2. Hudson Hornet
In 1951, Hudson introduced the Hornet. It was a full-size sedan with an affordable price and a few interesting features. They gave it a sleek design with a sloping roofline. This made the Hornet look longer, wider and sportier. Hudson used the new “step down” construction, which merged the chassis and body for a lower center of gravity, improving handling.
The third and final important feature was the updated straight eight-cylinder engine with 308 CID and up to 170 HP on tap. These updates gave the Hornet a big advantage on the race tracks. It dominated the NASCAR races from 1951 to 1954, becoming one of the biggest legends of the sport. In comparison to other models, the Hornet handled better and the big straight eight produced more torque, improving the performance.