Funny Car Body
A Funny Car Body is a lightweight, one-piece fiberglass or carbon fiber shell that covers a drag racing vehicle and tilts up or lifts off completely to allow driver access, designed to loosely resemble production cars while serving critical aerodynamic functions.
The term "Funny Car" originated in the mid-1960s when drag racers began mounting altered production car bodies onto custom-built chassis with powerful engines. Spectators thought these cars looked "funny" compared to both street cars and traditional dragsters, and the name stuck. Today, Funny Cars represent one of the most popular and exciting classes in professional drag racing.
Unlike the open-wheel design of Top Fuel dragsters, a Funny Car body completely encloses the chassis and driver compartment. The body is a single piece that either tilts backward on rear hinges or lifts off entirely, similar to opening a clamshell. This design gives pit crews quick access to the engine, driver cockpit, and other mechanical components between racing runs.
Modern Funny Car bodies are primarily constructed from carbon fiber, an extremely strong yet lightweight material. A single body can cost around $70,000 and is built over a steel or titanium frame structure called a body tree. This internal framework provides structural support and must meet strict safety regulations set by sanctioning bodies like the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA).
While Funny Car bodies are designed to vaguely resemble showroom models from manufacturers like Chevrolet, Ford, Dodge, and Toyota, they share almost nothing with actual production vehicles. The bodies are stretched, widened, and sculpted purely for aerodynamic performance. You might see a body styled after a Camaro, Mustang, Charger, or Supra, but it's essentially a custom aerodynamic shell with styling cues that reference the real car.
The aerodynamic design of the Funny Car body is crucial for performance and safety. At speeds exceeding 300 mph, even small changes in body shape dramatically affect how air flows around the vehicle. Features like front spoilers, side contours, and rear wings work together to keep the car stable and planted on the track. Poor aerodynamics can cause the car to become difficult to control or even lift off the ground.
Safety features are built into modern Funny Car bodies as well. Burst panels are integrated into the body to relieve dangerous pressure if the supercharged engine backfires or experiences an explosion. The body also provides some protection for the driver in the event of a crash, though the internal roll cage does most of the protective work.
These vehicles are among the fastest accelerating machines on Earth, covering 1,000 feet in approximately four seconds while reaching speeds over 330 mph. The body plays a significant role in achieving these incredible performance numbers by managing airflow, reducing drag, and providing downforce to keep the massive rear tires gripping the track surface throughout the run.