We have hit the midway point of our Top 9 list. The last installment was the Ford Anglia and how it took dragstrips by storm. Next is our number five, the infamous 1940 Ford. This one is all about moonshine, souped-up factory V8s and clean body lines.

In the late 1930s, after Prohibition had been lifted, there were still many folks making a living off home-brewed moonshine. Alcohol consumption was no longer illegal but the Government wasn’t too fond of the tax-free sales going on.

Moonshine runners took a liking to the 1939 Ford Deluxe and 1940 Fords because they were fairly inexpensive, there were lots of them on the roads, and came with a V8 straight out of the factory. What this meant was the cars could blend in with typical cars but had a healthy enough motor that could be hopped up to give them the speed they needed to get away from the police and “revenuers.”

Beyond the moonshiner’s affinity, the car was popular due to the general hot rodder’s love for it. Cheap enough to get your hands on one and modify it however you wanted. They have clean lines that lend themselves well to body modifications and upgrades. It was a great canvas to start working from.

There have been a multitude of famous 39/40 Fords to reflect on and Scrub Hansen’s 1940 Ford Deluxe Taildragger Custom has to be one top contenders. Hansen’s car, named Statutory Grape, has frenched headlights, shaved door handles, Oldsmobile hubcaps and fender skirts. Under the hood, the car rocks a Small Block Chevy.

Stay tuned for the next installment of our Top 9 Cars To Turn Into Hot Rods, this next one steps away from the Big 3. For more on Moonshine and Hot Rods, check out a previous story here on Rod Authority – Moonshine Runners And Their Role In The History Of Hot Rods.