Resto shop stops

I've been racking up some miles as we gear up for the next Old Cars Guide to Auto Restoration, but every flip of the odometer has been worth it. So far, I've been to three cities shooting pictures of projects and found that, sometimes, the interesting cars aren't just in the shops, they are also lurking outside and around those shops. Here are a few of the treasures I spotted around Kopecky's Klassics, Weisbrod Model & Tool and Muscle Car Restorations in my travels.

Here's the rough cover of the next issue (Spring 2011), taken inside Muscle Car Restorations.

I'm a sucker for a full-size, big-block coupe and this 1968 Chevrolet Bel Air at Muscle Car Restorations fit the bill. We'll catch up with the owner of this gorgeous brute for a future issue of OCW.

This 1971 Plymouth 'Cuda convertible now packs a Hemi engine and a first-class restoration.

Now that you've seen some "after" shots from Muscle Car Restorations, how about some "before" and "never" shots from Kopecky's Klassics. The 300-F hardtop on the left and the sedan in the middle are strictly parts cars while the 300-F at the right is the owner's personal project.

Here's a better shot of the project 1960 300-F hardtop at Kopecky's Klassics. The car looks pretty solid, and would you believe it's an Alaskan car with air conditioning?

The 1957 Chrysler 300-C is a new arrival coming in for restoration work, and the white 1960 New Yorker in the background was going to be a parts car, until the owner realized it was too nice to part after it arrived.