Flopper

A Flopper is a slang term for a Funny Car, a type of drag racing vehicle with a one-piece body that flips open like a clamshell to provide quick access to the engine and chassis.

The name "Flopper" comes from the distinctive flip-top body design that makes these cars instantly recognizable at the drag strip. When crews need to work on the engine between races, they simply flip the entire body upward and backward, revealing everything underneath in seconds. This is much faster than removing individual panels or crawling under the car like you would with a regular vehicle.

Floppers emerged in the late 1960s as drag racing evolved. They look different from traditional dragsters, which are long, narrow cars with exposed wheels. Instead, Funny Cars have enclosed wheels and full fenders, making them resemble actual street cars like Mustangs, Camaros, or Corvettes. However, don't be fooled by their appearance—these are purpose-built racing machines that just look like regular cars from the outside.

The body of a Flopper is made from lightweight fiberglass, not metal like a street car. This keeps the weight down while maintaining an aerodynamic shape that helps the car slice through the air at incredible speeds. The resemblance to street cars is purely cosmetic and helps fans connect with brands and models they recognize from everyday life.

The flip-top design isn't just for show—it's extremely practical. During a race day, crews need to make constant adjustments to keep these high-performance machines running at peak efficiency. Being able to flip open the entire body means mechanics can reach any part of the engine or chassis instantly, saving precious time between rounds of competition.

Funny Cars are among the fastest vehicles in all of drag racing. A Flopper can accelerate from a standstill to over 330 miles per hour in just a quarter-mile, completing the run in under four seconds. This incredible performance comes from powerful supercharged engines that run on nitromethane, a special racing fuel that produces much more power than regular gasoline.

You might also hear Floppers called "Fuelers" because of the nitromethane fuel they use, or simply "Funny Cars," which is the official name for this class of racing vehicle. All three terms—Flopper, Funny Car, and Fueler—refer to the same type of drag racing machine.

The term "Flopper" can also be short for "fender flopper," another reference to the flip-top body design. This nickname became popular among drag racing crews and fans who wanted a quick, catchy way to talk about these unique vehicles at the track.