Christmas has come and gone, and the jolly bearded guy clad in red and white has returned to his North Pole abode once more. We know his traditional method of transportation is a flying sleigh and pack of reindeer, but a customer recently stopped by our Retail Showroom in a vehicle that looks like it'd be a fitting four-wheeled alternative for Mr. Claus. Rudolph and his pals can take some time off, because this red and white two-tone '56 Bel Air forgoes reindeer-power in favor of good old horsepower.

Just as Rome wasn't built in a day, it takes considerable time and patience to complete any classic car restoration project. But good things come to those who wait, and patience pays off in the end. All the work and waiting just makes seeing the finished vehicle even more satisfying. Such was the case with this 1967 Firebird, which was restored by Ernesto Castro and his sons in their home garage.

The Chevy Impala models of the 1960s offered a long, sleek, and imposing appearance that few modern cars can hope to replicate. Although some have poked fun at the yacht-like size of two-door cars of this era, none can deny the head-turning presence of the sweeping lines of a classic Impala. These cars especially stand out today, with their lengthy proportions and big V8 engines contrasting strongly with roads filled by bland 4-cylinder compact cars.

As far as we're concerned, every model year of the Camaro is a great one, but certain years are especially beloved by the car enthusiast community for their groundbreaking style and legacy. 1970 was one such year, since it marked the beginning of the second generation of this iconic vehicle. The previous three years had set a high bar for success, but GM still produced a car that lived up to the expectations. Even today, you don't have to be an automotive expert to see this beautifully-restored '70 Z28 and know it's something special.

When you know you've found a good thing, you hold on to it. This is the mindset that led Michael Argandona, of Huntington Beach, California, to keep this 1989 Pontiac Firebird Formula for three decades. He has lovingly maintained it, keeping its smooth black paint and sleek sheetmetal in immaculate condition. The result is a car that's just as cool today as it was back in '89.

At first glance, Rick Scott's '54 Chevy truck looks a bit rough. The cab was transplanted from an earlier split-windshield pickup. Its sheetmetal is sprayed in a mottled coat of flat black paint, the grille is dented, and both the front bumper and tailgate are missing completely. But when you take a closer look at this truck, you'll start spotting some subtle (and not-so-subtle) hints that it was built with a singular purpose: speed. Rick turned his truck into an all-out drag-racing machine.

Classic cars often become family heirlooms, passed from generation to generation over the course of decades. Not only does this process ensure a vehicle remains in good hands by keeping it in the family, it also maintains a strong sense of appreciation for these timeless cars and trucks. After all, it's one thing to see them in pictures and read about them in magazines, and entirely another to get your hands dirty under the hood and feel the exhilaration behind the wheel. This 1969 Camaro RS was recently restored in preparation to be handed down from a grandmother to her grandson.

Anyone who was fortunate enough to have a car during high school has vivid memories of that vehicle. For some of us, it was a real junker, barely getting us where we needed to go as we struggled to keep it running. For others, it was a first project car, a little rough around the edges but something we took pride in restoring. John Velasquez, of West Covina, California, falls into the latter category. He bought this 1970 Camaro RS back in 1983 while he was in high school, and has owned it ever since.

Every classic car is an expression of its owner's tastes. Some prefer to restore a vehicle to immaculate original condition, with every nut and bolt the way it came from the factory. Others add subtle modifications for street driving, drop in more powerful engines for drag racing, or heavily customize their vehicles for something unique and eye-catching. Sammy Covarrubias, of Santa Ana, California, built his 1962 Chevy Impala to cruise the streets and look good doing it.

It's every car enthusiast's worst nightmare to find out their prized vehicle has been stolen. We shudder to think about a classic car sitting safely at home one day, only to disappear the next day without a trace, never to be seen again. This awful scenario is exactly what befell Ivan Ramirez's 1970 Chevy Nova... or so he thought. In reality, the Nova was actually being dismantled and restored by none other than the crew of the hit TV show Overhaulin'.