In 1962, Gary Hooker designed a header for his new 409 Chevrolet.
He found a demand for this header immediately from other racers in the area.
It was not long before employees were hired, and Hooker Headers was operating out of a building in South Ontario, CA.
The philosophy of Hooker was simple - make real, usable power by balancing the intake and exhaust pressure waves.
This efficiently expelled all the burnt gases while drawing in the maximum fresh charge of fuel and air.
The team at Hooker sometimes spent twice as much time developing a header to find 10% better performance.
Slogans such as 'Hooker - When Only The Best Will Do' or 'Hooker Headers - Do It Right The 1st Time' were often used.
In the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s, Hooker dominated the drag race scene, with nearly all NHRA® Pro Stock (Super Stock) racers winning with Hooker Headers.
Famed racers such as Bill 'Grumpy' Jenkins, Bob Glidden, and Sox & Martin were regulars in Hooker publicity campaigns.
Hooker straight-thru glass pack mufflers were also launched in the early '70s, known as the 'Hookermuffler.' In the 1970s and 80s, Hooker even dabbled in making such things as bicycles, skateboards, skis, wheels, motorcycle parts, and fiberglass bolt-ons for trucks and vans, known as 'California Glass.' This branching led to more 'non-race' header and exhaust applications for trucks, vans, motor homes, and economy cars.
Hooker had headers for nearly anyone that could benefit from the mileage and performance improvements seen from un-corking your exhaust.
Hooker also became famous for engine swap headers for those swapping a big block into a Vega or a small block Chevy into a Jeep.
In the early '90s, Hooker developed its Metallic Ceramic Thermal Barrier Coating as an optional finish on its headers.
The heat displacement properties and additional life it adds to headers make it one of Hooker's most popular features still today.
The '90s also saw the development of the Aerochamber Muffler; the most advanced muffler of its time.
It remains the most advanced muffler on the market.
Hooker still holds tight to the claim of the winningest header in drag racing history.
Hooker continues to lead the way in design and technology with products like engine swap headers for putting a late model LS engine into early iron.
And, Hooker still leads the way in coating processes with the recent introduction of 'Darksides' black ceramic.
