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117-637: Funny car bodies typically reflect the models of newly available cars in the time period that the funny car was built. For example, in the 1970s, then current models such as the Chevrolet Vega or Plymouth Barracuda were often represented as funny cars, and the bodies represented the Big Three of General Motors , Ford , and Chrysler . Currently, four manufacturers are represented in National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) Funny Car: Chevrolet with

234-415: A ' brewery horse ' could produce 32,400 foot-pounds [43,929 J] per minute." James Watt and Matthew Boulton standardized that figure at 33,000 foot-pounds (44,742 J) per minute the next year. A common legend states that the unit was created when one of Watt's first customers, a brewer, specifically demanded an engine that would match a horse, and chose the strongest horse he had and driving it to

351-418: A 3 in (76 mm) ground clearance. Horsepower claims vary widely—from 10,000 to 11,000 HP (7.5–8  MW ). Supercharged, nitromethane-fueled motors of this type have a very high torque , estimated at 7,000 ft⋅lbf (9,500 N⋅m). They routinely achieve a 6- G acceleration from a standing start. Many safety rules are in place to protect the driver and fans. The more visible safety devices are

468-578: A 6.72 at 218 mph (351 km/h), at OCIR. The big news that year was the creation of Mattel Hot Wheels -sponsored team of Don Prudhomme and Tom McEwen. Don Garlits ' 1971 accident in Top Fuel Dragster, which led to the creation of the revolutionary Swamp Rat XIV , did not produce the same kind of change in Funny Car, though there had been a number of rear-engined examples, including Thorley's Javelin and Dave Bowman's California Stud , which

585-473: A Chevrolet passenger car. The panel express version was discontinued at the end of the model year. Its sales peaked at 7,800 in its first year, then averaged 4,000 per year. Over 1,500 1975 models were sold. Total sales fell to 206,239. For 1976, Chevrolet claimed 300 changes were made. A facelift included a revised header panel with Chevy bowtie emblem, wider grille, revised headlamp bezels – all in corrosion-resistant material – and new tri-color taillights for

702-404: A career win ratio of ninety percent. In 1967, Proffitt would take over the failed Grant Rebel SST AMC Rambler , aided by Les Shockley, "Famous" Amos Satterlee, and Dwight Guild. Gene Conway built the hemi Jeep Destroyer (sponsored by the U.S. Navy), and scored so much success, NHRA banned Jeep funny cars in 1967. Logghe proved unable to keep up with the demand for their chassis, leading to

819-468: A color scheme of red body sides and white roof, hood, and trunk, with two blue longitudinal stripes, were driven by Jimmy Nix , who previously ran a Top Gas dragster; Jim Johnson , who ran a Dodge Polara stocker , and who had won the B/SA title in 1963; Jim Nelson ; and Dode Martin . (Nix tried to persuade Chrisman to get Mercury Racing Director Fran Hernandez to allow him to run his Comet's 427 on nitro, as

936-422: A color-keyed full console a new option. The GT models received black, exterior moldings (lower moldings deleted), black, sport mirrors and wheels, Vega GT bodyside and rear striping as well as a Vega GT ID The Vega engine is a 2,287 cc (2.3 L; 139.6 cu in) inline-four with a die-cast aluminum alloy cylinder block , cast-iron cylinder head and single overhead camshaft ( SOHC ). The block

1053-573: A five-second e.t. Ed McCulloch in 1988 would claim the US$ 100,000 prize for winning both IHRA TF/FC events at Texas Motorplex ; Eddie Hill would do the same in TFD that year. ( Billy Meyer , who owned IHRA and offered the prize, would sell at season's end.) Kenny Bernstein and tuner Dale Armstrong would turn to land speed racers the Arivett brothers to design Bernstein's car in 1989. This car would be dubbed

1170-422: A glove box was added. For 1973, 300 changes included new exterior and interior colors and new standard interior trim. Front and rear nameplate scripts "Chevrolet Vega 2300" were changed to "Vega by Chevrolet". To meet the 1973 5 mph front bumper standards the front bumper, on stronger brackets, was extended 3 inches (76 mm), with a steel body-color filler panel. US-built Saginaw manual transmissions and

