Hudson Hornet. Stock car racing’s surprise star, the Hudson Hornet was the car to beat in the early days of NASCAR, despite being wider and heavier than its competition. Much to the chagrin of the Big Three, the Hornet crossed the finish line on six cylinders at a time when V-8 was the new king, proving that there’s a lot more to winning races than horsepower. Drivers attributed the Hudson Hornet’s unrivaled race performance (the car won 83% of its 1952 races, to be exact) to its low center of gravity, which made for excellent handling on the racetrack and stylish cruising on the boulevard.
Keyword: Hudson Hornet