Rarest of Rare Cars Coming to Carlisle Ford Nationals in June

CARLISLE, Pa. - March 21, 2014 - PRLog -- The Carlisle Ford Nationals runs June 6-8, 2014 at the Carlisle PA Fairgrounds and this year will feature multiple special displays, reunions, guests and more.  With a showfield expected at near capacity there are bound to be some rare gems that make their way to America's Automotive Hometown.  While some of those gems remain a mystery until show weekend, some are known before hand.  In this case, enthusiasts and media are invited to Carlisle to see a very rare Ford racer - a Boss 429 powered Mercury Cougar.

Born in 1969, this racer is one of only two ever built.  What made it unique and rare is what went under its hood.  Designed for racing and during a time when Ford was looking for any possible edge over rival Chrysler, builder Kar Kraft was commissioned to build a pair of the '69 Cougars.  Once completed, these two were sold to racers "Dyno Don" Nicholson and "Fast Eddie" Schartman.  While the "sale price" of $1 per car was not out of the ordinary within racing circles, what was odd was the engine that was planned.

It was decided that a Boss 429 would find its way between the front wheels and that its power would be enough to make Ford go further...or at least faster.  Multiple modifications were made to the car to make the powerful engine fit, but once it was in, while unique - it was a flop.  A few trips back to the drawing board ultimately lead to a decision by "Dyno Don" to swap engines and put in a 427 V-8 instead.  This engine cranked out more horsepower as well as torque.

Ultimately, neither driver stuck with this experience very long and conveniently enough, neither driver returned their racing car to Ford as was customary to do.  Each fell off the radar for many years (the cars, not the drivers) and while Don's car is nearly complete and will appear at Carlisle, Eddie's ride is actively being restored.

As Don's car comes to Carlisle, it's unknown at this time what exact engine will go into it.  Will it be the Boss 429 or will a 427 find its way under the hood.  Current owner Ed Meyer has both engines and after some further research, he'll decide what power plant will find its way under the hood.

In the meanwhile, updates about this car and others slated for the Carlisle Ford Nationals can be found via the Carlisle Events’ web page or on Facebook @FordNationals.  Additional details like how to register a car or truck for this historic event can be find online too.  Finally, weekend passes are available for purchase too.  With a daily ticket price totaling $43 if attending Thursday-Sunday, a $25 weekend pass helps avoid the additional costs and allows for the same great show enjoyment at a discounted rate.