Patina, which can be defined as "change of a surface through age and exposure," is a polarizing subject in the classic car restoration world. Some people feel that it's a sign of a worn-out exterior that desperately needs new sheetmetal and a fresh coat of paint, while others see it as a badge of honor earned through decades of hard use. Those who fall into the latter camp often go to great lengths to preserve the cosmetic patina, and wouldn't dream of covering it up. Ruben Garcia's 1970 C10 is a nice example of this eye-catching build style.

Every classic car has a story that's written over the course of decades, and intertwined with various people and places. Some of these vehicles spend their entire lives in a single town, while others eventually travel across the country or cross oceans. In a few rare cases, those cars or trucks make it back home or even back to their previous owners. This 1969 Chevy C10 was originally sold in California, but its second owner took it to Texas. Javier Piseno, the truck's third owner, brought it home to the west coast once again.

You may have heard the claim that lowering a truck makes it less useful, but that's not necessarily the case. Sure, if you're planning to go off-roading, reduced ground clearance isn't advantageous. However, if your truck's primary purpose is to haul items around town on paved streets, a lower bed floor can actually make it easier to load and unload. Adding an air suspension system can also offer a smoother ride and on-the-fly adjustability for a variety of practical tasks. Jeff Sharell's 1965 Chevy C10 is a good example of this build style, and gets used every day as the shop truck for his auto detailing products company.

It's an unfortunate fact that many of us have owned classic cars we've had to sell for one reason or another. Maybe money got tight, family and work obligations took priority, or we simply ended up with more project cars than we had time for. It's always hard to say goodbye to these vehicles, but on some rare occasions, they'll come full-circle and return to us at a later date. Such was the case with Jim Spears and his 1975 Trans Am, which has a story that's almost as cool as the vehicle itself.

Ever since we introduced the Classic Industries Mopar catalog in 2010, we've been known as the leading source for Dodge and Plymouth A, B, and E-body restoration parts. However, we're always working hard to expand our lines and support more vehicles. In addition to the A, B, and E-body, we've been gradually accumulating some parts for a few other Mopar platforms, such as the C-body. This 1968 Polara 500 convertible is a beautiful example of the C-body platform.

Back in the days before SUVs and crossovers became the family-haulers of choice, the station wagon was the ultimate vehicle for carrying kids, four-legged friends, and all your belongings safely from point A to point B. Many of us have good memories of long road trips in the family wagon, and this nostalgia has led some classic car fans to seek out long-roof vehicles to restore. Michelle Garcia chose this '66 Nova wagon, and spent nearly two decades restoring it.

The Chevrolet Camaro has been an icon of performance and speed for more than five decades. Its blend of a sleek exterior and raucous V8 engine has carried on across generations. Today, some choose to restore these vehicles to factory-fresh original condition, while others have fused elements of early and late Camaro models to create something unique. This second-gen 1972 Camaro SS falls into the latter category, with an LS3 V8 and 6-speed manual transmission transplanted from a fifth-gen model.

Over the years, we've seen quite a few restomod builds arrive at the parking lot in front of our Retail Showroom. This category of vehicles combines original-style restoration parts with modern components to create a unique blend of old and new. Many restomods add only a handful of subtle changes under the skin, and some take this further, replacing the entire engine and suspension with brand-new parts. However, few restomods we've seen are as extreme as this 1973 Charger. In fact, so many of its parts have been swapped out that some might say the term doesn't adequately describe it.

The 1955-57 Chevy "Tri Five" is an undeniable classic that has remained popular and desirable across generations of automotive enthusiasts. Its sleek lines and elegant curves look just as good today as they did at Chevrolet dealers more than six decades ago. As time passes, it brings new trends, and the Tri Five has been adapted to fit many of them, from gassers to hot rods to modern pro-street or pro-touring builds. And of course, many of these vehicles have been restored to original condition or lightly resto-modded to fit the owner's taste.

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.