Generation 1 (NASCAR)

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Generation 1
Hudson Hornet at the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte, North Carolina
ConstructorUnited States Hudson
United States Chevrolet
United States Ford
United States Plymouth
United States Oldsmobile
United States Pontiac
United States Studebaker
SuccessorGeneration 2
Technical specifications
Engine90° pushrod V-8
Inline-six (Hudson Hornet only) 303–440 cu in (5.0–7.2 L)
Competition history
DebutFebruary 15, 1948
(Daytona Beach Road Course, Florida)[1]
Last eventOctober 30, 1966
(1966 American 500)

The Generation 1 in NASCAR refers to the first generation of post-war race cars used between 1948 and 1966. The first generation of stock cars used a strictly-stock body and frame, the doors were strapped with the use of seat belts being required, and a heavy-duty rear axle was mandated to stop the cars from rolling over during a race.[2] These cars were almost identical to their road-going counterparts, albeit with tuning and modifications to the car itself being prohibited. It was also notable for being the only generation of stock cars to use real doors.[3] Examples include the Hudson Hornet, Oldsmobile Rocket 88, Ford Galaxie, Plymouth Belvedere, Pontiac Catalina, and the Chevrolet Impala.

They were eventually replaced by the Generation 2 cars in 1967.[4][5]

Models

[edit]
Manufacturer Chassis Usage Image
Chevrolet Impala 1958 - 1962
Ford Galaxie 1958 - 1965
Thunderbird 1959 - 1964
Hudson Hornet 1950 - 1954
Oldsmobile Rocket 88 1949 - 1953
Plymouth Belvedere 1959
Pontiac Catalina 1950 - 1958
Studebaker Starlight 1949 - 1952


References

[edit]
  1. ^ "NASCAR History".
  2. ^ "The evolution of NASCAR Cup Series cars".
  3. ^ "NASCAR's Wild Ride from Generation 1 Through 7". 6 May 2021.
  4. ^ "Hinton: Generational shift". 16 January 2013.
  5. ^ "NASCAR Cars Through the Generations | NASCAR Hall of Fame | Curators' Corner".