A funny car is a drag racing car which has the engine placed in front and a carbon fiber body placed over the chassis. We have an appearance that resembles cars designed with the engine under the hood. Nowadays, classic funny cars which were produced years ago by Ford, Toyota, Chevrolet or Dodge are commonly used in the National Hotrod Association.
All these carbon-fiber bodies come with an important role in aerodynamics. A car can be considered to be a funny car only if it meets certain conditions. The most important rule is related to the engine which could only be a V8 displacing a maximum of 500 cubic inches. Moreover, the engine might have only two valves per cylinder.
The engine block is made out of billet while the intake valves are made from titanium and have 2.40 inch. Usually, classic funny cars include ballistic blankets that cover certain parts of the engine. The fuel system of the funny car is the key to create more power. For instance, during a single operate a car can burn about 15 US gallons of fuel. The mixture that represents the fuel is composed of 85-90% nitro-methane and 10-15% methanol.
Another rule that a classic funny car manufacturer should keep in mind is the distance from the car’s body to the ground that has to have a value of 3 inches. The wheelbase has also a typical value that ranges between 100 and 125 inches. These cars often achieve 6G acceleration from a standing start. Of course there are also many safety rules involved. The most important rule is the information on the twin parachutes that offer stability and assist the car decelerate after it has crossed the finish line.
The very first classic funny car was built-in the ’60s and was called so since the rear wheels were moved forward about the chassis. Which was designed to improve weight transfer under acceleration and also to increase the traction on the rear tires.
Nowadays, the classic funny cars are part of the Dana Point Concours d’Elegance. At this event you can admire the collection of Prudhomme that includes amazing Plymouths. One of these is a 1970 Plymouth Barracuda, a classic funny car which was entirely restored in 2008. The restoration featured the original body, rolling chassis and also the original 446 cubic inch engine. Additionally, it included an original front, an original 671 blower and rear wheels.
Another classic funny car is the fully restored 1967 Dodge D-700 owned by Prudhomme. The vehicle had the frame and the original spare 1966 426 cubic inch stock Hemi engine restored. Prudhomme also owns a white 1972 Hot Wheels Plymouth Cuda funny car, a 1974 Army Chevrolet Vega funny car and also the 1978 Army Plymouth Arrow funny car.
Other interesting classic funny cars that you could find on display in the Dana Point Concours d’Elegance really are a 1932 Ford Phaenton Hot Rod, a 1957 Cadillac Eldorado Brougham, a 1958 Ferrari 250 Tour de France or a 1980 Kawasaki K2. And, of course, you cannot miss the incredible 1952 Muntz Jet Convertible and also the crazy 1957 Fiat “Eden Rock”.
Maybe not each one of us is attracted by these classic funny cars, but you must admit that they are amazing cars. Driving one of these funny cars might prove to be a 1 of the kind experience that will cause you to feel the adrenaline flowing through your veins.
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