Flopper

A Flopper is slang for a Funny Car, a type of drag racing vehicle with a hinged body that flips open like a clamshell to access the engine underneath.

The term "Flopper" comes from the car's most distinctive feature: its flip-top body design. Unlike regular race cars with hoods that lift up, a Funny Car's entire body is one piece that hinges at the back and flips forward, completely exposing the powerful engine and chassis below.

Funny Cars earned the nickname "Flopper" in the late 1960s when dragster crews needed a way to distinguish these new vehicles from traditional dragsters. While dragsters are long, narrow cars with exposed wheels and minimal bodywork, Funny Cars look more like regular street cars with enclosed wheels and full fenders.

The flip-top design serves a practical purpose in drag racing. Crew members need quick access to the engine between races to make adjustments, check for problems, or perform maintenance. Instead of crawling under the car or removing multiple panels, they simply flip the entire body forward in seconds.

Most Flopper bodies are made from lightweight fiberglass rather than metal, which helps reduce weight while maintaining the car's aerodynamic shape. The body typically resembles popular street cars like Mustangs, Camaros, or Corvettes, though it's much lighter and designed purely for racing performance.

Today, Funny Cars are among the fastest vehicles in drag racing, capable of reaching speeds over 330 mph in just a quarter-mile. The term Flopper remains popular among racing fans and crew members, though you'll also hear these cars called Funny Cars, Floppers, or simply "Fuelers" due to their nitromethane fuel.