Ford Coupe
NASCAR's earliest races featured pre-World War II models due to a post-World War II shortage.
HUDSON HORNET
GENERATION 1: 1948-1966
-Strictly stock frame and body.
-Doors strapped shut, seat belts required.
-Heavy-duty rear axle required to keep cars from flipping during the race.
PICTURED: 1952 Hudson Hornet
-Hudson was the first manufacturer to provide factory support to NASCAR racing teams.
-Strictly stock frame and body.
-Doors strapped shut, seat belts required.
-Heavy-duty rear axle required to keep cars from flipping during the race.
PICTURED: 1952 Hudson Hornet
-Hudson was the first manufacturer to provide factory support to NASCAR racing teams.
FORD GALAXIE
-This is the last year Ford raced with a stock chassis before the introduction of the unibody Fairlane and Torino.
FORD FAIRLANE
GENERATION 2: 1967-1980
-Stock body with a modified frame.
-Modified chassis became part of the spot with Holman-Moody, Banjo Matthews and Hutchenson-Pagan building chassis for teams.
PICTURED: FORD FAIRLANE
-Due to unibody construction on the stock vehicle, NASCAR allowed purpose built race chassis for safety.
-Stock body with a modified frame.
-Modified chassis became part of the spot with Holman-Moody, Banjo Matthews and Hutchenson-Pagan building chassis for teams.
PICTURED: FORD FAIRLANE
-Due to unibody construction on the stock vehicle, NASCAR allowed purpose built race chassis for safety.
DODGE CHARGER
-'The King' Richard Petty won his fourth Daytona 500 with Hemi power under the hood of this classic ride.
CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO
-American muscle hit the track in full force as aerodynamics became more advanced.
BUICK REGAL
GENERATION 3: 1981-1991
-Wheel base reduced to 110 inches.
-NASCAR downsizes cars to better resemble cars on the showroom floor.
-Body panels still purchased through manufacturers
PICTURED: 1981 BUICK REGAL
-This is the first 110-inch wheelbase model driven to a championship in NASCAR's premier series.
-Wheel base reduced to 110 inches.
-NASCAR downsizes cars to better resemble cars on the showroom floor.
-Body panels still purchased through manufacturers
PICTURED: 1981 BUICK REGAL
-This is the first 110-inch wheelbase model driven to a championship in NASCAR's premier series.
FORD THUNDERBIRD
-Bill Elliott set several qualifying speed records well over 200 mph with this sleek hot rod.
PONTIAC GRAND PRIX
-GM extended the rear windshield and shortened the deck lid of its Aero Coupe model.
CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO
GENERATION 4: 1992-2006
-Highly modified body.
-Teams spent hours in wind tunnel to gain aero edge.
-Bumpers/nose and tail composed of molded fiberglass based off of production counterparts.
PICTURED: 1995 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO
-Chevrolet switched from the Lumina to the Monte Carlo and Jeff Gordon drove it to four championships.
-Highly modified body.
-Teams spent hours in wind tunnel to gain aero edge.
-Bumpers/nose and tail composed of molded fiberglass based off of production counterparts.
PICTURED: 1995 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO
-Chevrolet switched from the Lumina to the Monte Carlo and Jeff Gordon drove it to four championships.
FORD TAURUS
-This was the first four-door stock car car model approved for NASCAR competition in the modern era.
DODGE INTREPID
-Dodge made its return to NASCAR with this Bill Elliott-driven Intrepid owned by Ray Evernham.
FORD FUSION
-Matt Kenseth drove this Ford during the first full season of Generation 4 cars.
CHEVROLET IMPALA SS
GENERATION 5: 2007-2012
-Introduced new era of safety.
-Common body and chassis for all manufacturers reduced need for track-specific race cars.
-Front splitter, rear wing offer teams aero adjustment options.
PICTURED: 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA SS
-Jimmie Johnson's championship car featured a front splitter, rear wing and a whole lot of dominance.
-Introduced new era of safety.
-Common body and chassis for all manufacturers reduced need for track-specific race cars.
-Front splitter, rear wing offer teams aero adjustment options.
PICTURED: 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA SS
-Jimmie Johnson's championship car featured a front splitter, rear wing and a whole lot of dominance.
TOYOTA CAMRY
-Competitors and fans missed the look of the spoiler, so it returned at Martinsville on March 27, 2010.
DODGE CHARGER
-Brad Keselowski's Blue Deuce featured a new front splitter that more resembled production models.
CHEVROLET IMPALA SS
-The end of Generation 5 also matched the end of the model in NASCAR.
FORD
GENERATION 6: 2013-2021:
- Manufacturer-unique body panels placed on existing chassis.
- Enhanced body designs better resemble the cars found in showrooms across the United States.
- Design puts the 'stock' back into stock car racing.
PICTURED: 2013 FORD
- Brad Keselowksi's Blue Deuce.
- Manufacturer-unique body panels placed on existing chassis.
- Enhanced body designs better resemble the cars found in showrooms across the United States.
- Design puts the 'stock' back into stock car racing.
PICTURED: 2013 FORD
- Brad Keselowksi's Blue Deuce.
NEXTGEN
NEXTGEN: 2022-present
-The body is designed to be symmetrical.
-Wheels changed from 15 inches to 18 inches, are made of aluminum and feature a single lug nut.
-Other new features include a sequential shifter and independent rear suspension.
-The body is designed to be symmetrical.
-Wheels changed from 15 inches to 18 inches, are made of aluminum and feature a single lug nut.
-Other new features include a sequential shifter and independent rear suspension.