Savoy Automobile Museum, Cartersville (Georgia), USA
Until September 27, 2026
The “Stock Cars to Racecars” exhibition at the Savoy Automobile Museum (Georgia, USA) showcases the seven successive generations of NASCAR cars. This racing series traces its origins to the 1930s and Prohibition, when bootleggers modified their cars to evade the police. Subsequently, races were organized, in a completely legal setting, by numerous local associations.
In December 1947, Bill France Sr. organized a meeting in Daytona Beach (Florida) with drivers, mechanics, and car owners to unite these associations and define the future of stock car racing, giving birth to NASCAR (National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing). The first national championship took place in 1949, featuring strictly stock cars. As technology, the focus on performance, and safety requirements advanced, the cars also evolved considerably, becoming true racing machines
Since the first race in February 1948, seven distinct generations of NASCAR race cars have taken to the tracks. Races are held primarily on ovals of varying lengths, typically covering distances of 500 Miles. The season kicks off in February with the Daytona 500 and wraps up in November after 36 races! With drivers racing bumper-to-bumper and door-to-door at average speeds of 240–250 km/h and peak speeds well over 300 km/h, the races are truly spectacular!
“Stock Cars to Racecars” explores the evolution from original production cars to the high-tech modernization of today’s race cars, allowing visitors to witness this evolution and perfectly illustrating the exhibition’s title. The latest generations are built around a tubular chassis clad in a “silhouette” body relatively close to a production model and powered by a massive 850-horsepower V8. The oldest car on display is a 1939 Ford Standard, evoking the origins of NASCAR. A 1963 Chevrolet Impala represents the first generation (1948–1966), followed by a 1974 Dodge Charger once driven by NASCAR legend Richard Petty (7 titles and 200 wins) and a 1978 Chevrolet Monte Carlo, which belong to the second generation (1967–1980).
Another Chevrolet Monte Carlo, this time from 1989, and a Ford Thunderbird (1985) represent the third generation (1981–1991). The second Ford Thunderbird (1992) on display is a fourth-generation model (1992–2007). Two Chevrolet Impala SS models (2007 and 2010) represent the fifth generation (2008–2012). Next up are another 2014 Chevrolet SS and a 2018 Ford Fusion representing the sixth generation (2013–2021), and finally the 2024 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 representing the current generation, which has been in use since 2022.
The cars on display bear the logos of the three major American automakers, as NASCAR has long been their domain. After starting out in the spin-off series reserved for pickup trucks, Toyota joined the series with the Camry in 2007.
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