1287-429: A group of engineers modified a dynometer to be able to measure how much horsepower a horse can produce. This horse was measured to 5.7 hp (4.3 kW). When torque T is in pound-foot units, rotational speed N is in rpm , the resulting power in horsepower is The constant 5252 is the rounded value of (33,000 ft⋅lbf/min)/(2π rad/rev). When torque T is in inch-pounds, The constant 63,025

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1404-461: A half-vinyl roof and opera windows similar to the Monza Towne coupe), and a limited-edition Nomad wagon with restyled side windows. New options included BorgWarner five-speed manual overdrive transmission and houndstooth seat trim named "sport cloth" at an additional $ 18. A "Sky-Roof" with tinted reflecting sliding glass and an eight-track tape player were options from January. The Cosworth

1521-526: A healthy human can produce about 1.2 hp (0.89 kW) briefly (see orders of magnitude ) and sustain about 0.1 hp (0.075 kW) indefinitely; trained athletes can manage up to about 2.5 hp (1.9 kW) briefly and 0.35 hp (0.26 kW) for a period of several hours. The Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt produced a maximum of 3.5 hp (2.6 kW) 0.89 seconds into his 9.58 second 100-metre (109.4 yd) sprint world record in 2009. In 2023

1638-457: A high gasser-style front end and axle, and a 426 hemi. Converted by Landy to A/FX in September 1964, using a straight front axle (from a Dodge A100 van) to reduce weight, then moving the front wheels 6” forward and the 8¾” rear axle 8” forward by relocating the spring hangers. Aluminum parts (including hood, front fenders, radiator shroud, front bumper and supports) replaced steel. Considered to be

1755-482: A long-time East Coast match racer , with Outlaw sprint car driver Maynard Yingst as his tuner, winning six events and taking the runner-up spot five times, in an Oldsmobile sponsored by Sentry. In 1992, the honor of putting Force on the trailer would go to Cruz Pedregon , driving the Larry Minor McDonald's -sponsored Olds to the championship. Pedregon was also one of the first Funny Car drivers to clock

1872-535: A new management program, the car line management technique, to produce the all-new car in two years. The chief vehicle engineer had overall charge of the program. Fifty engineers, dedicated to the design of the entire car, were divided into groups: body, power train, chassis design, product assurance, and pleasability. The latter would check continuously on the vehicles on the assembly line, with computers in another program monitoring quality control of every vehicle built. Fisher Body engineers and draftsmen moved in with

1989-524: A new shift linkage replaced the Opel units. The RPO L11 engine had a new Holley 5210C progressive two-barrel carburetor. New options included BR70-13 white-stripe steel-belted radial tires , full wheel covers, and body side molding with black rubber insert. Two new models were introduced mid-year: the estate wagon with simulated wood grain side and rear accents, and the LX notchback with vinyl roof finish. On May 17, 1973,

2106-508: A pair of Ford Mustangs , hers a Buttera chassis, his a Logghe. Between 1973 and 1975, Ed "The Ace" McCulloch would score eighteen wins at NHRA national events in the Revell -sponsored Dodge Dart , Revellution . Shirl Greer would defeat Prudhomme in the final in 1974 to take the first NHRA Funny Car World Championship. He would suffer severe burns in the final after an engine exploded. In 1975, Raymond Beadle and Harry Schmidt resurrected

2223-556: A row, 1986 and 1987, as well as beating John Force in the 1986 Big Bud Shootout (losing to him the next year). Force between 1987 and 1996, won sixty-seven of 203 NHRA national events, four of nine Big Bud Shootouts, and six World Championships. In 1996, with Austin Coil tuning, Force went to the final round in sixteen of nineteen national events, taking thirteen wins, one of the best records ever in Funny Car history. Force's domination in 1989 would only really be challenged by Bruce Larson ,

2340-621: A swing-up liftgate. The panel express had steel panels in place of the wagon's rear side glass, an enclosed storage area under the load floor, and a low-back driver's seat. An auxiliary passenger seat was optional. The model's classification as a truck, with less stringent safety requirements, allowed the low back seat(s). The aluminum-block, inline-four engine was a joint effort by General Motors, Reynolds Metals , and Sealed Power Corp . The engine and its die-cast block technology were developed by GM engineering staff, then passed to Chevrolet for finalization and production. Ed Cole, involved with

