One of the biggest draws of classic car restoration is the nostalgia factor. There's something truly awesome about finally being able to own that car you always wanted in high school, or being able to buy back the vehicle you wish you never sold. For most of us, these classic cars are more than simple transportation, they're the fulfillment of our dreams. That's why we knew exactly what Michael Lara meant when he said this '72 Firebird is his "lifelong love".

The Dodge Dart is the definition of a car that punches above its weight class. Introduced in 1960 as an entry-level full-size model, the Dart quickly garnered a reputation for being both affordable and reliable. In 1967, thanks to a substantial redesign and more powerful engine options, the Dart became even more popular as an inexpensive platform for hot-rodding. It might not have had the raw power of a top-of-the-line Charger or Coronet, but it was significantly more affordable and had what all hot-rodders truly crave: potential.

If you've visited our Huntington Beach, California, Retail Showroom in the last few months, you'll no doubt recognize this week's featured car. That's because this 1970 Challenger R/T is currently on display in the center of the room! The Classic Industries Retail Showroom serves not only as a restoration parts storefront for local customers, but also as a showcase for timeless cars like this one. After all, what better way to demonstrate our ever-growing Mopar parts line than with a real car?

At Classic Industries, we love a good resto-mod build, and this mean 1968 Dodge Dart certainly ticks all the boxes. Owner David Fritz, of Irvine, California, knew from day one that he wanted to build an aggressive machine that could do double-duty on the street and drag strip, and he executed his plan over the course of 7 years. When he bought the Dart, it was a humble inline-6 in rough shape, and he tore it all apart to rebuild it with a different purpose entirely. This A-body Mopar car is made to turn heads and win races.

For a car enthusiast, there's no worse feeling than having your car stolen. In an instant, the vehicle you put so much time and effort into is gone, and you're left empty-handed. This is exactly what happened to Ismael Castillo, the owner of this 1991 Camaro Z28, on New Year's Eve last year. After spending the evening with his friends celebrating, he went outside to find his Camaro was missing. It was recovered by police a few days later, but by then it had been stripped of many of its parts and abandoned. Fortunately, Ismael refused to give up on his project, so he began rebuilding it.

What's the most famous Trans Am of all time? How about the most famous Pontiac of all time? There's a good chance that the answer to both these questions is a single car: the second-gen Trans Am Special Edition. This black and gold icon of the 1970s became instantly recognizable for its role in the film Smokey and the Bandit, in which Burt Reynolds drove the car from Texas to Georgia as part of a bootlegging operation. In fact, in the two years following the first film, Trans Am sales nearly doubled! Thanks to the lasting impact of this movie and its sequels, as well as the car's undeniable cool factor, the Special Edition T/A remains world-famous to this day.

There seems to be a bit of a stigma about owning a convertible these days -- some people just don't consider them to be as cool as a hardtop coupe. However, we'd like to take a moment to defend the merits of the convertible. There's really nothing quite like putting the top down on a beautiful day, feeling the wind in your hair, and hearing the burble of the exhaust behind you as you blast down the highway. It's a visceral experience, and something that everyone should try. And there are few better places to own a classic convertible than sunny southern California.

Today, new truck buyers choose from a limited selection of paint options, typically including variations of black, white, silver, and occasionally a subdued metallic champagne, burgundy or navy blue. However, this wasn't always the case. Back in 1969, even utilitarian pickup trucks were available in a wide range of vibrant hues such as bright red, orange, yellow, olive green and turquoise. They may not be available anymore, but these exciting colors proved that even if you needed a work truck, it certainly didn't have to be boring.

The term "bubble top" has become a catch phrase in the Impala restoration community, and we often hear people asking what it really means. Take one look at the rounded roof of this 1961 Impala coupe, and you'll start to understand. The curved glass, smooth lines, and lack of B-pillars cause this car's roof to appear similar to a bubble, hence the name. The term became especially important one year later in '62, because GM produced a select few Impalas with leftover '61 "bubble" tops before transitioning to the more angular "crinkle top" later that year.

If you owned an auto restoration shop, how would you advertise your skills? Sure, you could spend big bucks on billboards, TV commercials, and print ads, or you could cut to the chase and build a vehicle that shows off what you can really do. That's exactly what Edgar Hernandez did to promote his business, Starlite Rod & Kustom Shop, in Torrance, California. The slick customized '72 GMC C30 dually seen here is the result of his efforts. Even better, it's not just a show vehicle. It also serves as the parts hauler for the many restoration projects he works on.