History Bootlegger Car Suspension?

My how times change. Back then you got in trouble for putting alcohol in your car, now they make us do it.

 

A bunch of old booze cars having it out is always fun to watch.
The father of the winning #2 car in this video was one of the founders of NASCAR.
The driver of the 56 car's father was another NASCAR founder along with Bill France.

 

Read an article years ago about a ford coupe modified for hauling ‘shine , trunk was extended into the back seat for maximum payload

Had the front and rear light on switches so they could be turned on and off independently

a bunch of suspension upgrades also

and a big ol’ nasty hemi under the hood with all the speed parts of the era thrown at it .

I don’t remember the magazine it was in but I think they called the article “ the pink elephant “ as the hemi was painted pink .

 

I was fortunate also to see the C*** ‘39 hauler, also one year at Dawsonville. Looks like the car is sporting a repaint since I saw it.
Plus I got to speak at length with Mr. C***, who was very outgoing and answered all my questions.
The car actually languished in a junk yard in N. Georgia for years before its rebirth. The man who pulled it out was with Mr. C***, and told me what all had to be done to the car. Everything mechanical was rebuilt, if needed.
It was a really well engineered piece, with many trick pieces evolving from long experience in the business. The rear helper springs were made to keep the car level as the load was dispensed. The show board list of parts was accurate. Everything was on the car.
Don’t criticize the spelling of Eskedeeren, it’s no different than Elderbrock intakes, Michigan tires, Munro shocks and other little idiosyncrasies of Appalachia speak, which btw is “apple-AT-cha” not “appa-LAY-sheea”.

The car was NOT a “tanker” according to Mr. C***, as it was used to make multiple drops to multiple joints.
The tank cars were used to make bulk runs to big consumers or distributors.
C*** said it took too long to pump out the tanks in the open, and they were always sorta in a hurry.
Since he made mutilple deliveries, he used smaller containers but NOT the gallon or quart gl*** jugs every runner clone displays. Too prone to breakage, and leaving a tell-tale trail of liquid running out the trunk was not good!
He used new one gallon metal coal oil cans (no breakage) and wrapped them in thin tree bark to keep them from rattling against each other. Packed four to a box.
Pull up to the back door of the honky tonk , set them on the ground, get the bucks and haul ***.
It was an amazing car, accompanied by a real deal (ex)runner!

Wish I could find all my pics, but they are lost.

 

Was at our local junk yard one evening with dad. Car backs in and the shop doors closed. Guy opens the trunk full of jars in boxes. Junk yard owner pulls one of the big jars out and takes it to his office. The jars were transferred over to another car.

One of the coolest days ever.

 

Many moons ago I saw a show with Junior and a 40 hauler-his. He said it was the fastest car he ever owned or drove (compared to his NASCAR stuff with accommodations of course). They showed the rear suspension and trunk, he said 500 gallons was normal. Looked like an inverted leaf with bunches of added leaves, never mentioned shocks too much-not sure they were impt. to him. If you could find that show, it had the pics of the rear suspension and they were clear. Loved that show, showed him driving it right at the end and i could just imagine him in his prime.

 

Thanks for the added info. For some reason I am kinda fascinated with these cars. I like racecars that look like racecars and hot rods that look like hot rods. But somehow, the ingenuity to build a car in that era with certain requirements and capabilities, that doesn't stand out intrigues me. Mighta probably built one back then even though I'm not much of a moonshine guy.

 

Here is Charlie Mincey talking about how his car was setup. He was one of the North GA runners back in the day.

 

it gives me some ideas for my 41 Cadillac. the original lever shocks seem to be pretty much worn out. dang. it's not even 90 years yet.

so maybe some tube shocks added on front and rear. and maybe heavier oil in the original lever shocks.

I do remember buying some air shocks for my 56 Pontiac back in 1967 (or was it 1968?)

 

FWIW, I was in Alabama at the end of the moonshine era and the haulers never relied upon speed. If the car was loaded with enough to make it worth going to jail, he knew he couldn't outrun anyone.

Yes, they had springs upon springs upon springs. The risk was the same for a little or a lot, so haul enough to make it worthwhile.

No, they didn't have hot rod hemis.

Remember, if they got roadblocked, the default mode was to abandon the car and hit the woods. Money in a built car was ***umed to be eventually a total loss.

jack vines

 

I think he had been into the still when he said "500" in a 40.

 

You nailed it. Great post.

 

should have put the supercharger option on that pack!