Classic cars often carry powerful memories of time spent together with family members. Whether it's the result of wrenching on the car, going to shows, or simply cruising together, these special vehicles develop into an extension of the bond between spouses, siblings, or parents and their children. This '57 Bel Air belonged to Louie Breceda's father for 45 years, so when he passed away, Louie inherited it and preserved it. In a way, Louie's dad lives on through this car.

Some collectible cars and trucks lead charmed lives. They have been driven, pampered, and renewed over the years by the people who have been and who currently are their caretaker. Such is the case with a very solid 1977 Ford Bronco Ranger, owned for the last 16 years by Mr. Dave Kunz of Glendale, California.

What was the first car you owned? Even if it wasn't an exciting muscle car or glamorous luxury coupe, you probably have fond memories of your time behind the wheel. Our first cars gave us independence and allowed us to experience the thrill of the open road. Fernando Guzman, of Irvine, California, was fortunate enough to have a very cool first car, which he owns to this day. He's held onto this 1965 Mustang GT for 32 years. In fact, it's still his daily-driver.

Restoring a classic car can be a great family bonding experience. Over the years, we've met many customers who told us how revitalizing a car helped them grow closer to a spouse, sibling, or child who helped with the project. Countless memories are made turning wrenches in the garage, choosing upgrades, and cruising to car shows in the completed vehicle. For John DiIorio, of San Pedro, California, this Glacier Blue 1969 Camaro was a fantastic father-son build.

Some of our favorite classic cars have appeared in movies, and seeing them on the silver screen makes their real-world counterparts seem even cooler. The Bullitt Mustang, Smokey and the Bandit Trans Am, and Vanishing Point Challenger are just a few noteworthy examples. You'll rarely see those star cars outside a museum, but we recently had an opportunity to photograph a Classic Industries customer's car that had a movie cameo of its own. This 1969 Mustang convertible was featured in the 2002 film Confessions of a Dangerous Mind.

Trucks are naturally utilitarian vehicles, so it's no surprise that many of them lived hard lives on farms, ranches, and job sites. As a result, it's often difficult to find well-preserved examples, especially those with low miles and all-original powertrains. Only a lucky few were stashed away in garages and barns, where they could be found and restored decades later. Such was the case for this beautiful 1970 Ford F-100 barn find, now owned by Georgia Sells, of Huntington Beach, California.

Every classic car has a story, and it's part of what makes them so interesting. Beauty and performance can certainly be appreciated at face value, but these factors in the present are intertwined with the past. Today, we'll take a look at one Classic Industries customer's 1966 Ford Mustang that exemplifies this principle. Ben Fea bought this Mustang brand new back in '66, and he still owns it to this day.

Many of us have owned classic cars and have eventually been forced to sell them, only to regret that decision years or decades later. For Omar Palacios, of Orange, California, that long-lost car was a 1985 Mustang 5.0 with T-tops. Many years after selling his first Mustang, he found himself browsing used car listings on Craigslist, and stumbled upon the 1973 Mustang convertible seen here. Omar and his wife Moriah immediately drove out to see the car in person, and soon decided they had to buy and restore it.

Whether it's a movie, TV show, or book, every great story has a few twists and turns that make the ending all the more satisfying. The hero narrowly overcomes disaster time and time again, but everything works out at the conclusion. Such is the case with the tale of Mike Arthur's 1967 Mustang. It was purchased in the '60s, stolen and recovered in the '70s, and damaged in a shop fire in the '90s. But thankfully, it survived and was restored it to its original beauty.

Every classic car restoration project is a journey, and we always enjoy hearing about how our customers' navigated that long road with help from the parts in our catalogs. But being able to see the journey a vehicle went through via photos is even more rewarding. Farley Schrieber, of Ohio, sent us numerous photos documenting the two-and-a-half-year restoration process of his stunning 1956 Chevy Bel Air. This car was restored from the frame up, and now features upgraded suspension and a potent big-block V8.