Here at Classic Industries, we love sleeper vehicle builds—even the name evokes mystery. Much like a sleeper cell of operatives that infiltrates a bigger group, waiting for the right time to strike, sleeper cars are perfect for hiding in plain sight. The dented beater that rolls up to you at a stop light might just blast by you with tires ablaze when you least expect it. This unexpected characteristic never fails to keep things interesting.

Although there's nothing wrong with leaving your restoration project in the hands of qualified professionals at a trusted shop, there's something truly special about doing all the labor yourself. After countless hours of turning wrenches, and many late nights in the garage, you end up having personal knowledge of every last nut and bolt on your car.

This was the case for Larry Richards, of Seal Beach, California, who recently stopped by the Classic Industries showroom with his 1956 Chevy Bel Air. Larry restored this classic Chevy himself over the last five years, with some assistance from his friends on occasion. It features a 383ci stroker small-block V8 paired with a 700R4 automatic transmission. Disc brakes are visible through the windows of its chrome American Racing five-spoke wheels. We appreciate its vintage green and white two-tone paint, and abundance of intricately polished chrome accents.

Don Hilderbrand's '73 Camaro Z28 L82, a High School Sweetheart

For those of us who grew up in the sixties and seventies, Chevy's Camaro has been the ever constant familiar face in a frequently changing automotive climate. We've ridden the tides of change, from hot factory high-performance cars in the 1960s, to the decidedly lame Detroit iron of the 1970s. It was a long dry spell before the lords of Woodward Avenue and Van Nuys Boulevard would get back to the business of burning rubber from traffic light to traffic light in the mid-1980s.

Few things are more disappointing than setting out to drive your car only to find the engine doesn't start. Hundreds of moving parts have to be in working order to make a car run and drive, but the battery, alternator, and starter are the usual suspects. These issues are especially common on classic cars with aging electrical components. So, when you pop the hood and check the battery, what do your battery posts look like? If they're corroded, read on for some steps to clean your car's battery terminals and tips to prevent them from corroding again.

New selection of restoration and performance products for Chevrolet and GMC truck enthusiasts.

For enthusiasts, a car's story can be just as important as the car itself. Whether it’s spending memorable moments in the garage with dad, date nights and cruise-ins with that special someone, or highly-embellished tales of well-earned race victories, a car with a unique history becomes much more than mere transportation. It becomes the main character in its own story. This unique 1969 Camaro was built by one of the greatest legends in drag racing, Dick "Mr. Chevrolet" Harrell, and the story of its development is fascinating. Read on as we take a look back at the history of the Dick Harrell Camaro, and examine how this rare vehicle became part of the Classic Industries collection.

An Enthusiast is Born

You could say I have been in the auto parts business since I was about 10 years old. As a youngster I would often spend the weekends and summers at work with my dad at his salvage yard in Florida. Dad would give me tools and provide a “job” for me to do or he would give me “my own car” as a project and let me tinker away on it to pass the time.

A new Classic Industries project.

Now chopping.

Stay tuned for more on the latest Classic Industries collaboration with Speed TV's Emmy-nominated Chop Cut Rebuild with host Dan Woods.