Funny Car

Not to be confused with Clown car.
Early Jack Chrisman funny car from 1965
1971 Mickey Thompson-owned funny car
1975 Gene Snow funny car

Funny Car is a type of drag racing vehicle and a specific racing class in organized drag racing. Funny cars are characterized by having tilt-up fiberglass or carbon fiber automotive bodies over a custom-fabricated chassis, giving them an appearance vaguely approximating manufacturers' showroom models. They also have the engine placed in front of the driver, as opposed to dragsters, which place it behind the driver.[1]

Funny car bodies typically reflect the models of newly available cars in the time period that the funny car was built. For example, in the 1970s, then current models such as the Chevrolet Vega or Plymouth Barracuda were often represented as funny cars, and the bodies represented the Big Three of General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler.[2] Currently, four manufacturers are represented in National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) Funny Car: Chevrolet with the Camaro,[3] Dodge with the Charger,[4] Ford with the Mustang,[5] and Toyota with the Supra.[6] Worldwide, however, many different body styles are used. These "fake" body shells are not just cosmetic; they serve an important aerodynamic purpose.[7] Modern funny cars can rival or surpass Top Fuel dragsters.[8][9] Today, fielding a Funny Car team can cost between US$2.6 and US$3 million.[10] A single carbon fiber body can cost US$70,000.[11]

  1. ^ Dahlquist, Eric (April 1966). "Dragster in Disguise". Hot Rod Magazine: 52–56.
  2. ^ Cook, Terry (February 1973). "Special Funny Car Section". Hot Rod Magazine: 58–67.
  3. ^ Bonkowski, Jerry (January 15, 2015). "(Updated) NHRA: After nearly 20 years away, John Force Racing returns to Chevrolet/GM in 2015". MotorSportsTalk. Retrieved January 17, 2015.
  4. ^ Bonkowski, Jerry (January 7, 2015). "NHRA: Dodge flaunts new 2015 Charger R/T Funny Car; will John Force move to Mopar power?". MotorSportsTalk. Retrieved January 17, 2015.
  5. ^ "Tasca Will Remain in Mustang Funny Car for Limited 2015 NHRA Schedule". Ford Racing. November 14, 2014. Retrieved January 17, 2015.
  6. ^ "Team Kalitta At A Glance – Las Vegas 2; Debut of Worsham's 2015 DHL Toyota Camry Funny Car Highlights Team Kalitta's Return to Racing in the Desert". Team Kalitta. October 31, 2014. Retrieved January 17, 2015.
  7. ^ The Serious Business of Funny Car Aerodynamics, General Motors
  8. ^ https://www.autoweek.com/racing/nhra/a40848945/nhra-funny-cars-faster-than-top-fuel-dragstersit-has-happened/ [bare URL]
  9. ^ "DETHRONED!: How Top Fuelers Lost the Title Kings of Speed to Funny Cars". 6 March 2023.
  10. ^ Burk, Jeff. “50 Years of Funny Cars: Part 3” in Drag Racer, November 2016, p.62.
  11. ^ Burk, p.62.