The legendary speed and success of moonshine runners evading the law in the 1930s and 1940s owed much to the rise of powerful V8 engines, especially those found in the iconic Ford Coupe and models like the Oldsmobile 88. These cars were meticulously modified and designed for a singular purpose ... outrunning the police while carrying heavy loads of illegal liquor.
The Ford Coupe, particularly late 1930s to early 1940s models equipped with the flathead V8, emerged as a favorite for moonshiners. This car offered a perfect blend of speed, cargo space, and durability. Its large trunk accommodated large quantities of moonshine while its flathead V8, capable of being souped-up beyond stock power, could propel the car at speeds reportedly reaching 180 mph on twisting back roads. The torque and reliability of these engines were a game-changer, law enforcement simply couldn’t catch them on the winding mountain routes.
Other vehicles such as the Oldsmobile 88, with its Rocket V8 engine, and Chevrolet or Ford sedans with larger V8s gained respect among moonshiners for similar reasons. By the 1950s and 1960s, larger sedans like the Ford Fairlane, fitted with powerful V8 engines like the 289, were modified to balance speed with heavy load capacity.
Junior Johnson, famously one of the most successful moonshine runners from North Carolina, became a legendary figure who embodied this era. Johnson’s skill behind the wheel and mechanical expertise in tuning Fords and Oldsmobiles for higher power laid the foundations for American stock car racing. His transition from bootlegging to NASCAR racing saw him dominate the early circuits, forever linking moonshining culture to the sport.
The story of the moonshine runner’s V8 getaway car is woven deep into Southern folklore and motorsport history and birthed NASCAR.