The Freak: How The Mongoose Corvette Used A 427 Ford and A 426 Hemi to Win
Brian Lohnes
79.4K subscribers
106,881 views Oct 23, 2025
This is the story of The Mongoose, one of the weirdest and most awesome Corvette drag cars of all time. A real 1963 split window, it rose to fame with Holman and Moody 427 Ford power before Ollie Olsen stuffed an injected 426 Hemi under the hood. The car was not just strange, it was fast as blazes and successful winning in Pomona, Bristol, and at the US Nationals in Indy. Built over five phases and funded by the deep
pockets of a wealthy golfer, it's a study in the ability and creativity of the craftsmen who constructed it. Born of the frustration that came with being denied a 427 Mystery V8 from Chevrolet, it's as improbable and interesting a story as drag racing history can produce. Documented in the pages of vintage magazines and racing results, The Mongoose lived a short, eventful, and successful life on the strip. Here's the story of the car, the owner, it's wild build, and how it took on the best in the country and won.