The 90-Year-Old 'Getaway Car' Still Hitting the Road

Most cars don’t make it to 20.

Some barely make it past 10 without needing serious work. But every now and then, a vehicle comes along that refuses to go quietly.

A 90-year-old Hudson Terraplane has recently been making headlines — not because it’s sitting in a museum, but because its owner still drives it regularly.

And this isn’t just any classic car. It’s one with a past steeped in speed, ambition, and a bit of notoriety.

The Hudson Terraplane was originally built in the 1930s, right in the middle of the Great Depression. It was designed to be affordable, reliable and surprisingly powerful — a combination that made it stand out at the time.

But what really sealed its place in history was who ended up driving it.

During the 1930s, the Terraplane developed a reputation as a favourite among American gangsters. Criminals like John Dillinger reportedly chose it for one simple reason: it was fast and nimble enough to outrun police cars of the era.

It had the perfect blend of performance and subtlety — quick enough for a getaway, but ordinary-looking enough to blend in.

The Terraplane wasn’t just about looks, for its time, it offered impressive performance thanks to relatively powerful engines and a lightweight design, giving it an edge on speed and handling.

That made it popular not just with criminals, but also with everyday drivers who wanted something a little more exciting than the average car.

It even featured clever engineering touches, such as dual braking systems that added an extra layer of safety — a rarity at the time.

In many ways, it was ahead of its time — which partly explains why it’s still remembered today.

Fast forward to 2026, and one of these vintage machines -similar to the one pictured- is still being used on a near-daily basis.

The car's owner, Londoner Ray Smith, who recently celebrated the car’s 90th “birthday”, still drives it regularly — not bad for a vehicle built nearly a century ago.

Despite its age, the car is still capable of keeping up with modern traffic, cruising comfortably and offering a driving experience that’s about as far removed from today’s tech-heavy vehicles as you can get.

Modern vehicles are packed with safety systems, driver assistance features and connected technology. They’re designed for efficiency, comfort and compliance with strict regulations.

The Terraplane, on the other hand, was built for a completely different world — one where durability and raw performance mattered more than anything else.

It’s also a reminder that cars used to be simpler, heavier and, in many cases, tougher.

The Hudson Terraplane is more than a collector’s item, it’s a snapshot of a different era — one where cars were built to survive tough conditions, win races, and, in some cases, outrun the law.

Seeing one still in use today isn’t just nostalgic — it’s a reminder of how far vehicle design, safety and expectations have evolved.

And while most of us won’t be driving a 90-year-old “getaway car” any time soon, it’s proof of one thing: when something’s built properly, it can last a lifetime.

Image credit: Hudson Terraplane (1932) by Parsa 2au is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0