Carspotting: How Mercury Reinvented The Funny Car
A classic example of automakers’ lasting influence on motorsports is the all-aftermarket Comet Cyclone coupe unleased by Mercury in January 1966—and promptly banned by NHRA from Factory Experimental classes still clinging to assembly-line roots. Four cars were built to stock external dimensions by Logghe Chassis and strategically distributed to teams across North America. Barring a… The post Carspotting: How Mercury Reinvented The Funny Car appeared first on The Online Automotive Marketplace.
A classic example of automakers’ lasting influence on motorsports is the all-aftermarket Comet Cyclone coupe unleased by Mercury in January 1966—and promptly banned by NHRA from Factory Experimental classes still clinging to assembly-line roots. Four cars were built to stock external dimensions by Logghe Chassis and strategically distributed to teams across North America. Barring a major driving or tuning misstep, Don Nicholson’s unblown prototype (shown) was nearly unbeatable in AHRA national events, independent meets and match races all year. Massive crowd appeal did not go unnoticed by NHRA, which soon welcomed the 2000-pound “plastic fantastics” into its new Funny Car Eliminator for 1967. Their basic combination of tube frame, center steering, front engine, lift-off body and 90-percent nitro endures to this day.
Date: January 1967
Photographer: Harold Dague
Location: AHRA Winter Nationals; Bee-Line Dragway, Phoenix, Arizona
Source: Wallace Family Archive
The post Carspotting: How Mercury Reinvented The Funny Car appeared first on The Online Automotive Marketplace.
