One of the biggest draws of classic car restoration is the nostalgia factor. There's something truly awesome about finally being able to own that car you always wanted in high school, or being able to buy back the vehicle you wish you never sold. For most of us, these classic cars are more than simple transportation, they're the fulfillment of our dreams. That's why we knew exactly what Michael Lara meant when he said this '72 Firebird is his "lifelong love".

Lately we've been noticing a trend: although the luxurious Chevy Bel Air continues to be ever-popular, the blue-collar 150 and 210 iterations of the Tri-Five are starting to get more attention. These budget-friendly models were once ignored in favor of chrome-clad 1955-57 Bel Air models, and many of them were even converted to look like Bel Airs. Now, however, we appear to have come full circle—and we're seeing more restored 150s and 210s as a result.

This November, some of the world's finest classic and custom cars gathered at the Las Vegas Convention Center for the SEMA 2015 Show. Since the SEMA Show is industry-only and not open to the general public, we walked the halls and snapped photos of the incredible vehicles we found inside. Now, for those of you who weren't able to make it to this year's show, we'll be posting some of the most interesting cars we spotted.

It's been said that too much of a good thing can be a bad thing. While this may be true in some cases, we'd certainly disagree when it comes to classic cars. For many of us enthusiasts, there's no such thing as "enough". We continually search for new vehicles to restore, and even when we've accumulated 3 or 4 (or more) ongoing builds, we're always looking for the next cool project to take on. For Joe Ali, of Huntington Beach, California, this never-ending interest has been focused on one vehicle: the Chevy Impala.

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.

Bright red is certainly an eye-catching color, and as a result many rumors have developed around bright red cars. Some people have claimed they're more likely to get tickets, more expensive to insure, or are even more accident prone. While most of these urban legends have been disproven by statistics, one fact remains: red cars turn heads. That's why Victory Red is the perfect color for Brian Greco's '64 Chevy Nova--it's a real attention-getter, and for good reason.

The Dodge Dart is the definition of a car that punches above its weight class. Introduced in 1960 as an entry-level full-size model, the Dart quickly garnered a reputation for being both affordable and reliable. In 1967, thanks to a substantial redesign and more powerful engine options, the Dart became even more popular as an inexpensive platform for hot-rodding. It might not have had the raw power of a top-of-the-line Charger or Coronet, but it was significantly more affordable and had what all hot-rodders truly crave: potential.

As much as we love seeing the end result of a full vehicle restoration, it's equally interesting to see where it all began. The process becomes even more special when you're able to talk to the builder whose blood, sweat, and tears turned an unloved shell of a car into something beautiful. In the case of this 1968 Nova, Aram Ayvazian is that builder, and the man who brought this iconic muscle car back to life.

At face value, the term "parts hauler" sounds like a negative description for a vehicle. When you hear about a shop's parts hauler truck, you'd likely imagine a beat-up, dented old workhorse—a vehicle made for running errands, nothing more. If you're anything like us, you certainly wouldn't imagine something as clean and tastefully modified as this 1987 Chevy Silverado could be an ordinary parts hauler. Then again, once you hear the identity of the shop that built it, you'll understand why it looks as good as it does.

For a car enthusiast, there's no worse feeling than having your car stolen. In an instant, the vehicle you put so much time and effort into is gone, and you're left empty-handed. This is exactly what happened to Ismael Castillo, the owner of this 1991 Camaro Z28, on New Year's Eve last year. After spending the evening with his friends celebrating, he went outside to find his Camaro was missing. It was recovered by police a few days later, but by then it had been stripped of many of its parts and abandoned. Fortunately, Ismael refused to give up on his project, so he began rebuilding it.