Gangsters & Their Cars

Photo credit: St. Louis Car Museum & Sales

If you think of Al Capone when you hear “mafia” then you’ve come to the right place. Alphonse Capone, also known as “Scarface,” is noted to be the most famous American gangsters of all time. He drove a Town Sedan in 1928. Through the coming years, Cadillac's model became more distinct and gangster as the years drove on. It was in 1933 when the vehicle had gained a few advantages over its predecessors with the introduction of Cadillac’s V12 engine, which came about in 1931, and was now an option for the 33 Town Sedan. You can imagine what advantage this gave Capone and his chopper squad when attempting to escape from the buttons (Police).

 

Photo credit: St. Louis Car Museum & Sales

 

The power that the V12 had to offer pushed the Town Sedan to high speeds, making them the perfect getaway driver. Along with housing much-needed power, the interior was also large and comfortable enough to fit any Crime Boss's entire entourage.

 

Photo credit: St. Louis Car Museum & Sales

 

Although I would love to dwell on this brilliantly restored 1933 Cadillac all day, I want to take the opportunity to reflect on other notorious Gangsters in history and what buckets (cars) they chose to use throughout their crime-filled days. The 1930s were a time filled with dismay. This was due to the stock market crash of 1929, also known as the "Great Crash," along with, the ongoing war in Europe and government corruption here in the U.S. Fighting, money and crime was a daily worry. A subject that could not escape people’s minds. Gangsters kept all three at the forefront of all other concerns and because of this constant obsession they quickly recognized that in order to secure all three, they would need cars. It didn't hurt the fact either that cars during this time were a status symbol that helped to uphold a certain image. This, in many cases, would help many notorious G-Men of the era get out of sticky situations. 

 

 Photo Credit: Drivetribe.com

One of the most popularly recognized cars used by famous gangsters of the 1920s, as well as, the 1930s, was the 1932 Ford Model 18 V8. This favored Flivver, or what was known as a Ford Automobile at the time, was famously driven by John Dillinger and Bonnie & Clyde. Over the years, we have sold numerous examples of the Fords famous 1930s style getaway cars, the most recent being a fully restored 1934 Ford 40B Deluxe seen below. 

 

                                   

Youtube Video of 1934 Ford 40B Deluxe sold at the St. Louis Car Museum

 

Visit our sold section to cruise photos of all of the 1934 Ford models we have previously represented!

 

Rather than just updating the Model A, Ford launched a completely new vehicle for 1932. The V8 was marketed as the Model 18 in its initial year, but was commonly known as the Ford V‑8. It had the new flathead V8 engine. The Model 18 was the first low-priced, mass-marketed car to have a V8 engine, an important milestone in the American automotive industry.

 

Photo Credit: Drivetribe.com