As the years pass, many classic cars diverge from their stock form. Often this is due to the inevitable wear and tear on original components from driving or exposure to the elements. Instead of sourcing original-style reproduction parts, some owners will take their cars in a different direction and begin making modifications. While there's certainly nothing wrong with modding a car to make it your own, we also enjoy seeing classics restored to exactly as they looked when they rolled off the assembly line.

The Chevy Impala has been associated with the lowrider subculture since its inception, and it's easy to see why. With its long, elegant body, abundant chrome trim, powerful V8 engine options, and smooth ride, the Impala was born to cruise and look good doing it. Hydraulics have always been popular in the lowrider scene, but the development of modern air suspension systems provides a smooth-riding alternative to hydros.

Every project vehicle has a beginning and, as the saying goes, Rome wasn't built in a day. Although we see plenty of complete builds with every last nut and bolt replaced, we also see quite a few in-progress builds, and we find these equally interesting. A partially-completed project tells a story about the journey it has been on as well as the intended destination.

1955 was an important year for Chevrolet. It marked the first year of the iconic model that would eventually become known by fans as the Tri Five. The top-trim version of this Chevy model was the Bel Air, which could be ordered as either a standard two-door "post" version with a B-pillar at the midpoint of the roof, or a pillarless "hardtop" version. The '55 Bel Air also featured extra chrome trim and a selection of more than a dozen eye-catching two-tone color combinations.

In December 1960, Chevrolet announced the introduction of the Impala Super Sport for the 1961 model year. With this new trim level came a potent new 409-cubic-inch V8 engine that would catapult the Impala into a new era of high performance.

As production of the groundbreaking first-generation Pontiac Firebird wrapped up after three successful years, GM would continue to sell the original F-body cars throughout 1969 and into the earlier months of 1970. Then, partway through the year, the automaker introduced the second-generation Firebird. As a result, some would call this new car a "1970 1/2" model.

Many of the restored classic cars that show up in our Retail Showroom parking lot are driven frequently, and this fact always makes us smile. After all, while these timeless vehicles look great standing still, they're truly at their best in motion. The men and women who originally designed and built them intended them to be driven, so we're glad to play our part in making sure that's still happening several decades after these cars and trucks rolled off the assembly line.

California is a friendly environment for classic cars due to its mild and sunny weather conditions year-round. Snow, ice, and salted roads are virtually nonexistent, and even rain is a rare phenomenon. This means that the Golden State is a great place to find survivor vehicles that have been preserved in excellent condition since the day they rolled off the production line.

If someone mentions owning a "hybrid" vehicle, most people assume it's a Prius or some other ordinary commuter car powered by a combination of gasoline and electricity. However, the term actually represents anything made by combining two different elements. So in a broader sense, a hybrid build can also be a vehicle that blends visual elements rather than powertrain components. Case in point: this 1973 Nova SS might not look like a '73 at first glance, since it features a front-end conversion with parts from the previous model year.

Michael Williams, of Ontario, California, has owned this 1969 Camaro RS convertible for more than four decades. He originally bought the car back in 1977, and quickly fell in love with its timeless style and open-air driving experience.