speed Shop in Orange, California. The truck in that video was built for comfortable cruising with air suspension, but if you're looking for a more exciting driving experience, the Old Anvil team can do that too. Their '67 Nova SS recently appeared on the AutotopiaLA YouTube channel, and founder Paul Bosserman discussed all of its details, including the 525hp LS3 V8 under the hood.

A four-car garage that offers an extensive set of automotive tools and plenty of room to work - this is the sort of space where a gearhead can enjoy a well-earned retirement. 

Chip Foose is a name synonymous with automotive artistry and innovation. Known for his seamless blend of creative vision, technical expertise, and passion for car restoration, Foose has become a legendary figure in the custom car industry. His iconic television show, Overhaulin', has not only showcased his remarkable skills but has also inspired millions of automotive enthusiasts around the world. Among his many partnerships, Foose's collaboration with Classic Industries stands out as a perfect marriage of talent and resources, resulting in automotive magic.

There's a great chance that if you looked up to your big brother when you were growing up, and your older brother was a gearhead, you may well become a motorhead too. Especially if your older bro owns an American muscle machine that he uses to drive you to school - that's a sure-fire recipe for imprinting in the muscle car section of your brain an ambition to own a similar vehicle someday.

"Get used to my tail lights, because they're the only thing you'll be able to see in this race." This bit of friendly trash talk has been used in the muscle car community for as long as we can remember, but there's more truth to it than the joke implies. Whether it's in traffic or on the drag strip, the rear of your vehicle is often the first and last thing people see. So, it makes sense to keep it looking good. Knowing this, the guys at All Chevy Performance recently restored the bumper and tail panel on their '77 Nova project car with parts from Classic Industries.

Though we spend our five- and six-day work weeks catering to the needs of our honored customers who own and are working on, driving, showing, and enjoying American muscle machines, many Classic Industries employees are wrenching away, driving, and enjoying our own vintage vehicles in our free time. Some of us drive our old cars daily. 

When it comes time to purchase a project car, restorers always hope that everything is as it seems and that there are no expensive surprises awaiting. However, Murphy's Law still applies, and sometimes you get more than what you bargained for. Such was the case for Justin Brown, the owner of this '66 Nova SS that was recently featured on the AutotopiaLA YouTube channel. He did his homework and spoke to the previous owner, but after taking delivery of the car, things started to go wrong. Thankfully, he was ready to make lemonade from the lemons life had given him.