In Praise of "Overhauling"

[ralph124c]

I have been watching this show recenly, and I find it interesting. I am amazed at te extent of the car culture in So. California-it looks like you can find experts in all areas of car restoration there.
Anyway, I was impressed by how readily American cars from the 1950's-60's, can be restored-parts seem asy to find. I wonder if cars from the 1980's on are similarly restorable? I think that the more modern cars will not be easy (to restore), because of the increased use of plastics and materials which deteriorate.
Are restored cars exempt fromthe strict California emissions laws? Do you have to fit a catalytic converter to a restored vehicle?