| Constructor: |  Hudson Chevrolet Ford Plymouth Oldsmobile Pontiac Studebaker |
| Successor: | Generation 2 |
| Engine Name: | 90° pushrod V-8 Inline-six (Hudson Hornet only) |
| Capacity: | NaNcuin |
| Debut: | February 15, 1948 (Daytona Beach Road Course, Florida)[1] |
| Last Event: | October 30, 1966 (1966 American 500) |
The Generation 1 in NASCAR refers to the inaugural generation of post-war 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]