Each classic car is an expression of its owner's taste and personality. Some choose to restore their vehicles to factory condition, with every last nut and bolt put back to the way it was when the vehicle left the assembly line. Others prefer to incorporate some slight modifications, such as a new set of wheels, coilover suspension, or a disc brake conversion. A few choose to diverge from tradition with major mods that speak to their independent attitude. Guy Moore, the owner of this 1955 Ford F-100, falls into the third category. That's why he decided to drop a Chevy LS1 under the hood of his Ford truck.

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.

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.

These days, the Sport Utility Vehicle segment has become a dominant force in the automotive industry. Anywhere you look, you'll see dozens of SUVs, whether they're small crossovers or full-size family-haulers. In many cases, these versatile vehicles outnumber trucks, sedans, wagons, and hatchbacks. But back in the 1960s, the idea of an SUV was just beginning thanks to innovative models like the Chevrolet Suburban.

In 1947, Chevrolet launched a major redesign of its pickup truck offerings, known as the Advance Design series. One of the most distinctive features of these trucks was the Deluxe Cab option, which included a pair of curved "Nu-Vue" corner windows at the back of the cab, increasing visibility and giving the truck an open feel. This remains a sought-after design today. Enthusiasts typically refer to it as the "5-window" Chevy.

Pickup trucks are designed for utility, and as a result many of them end up living a long, hard life full of dings, dents, scratches, and scuffs. This is why we love to see classic trucks restored to like-new condition. It gives these utilitarian vehicles a new lease on life, erasing the scars of decades past and allowing them to start with a clean slate once more. Antonio Ortiz, of Cerritos, California, restored this 1964 C10 and now uses it as his daily-driver.

Darin Smith is a lifelong car guy. He grew up helping out at his father's tire shop, then did a stint as a service writer at a dealership. Eventually, he opened a shop of his own, not far from the Classic Industries Retail Showroom in Huntington Beach, California. Now Darin spends his days restoring classic cars and living his dream. When the need arose for a shop truck for local parts runs, he opted for something more distinctive than a brand-new pickup, and bought this 1971 Chevy C10.

Every project has to start somewhere, and customers often tell us about the rough state their vehicles were in before restoration began. While we always enjoy hearing these stories and seeing the spotless completed projects, it's not often that we get to observe the starting point of these builds. But on rare occasions, rather than describing the unrestored condition of a car or truck, an owner will share some photos of exactly what it looked like on day one of ownership. Such is the story of this 1967 Chevy C10.