Savoy Automobile Museum, Cartersville (Georgia), USA
Until November 3rd, 2024
The “Moonshine Runners” refer to the moonshine spirits (as they were usually made at night to avoid attracting the attention of the authorities) and the vehicles and drivers who transported them. While the production of moonshine expanded greatly in the 1920s with Prohibition, it continued in the 1940s and 1950s. And it probably continues to this day, albeit on a much smaller scale.
At the end of Prohibition, the U.S. government regained control of liquor distribution, primarily to collect taxes. But, particularly in rural areas of the USA, stills were still in operation, and often constituted a major source of income for families. And since avoiding the heavy taxes levied on “legal” alcohol was a major incentive for buyers, the moonshine trade flourished for a long time! What’s more, this local alcohol was often used as the basis for “homemade” medicines, or even as a substitute if potable water wasn’t available.
Transporting this illegal alcohol required specially adapted vehicles. They had to have sufficient load capacity, be discreet enough to remain undetected, and powerful enough to evade the police. Ford and Chevrolet were thus locally modified, with large twin-barrel carburetors and improved intake and exhaust systems. Cars could also be stripped of their rear seats, to lighten them and improve their load capacity.
But the story goes further, as the “Moonshine Runners” (drivers and their fast cars) eventually led to established racing and even the beginnings of NASCAR. Indeed, many of the early Moonshine Runners had acquired the skills needed to evade law enforcement, making them good drivers on the racetrack. One of the best of them, Junior Johnson, became a famous NASCAR driver after being a Moonshine Runner.
The Savoy Automobile Museum’s exhibition features half a dozen of these cars on private loan, some of them family heirlooms. For example, Bethany Worley has loaned the 1951 Chevrolet 3100 Panel Truck which belonged to her grandfather, who was himself involved in the business. He was repairing and preparing cars for the Moonshine Runners and making portable mash boxes in his sawmill. The car is displayed with a load of cans behind the seats. The 1940 Ford Standard Coupé (on loan from Wayne and Janet Pugh) is a typical example of the type favored by smugglers. Light, unobtrusive and inexpensive, it goes unnoticed, even though the 5-liter V8 installed in place of the original engine develops more than 200 hp for a speed of over 120 mph!
The 1950 Ford Business Coupé (on loan from Ricky and Joyce Lyle), also light and inexpensive, has been seriously upgraded with a 5.4-liter Cadillac V8. The same owners also loaned a 1954 Ford Business Coupe, a very classic Ford model, but here equipped with a 6L Lincoln engine. Its “driver”, Paul Radford, also raced in NASCAR against stars like Richard Petty and Dale Earnhart Sr.
Also on loan from Ralph Watts is a 1957 Ford Business Coupe. It’s a basic model, with no rear seat, which frees up the cargo space, which has been filled for the exhibition. It was recently discovered abandoned in a barn, and purposely kept as is. Ralph Watts wanted the car to look as if it had been parked after years of intensive use. Moonshine racers weren’t interested in the exterior of their car – the less beautiful it was, the better. What mattered was what was under the hood!
Numerous period photos and a hand-crafted still complete the exhibition setting.
The photos on this page belong to the Savoy Automobile Museum, no right of reproduction without the express permission of the museum.