Why do they call them funny cars?

Question

Wife is a fan of Driving Force and would like to know what makes each classification unique. (i.e. funny cars, top fuel, etc.)

Answer 1

When you consider that a person and/or company spent a huge sum of money on a car that virtually does nothing of value.....it's somewhat "funny."

Answer 2

Big John Mazmanian was one of the earliest proponents of the form of drag racing known as the 'funny car'. These cars were originally steel bodied cars that had wildly shortened wheelbases that often put the rear wheels several feet closer to the front ones. This was while keeping the rest of the car its normal length. These were often powered by the largest and most powerful engines they could find, generally from rail dragsters. Because the cars looked so odd with the shortened wheelbase and nearly normal bodies, they were called funny cars

Answer 3

my husbands boss drives in some races and i think the funny cars are called that because of the way they are painted and the way they lift off their frames. Also, top fuel cars are called that because they use the highest fuel available in racing.

Answer 4

the word funny car was coined when back in the 60's when drag racers moved the rear and front tires on factory bodied drag cars which looked different then stock appearing.

Answer 5

I think it has to do with the way they raise the whole body off the car to get in it. "That is one funny car"

Answer 6

they look funny