Contrary to popular belief, the Ford Flathead V8 was not the first V8 ever mass-produced, not by a long shot. That distinction actually belongs to the Cadillac L-Head V8 which was first produced on a large scale in 1914 (via Engine Builder Mag). The Ford Flathead was not produced until 1932. The “Flathead” descriptor comes from the flat cylinder heads on each bank of the engine because not every name has to have an exciting story attached.
Even with only 80 or so horsepower when it first debuted, the Flathead exploded in popularity in the 1930s and has been credited with inventing the concept of modifying production cars for speed and power, per Hot Rod Magazine. The engine had a bit of a snowball effect on car culture. It was a favorite of bootleggers, who then modified their cars to escape the law. In their downtime, they would race each other. Later on, that became the little-known sport of NASCAR (via History)
In addition to giving moonshiners a little extra power under the hood to elude pursuers, the Flathead V8 gave V8 power to the average person. The engine became a staple in the hot rodding culture that started in the 1950s and to this day remains a popular engine to modify and with the advent of the Internet, parts are still plentiful and easy to find. Today, in 2023, wherever there are vintage Fords present, you will likely find a Flathead V8.
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