1968 Mercury Cougar Flip Top Funny Car

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1968 was the high water mark for Factory Sponsored race teams from Lincoln-Mercury, specifically in the Flip Top Funny Car arena. The Air Lift Rattler was campaigned by Fast Eddie Schartman in 1968, and was one of three built that year by Logghe Stamping. The other two were for Ken & Leslie and Dyno Don Nicholson.

The Stage 2 Logghe chassis was powered by a nitro-methane burning, supercharged and fuel injected 427 SOHC Mercury motor with a specially prepared C-6 racing transmission.

The 1968 Funny Car race season was marked with numerous world speed and elapsed time records. As the season progressed, with speeds in excess of 205 miles per hour and e.t.'s in the 7.40 range, it showed just how fast the class had progressed in just three years since its inception.

Ed Schartman campaigned this Flip Top Funny Car until the end of the '68 season and then it was sold due to the departure of factory support. The Cougar disappeared from public view until it was discovered and purchased by Kevin Beal.

The resurrection of the Air Lift Rattler began shortly after the Cougar was purchased. The body is the original from 1968 and the vintage fuel burning, supercharged SOHC 427 Mercury motor came from the Tommy Grove stable. It carries the rare aluminum SOHC cylinder heads.

Refurbishing the Cougar and its Logghe chassis was accomplished by Linblad, and stands as a window into the past that marked the height of Lincoln-Mercury's efforts in the Flip Top Funny car arena of drag racing.