If you're anything like us, you didn't become a car guy overnight. You probably grew up around cars, and they've been a part of your life since childhood. A true passion for classic cars often begins while wrenching in the garage with Dad, cruising the streets with your best friends, or blasting down the drag strip on weekends. Then, over many years, it becomes an integral part of who you are.

The term "survivor" invokes images of doing battle and coming out unscathed, against all the odds. Similarly, when applied to a classic car, the term "survivor" indicates a vehicle that has endured the passing of many miles and decades in near-untouched factory condition. These unlikely survivors still look brand-new, without the aid of extensive restoration work.

One of our favorite qualities of classic cars is the history and sentimental value they carry. The 1970 Chevy Nova seen here is no exception. Jim Turner, of Van Nuys, California, drove out with his best friend to purchase the car over 30 years ago. Sadly, his friend was killed in a motorcycle accident a year later, but this tragedy brought Jim closer to his friend's family. Soon enough, Jim had married his best friend's sister, and the pair decided to hold onto the Nova and the memories that went along with it.

When Jim pulled into our showroom parking lot in the silver and black SS, we knew we had to get a closer look. The car has been beautifully maintained and restored inside and out, thanks to the addition of a few parts from Classic Industries and plenty of elbow grease. Jim cares deeply about this car, and it shows.

If you've ever restored a car, you know that setting an accurate timeline for the project can be a difficult task. Everyone starts out ambitious, excited, and ready to complete the build as soon as possible. Then, nine times out of ten, life gets in the way. Often, the car gets rolled into a garage or covered up, not to see the light of day for years at a time. Occasionally, projects are completely forgotten, left to rust and be resurrected as barn finds years later.

When you've got a classic car you truly care about, keeping it clean is a never-ending labor of love. It gets dusted, washed, waxed, buffed, and polished, until you're painfully aware of every last imperfection. Some of us spend hours meticulously polishing the chrome, or detailing the interior, until our significant others complain that we don't even give them this much attention.

Tim Bair, of Huntington Beach, California, is obsessed with keeping his '67 Camaro sparkling clean, and for good reason. After all, he bought the car with earnings from his metal polishing and plating company, California Polishing. One look at the car tells you that Tim is good at what he does—it is simply immaculate.

Like most good things in life, finding a clean base for a restoration project is often a long and arduous task. You can't just expect someone to show up at your doorstep and hand you the keys to your dream car, you've got to get out there and search for it (or pay someone else big bucks to do the leg work for you).

Mike Guido, of Costa Mesa, California, knew exactly what he was looking for, and had the patience to endure years of fruitless searching. In fact, he looked for the right classic pickup to restore for over two decades. That level of dedication demands respect.

Thankfully for Mike, the search paid off, and he came upon the 1946 Chevy truck seen here.

If, like us, you call yourself an automotive enthusiast, chances are good that you share an appreciation for a wide range of makes and models. However, there's always one car that trumps them all, and makes your heart skip a beat the moment you lay eyes on it: your dream car.

For Jeremy Fleener, of Encino, California, that car is the 1967 Plymouth Barracuda convertible seen here. Jeremy recently stopped by our Huntington Beach showroom, and we took the opportunity to get to know him, snap a few photos, and learn more about the car.

Jerry's '57 Chevy Bel Air Hardtop Sport Coupe

Classic Industries' Southern California customer, Jerry Jacobs, pulled into the parking lot with his glamorous '57 Chevy Bel Air. This 2-door hardtop sport coupe is a daily driver for Jerry, but looks like it should be pampered at a local car show. He's the second owner for the last 25 years and this Larkspur Blue/Imperial Ivory combination quickly transports us back in time.

Every car has a story, especially for enthusiasts. For Mike and his '73 Camaro, that story began with a Camaro parts car being handed down by a godfather and quickly took a turn toward the drag strip. And though the story is what makes any car greater than the sum of its parts, it's worth paying attention to the parts in this case.