Current day "experts" try to pretend that the only historically correct engine for a hot rod is the Ford flathead. Yeah, they look neat, and..............and...........well, they look neat. (truth in advertising; I've had five rods powered by flatties over the years)

Born in 1932 the flattie went out of production (in the U.S. OEM market) a mere 21 years later (and for nearly all those years there were no economically viable V8competitors). Two years after that the SBC was introduced. That was the death nell for the flat motor. That (basic) engine was in production for more than 40 years (with plenty of physically comparable competitors) and is still the first hot rod engine of choice 52 years later. Begs the question, which is the real default, historically accurate hot rod engine of choice?