6 replies to this topic

[Rainer Nyberg]

When did the streetcar based saloons disappear from the NASCAR scene and NASCAR adopted the tube-frame spec-car rules?

Around 1980? Later? Earlier?

[Joe Fan]

I can't remember the exact year NASCAR moved towards tubular frame chassis but around 1980 sounds about right. One other thing, NASCAR has never been a spec-car series. Most of the teams build their own chassis and although they are given rules to follow, no two cars are alike. However, if you build a superior chassis like Hendrick did with Gordon's T-Rex car back around 1997, NASCAR can ban it if they feel that it would seriously undermine competition. Also note that teams are also given the freedom on how to flare out the sheet metal on the sides of the car in order to improve aerodynamics. So NASCAR may be closer to being a spec series than F1 but it still is not a spec car series.

[Buford]

The Dodge I had in 1980 we were going to run the Daytona 500 in but got bought out of the ride at the last minute was tube so it must have been well before 1980 becasue that was a 2 year old car.

[Dennis David]

It's not so much a spec series as it is a handicap series,

[Jim Thurman]

Originally posted by Rainer Nyberg
When did the streetcar based saloons disappear from the NASCAR scene and NASCAR adopted the tube-frame spec-car rules?

Around 1980? Later? Earlier?

This discussion went on over the Racing History group. Many pick 1980, but I'd say it was earlier as well. I believe Holman-Moody built the first tube frame cars circa 1966, but there were still some unibodies in use later (like the K&K Dodge). I'd say the early to mid-70's. Exceptions being some of the small independent driver/owner operations.


Jim Thurman

[Joe Fan]

Originally posted by Jim Thurman


This discussion went on over the Racing History group. Many pick 1980, but I'd say it was earlier as well. I believe Holman-Moody built the first tube frame cars circa 1966, but there were still some unibodies in use later (like the K&K Dodge). I'd say the early to mid-70's. Exceptions being some of the small independent driver/owner operations.


Jim Thurman

I think Rainer's question is, when did NASACR mandate the use of tubular frame chassis? I know that tubular frame chassis existed in the 1960's but when did NASCAR finally mandate them? I think some teams may have used tubular frame chassis on superspeedways before it was mandated.

[bob_gilliland]

I don't have any reference materials handy at the moment (I'm at the office), but I believe the first tubular frame was constructed by Banjo Matthews in 1964, and may have been made mandatory at the superspeedways as early as 1965 or 67.