Every classic car owner we meet has a specific reason for owning and restoring his or her vehicle. Unlike a new car, you can't simply drive to your local dealership and purchase a classic with the exact options you're looking for. These timeless vehicles are chosen, built, and rebuilt with a purpose beyond going from "point A" to "point B".

John Hoisington, of Anaheim, California, built his 1955 Chevy pickup truck in memory of his mother. She passed away in 2010 as a result of cancer, and he restored his truck to honor her memory. He also uses the vehicle to spread the word about cancer awareness and early detection — certainly a noble cause.

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:

The 1967 through 1972 C10 pickup is a truly classic design. Its strong edges were a notable departure from the sculpted curves of the 1960-66 models, but it still wasn't quite as squared-off as the 1973-87 pickups which followed it. This is one reason why the '67-'72 Chevy trucks have remained popular for so many years.

To many vehicle buyers, trucks are designed for utility. They're used to tow trailers, haul heavy loads, and traverse rough trails. As a result, they often get dented, scratched, used up and disposed of at the end of their service lives. This is why it's exciting to see a classic pickup truck in beautiful condition, especially when it has been kept that way by the same owner for several decades.

Here at Classic Industries, we're privileged to get to see all kinds of beautiful classic cars on a daily basis, from pristine restorations to custom cruisers and hot rods. However, every so often, something comes along that leaves us simply awestruck. Just when you think you've seen it all, something like this 1947 GMC COE pickup pulls into the parking lot.

Here at Classic Industries, we like to see projects in all stages of completion. Sometimes we'll see customer cars that are still covered in cobwebs after being rescued from a dark garage, and other times we'll come across builds that are completed and polished down to every last detail. It's all part of the classic car restoration process.

There's something special about classic Chevy trucks—these utilitarian vehicles were designed for an undignified life of hard work, dings, and dents. However, thanks to caring owners and meticulous restoration work, now they can live on in their original glory. Seeing a pickup that's more than 60-years-old shining in the California sun always makes us smile.

Car enthusiasts tend to use a lot of complex terms that can be confusing to those with less experience. However, here at Classic Industries, we want to clear up the confusion, and make it easy for anyone to tackle their first restoration project. With this in mind, we'd like to talk about truck bed wood. After all, if you're new to restoring trucks, you might not know the difference between bed strips, angle strips, reinforcement strips, and cross sills, or how many of each your vehicle requires.

Many Chevrolet and GMC classic trucks were built with bed wood standard from the factory, while later models came standard with a metal bed floor and only offered wood as an option. Read on as we go over the basics of bed wood components and configurations.

The above photo of a 1948 Chevrolet 3100 is courtesy of Mecum Auctions.

Truck Bed Wood Components

The collector appeal of classic trucks is growing, and it's easy to see why. After all, these utilitarian vehicles were never seen as anything particularly special or collectible back in the 1940s and '50s, much like today's base-model work trucks are viewed now. However, times change, and these once under-appreciated old pickup trucks are now being restored, modified, and cared for more with each passing year.