We've already covered the flathead Ford V8 in the Engine Of The Day series, but Ate Up With Motor's excellent essay on the origins of this engine deserves a read.
I got hooked on AUWM when I read its grim-yet-fascinating Pontiac Fiero history, and the Ford flathead piece should call to mind nightmares authored by every crazed dictatorial boss you've ever had. Ol' Henry refused at first to allow water or oil pumps in his new V8, then insisted on all manner of headache-inducing flake-o quirks in the engine's design, because he knew he was a genius! Check it out:
[Ate Up With Motor]