A few days ago, we received a message from Crossroads Vintage Restorations in Texas regarding a customer's 1964 Impala SS convertible that the shop recently completed. Many parts from the Classic Industries Impala parts catalog were used in this build, and the results are stunning, but there's also a fascinating story behind this car. Russ, the owner, scraped together enough cash to buy it for $700 back when he was sixteen years old. Almost forty years later, it has been fully restored to the beautiful condition seen here.

Each one of us has a certain classic car that we've always wanted to restore. Maybe you've been fortunate enough to complete a full restoration already, or maybe you're in the initial stages of searching for a clean example. Either way, you've probably spent a lot of time thinking about the project, and looking forward to its completion. John R. Uba of Illinois told us that his dream was to finish restoring his 1967 Chevy Impala, and he was able to do just that. He wrote, "People said dream on. I say dream come true!"

Each week, we write about a customer's classic car restoration project here on our blog. Normally, we speak to the owner, jot down notes, and write about the restoration parts and accessories that we know were used during the build. However, occasionally we meet a customer who does an even better job describing his or her car than we could, so we simply share the story in their own words. That was the case with this 1972 Nova, which belongs to Graham Reimer, of Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada. Read on for his detailed description of the project.

We've all heard the old saying that patience is a virtue, but it's often difficult to put that virtue into practice in our daily lives. It takes considerable fortitude to see a classic car restoration project through to completion as the months and years tick by, but those who stick with it reap the rewards. Ethan Skinner, of Pennsylvania, experienced this firsthand as he restored the 1969 Pontiac Firebird seen here. He writes, "It has been a slow process, but worth the wait."

Many of the classic cars we provide parts for, such as the Camaro, were designed with agility and performance in mind. Others, such as the iconic '57 Bel Air, place a higher emphasis on luxury and comfort as opposed to all-out speed. Some would say the Chevy Impala SS offers a perfect middle ground between a sports car and a cruiser, blending the two ideas into a vehicle that's both elegant and fast. This 1965 Impala SS is a beautiful example of what we mean.

There's an art to crafting the perfect name to describe a vehicle. Some classic car names, such as Impala and Mustang, evoke the agility and grace of an animal. Others, such as Charger and Regal, describe the potency or refinement of the vehicle itself. However, the names of the colors used on these cars are often equally creative. Butterscotch Pearl is the color that was applied to this 1965 Impala convertible, and this name perfectly conveys the smoothness and richness of its vivid orange hue.

Patina, which can be defined as "change of a surface through age and exposure," is a polarizing subject in the classic car restoration world. Some people feel that it's a sign of a worn-out exterior that desperately needs new sheetmetal and a fresh coat of paint, while others see it as a badge of honor earned through decades of hard use. Those who fall into the latter camp often go to great lengths to preserve the cosmetic patina, and wouldn't dream of covering it up. Ruben Garcia's 1970 C10 is a nice example of this eye-catching build style.

Every classic car has a story that's written over the course of decades, and intertwined with various people and places. Some of these vehicles spend their entire lives in a single town, while others eventually travel across the country or cross oceans. In a few rare cases, those cars or trucks make it back home or even back to their previous owners. This 1969 Chevy C10 was originally sold in California, but its second owner took it to Texas. Javier Piseno, the truck's third owner, brought it home to the west coast once again.

Ever since we introduced the Classic Industries Mopar catalog in 2010, we've been known as the leading source for Dodge and Plymouth A, B, and E-body restoration parts. However, we're always working hard to expand our lines and support more vehicles. In addition to the A, B, and E-body, we've been gradually accumulating some parts for a few other Mopar platforms, such as the C-body. This 1968 Polara 500 convertible is a beautiful example of the C-body platform.

Back in the days before SUVs and crossovers became the family-haulers of choice, the station wagon was the ultimate vehicle for carrying kids, four-legged friends, and all your belongings safely from point A to point B. Many of us have good memories of long road trips in the family wagon, and this nostalgia has led some classic car fans to seek out long-roof vehicles to restore. Michelle Garcia chose this '66 Nova wagon, and spent nearly two decades restoring it.