We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Wiki Motors

Advertiser Disclosure

Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.

How We Make Money

We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently from our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Automotive

What are Funny Cars?

Niki Foster
By
Updated Feb 26, 2024
Our promise to you
WikiMotors is dedicated to creating trustworthy, high-quality content that always prioritizes transparency, integrity, and inclusivity above all else. Our ensure that our content creation and review process includes rigorous fact-checking, evidence-based, and continual updates to ensure accuracy and reliability.

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

Editorial Standards

At WikiMotors, we are committed to creating content that you can trust. Our editorial process is designed to ensure that every piece of content we publish is accurate, reliable, and informative.

Our team of experienced writers and editors follows a strict set of guidelines to ensure the highest quality content. We conduct thorough research, fact-check all information, and rely on credible sources to back up our claims. Our content is reviewed by subject matter experts to ensure accuracy and clarity.

We believe in transparency and maintain editorial independence from our advertisers. Our team does not receive direct compensation from advertisers, allowing us to create unbiased content that prioritizes your interests.

Funny cars, also called "floppers," are a professional class of drag racing vehicle. Drag racing is a form of car racing in which cars travel in a straight line, usually from a stationary start, and the first to cross the finish line wins. Floppers feature forward-mounted engines and a car body resembling manufacturer's showroom models. Funny cars get their name because they look like regular stock cars, but with over-sized back wheels placed more forward than usual in order to improve their racing performance.

Drag racing originated in the United States after World War II. The National Hot Rod Association (NHRA), which has been the major governing body of drag racing throughout the sport's history, was founded in California in 1951 by Wally Parks. The second largest governing body, the International Hot Rod Association (IHRA), was founded in 1970 by Tennessee businessman Larry Carrier, and is now owned by Feld Entertainment.

The first funny cars were created in the 1960s by altering regular cars to make them suitable for drag racing. Some of the original models are still raced today in Heritage Hot Rod races. Popular models include the Chevy Impala, Dodge Charger, and Ford Mustang. In addition to their altered wheel configuration, and fuel systems, floppers have twin parachutes to ensure the safety of the driver and fans by helping the car to decelerate and stabilize after a race.

Both the NHRA and the IHRA have a funny car class. According to NHRA guidelines, funny cars must have V-8 engines displacing a maximum of 500 cubic inches (1,270 square cm) and only two valves per cylinder and a single crankshaft. The cars are further classified depending on the type of fuel they use, either Top Fuel or Top Alcohol. Both fuel classes use a combination of nitromethane and methanol alcohol as fuel, but those in the Top Fuel class are allowed a greater concentration of nitromethane, up to 90%. Funny car races are currently limited to a maximum distance of 1,000 feet (305 meters) by the NHRA.

The power of funny cars is largely due to their fuel systems, as nitromethane fuel allows cars to drive extremely fast. Funny cars are the second fastest class of car in drag racing, following the dragsters or "diggers." Funny cars have around 8,000 horsepower, and can accelerate from zero to 100 mph (161 km/h) in under one second.

WikiMotors is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Niki Foster
By Niki Foster , Writer

In addition to her role as a WikiMotors editor, Niki enjoys educating herself about interesting and unusual topics in order to get ideas for her own articles. She is a graduate of UCLA, where she majored in Linguistics and Anthropology.

See our Editorial Process Share Feedback

Related Articles

Discussion Comments

Niki Foster

Niki Foster

Writer

In addition to her role as a WikiMotors editor, Niki enjoys educating herself about interesting and unusual topics...

Read more
WikiMotors, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WikiMotors, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.