2457-429: A team of "stylists, researchers and engineers" who had worked on the vehicle code-named XP-877 for years. John DeLorean later challenged this notion and stated that no prototypes or test properties had been built before Roche's announcement. Blueprints apparently did exist; however, they were an amalgam of competitive subcompact vehicles from overseas, including some that GM overseas operations produced. A GM design team

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2574-619: A way to gain leverage on NHRA, so Nix could use nitro himself). Their debut was at San Diego Raceway in March 1964, for a three-race exhibition. While in theory all were identical, Nix would change slicks or add lead shot in the trunk of his Dodge 330 to improve traction. For their part, the Dodge factory spent only US$ 250,000 on the inaugural season, insufficient for a single car, let alone three, an amount arranged by promoter Don Beebe, who persuaded Wally Parks safety would not be compromised, promising

2691-548: Is a subcompact automobile that was manufactured and marketed by GM 's Chevrolet division from 1970 to 1977. Available in two-door hatchback , notchback , wagon , and sedan delivery body styles, all models were powered by an inline four-cylinder engine designed specifically for the Vega, with a lightweight, aluminum alloy cylinder block. The Vega first went on sale in Chevrolet dealerships on September 10, 1970. Variants included

2808-400: Is a unit of measurement of power , or the rate at which work is done, usually in reference to the output of engines or motors. There are many different standards and types of horsepower. Two common definitions used today are the imperial horsepower as in "hp" or "bhp" which is about 745.7 watts , and the metric horsepower as in "cv" or "PS" which is approximately 735.5 watts. The term

2925-420: Is also used in many places to symbolize brake horsepower. Drawbar power (dbp) is the power a railway locomotive has available to haul a train or an agricultural tractor to pull an implement. This is a measured figure rather than a calculated one. A special railway car called a dynamometer car coupled behind the locomotive keeps a continuous record of the drawbar pull exerted, and the speed. From these,

3042-416: Is an open-deck design with siamesed cylinder bores. The outer case walls form the water jacket, sealed off by the head and head gasket, and the block has cast-iron main bearing caps and crankshaft . The cast-iron cylinder head was chosen for low cost. A simple overhead valvetrain has three components activating each valve instead of a typical pushrod system's seven. An external belt from the crankshaft drives

3159-447: Is damped by large rubber engine mounts. The 1972 Rochester DualJet two-barrel carburetor required an air pump for emission certification and was replaced in 1973 with a Holley-built 5210C progressive two-barrel carburetor. The 1973 emission control revisions reduced power from the optional engine by 5 bhp (3.7 kW), and its noise levels were lowered. A high energy ignition was introduced on 1975 engines. Serious problems with

3276-460: Is equivalent to a boiler heat output of 33,469 Btu/h (9.809 kW). Present industrial practice is to define "boiler horsepower" as a boiler thermal output equal to 33,475 Btu/h (9.811 kW), which is very close to the original and revised definitions. Boiler horsepower is still used to measure boiler output in industrial boiler engineering in the US. Boiler horsepower is abbreviated BHP, which

3393-450: Is equivalent to a boiler heat output of 33,485 Btu/h (9.813 kW). A few years later in 1884, the ASME re-defined the boiler horsepower as the thermal output equal to the evaporation of 34.5 pounds per hour of water "from and at" 212 °F (100 °C). This considerably simplified boiler testing, and provided more accurate comparisons of the boilers at that time. This revised definition

3510-407: Is essentially how the car launched as a 1971 model. Production began on June 26, 1970. After the national GM strike (September to November 1970), bright roof drip moldings were added to the base "11" notchback, with moldings sent to dealers to update units already in the field. Cars magazine said in 1974 that in the rush to introduce the car with other 1971 models, "[t]ests which should have been at

3627-481: Is in psi, and flow rate is in US gallons per minute. Drilling rigs are powered mechanically by rotating the drill pipe from above. Hydraulic power is still needed though, as 1 500 to 5 000 W are required to push mud through the drill bit to clear waste rock. Additional hydraulic power may also be used to drive a down-hole mud motor to power directional drilling . When using SI units, the equation becomes coherent and there

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3744-465: Is needed to pull a drawbar load of 2,025 pounds-force at 5 miles per hour? { P } h p = 2025 × 5 375 = 27. {\displaystyle \{P\}_{\mathrm {hp} }={\frac {2025\times 5}{375}}=27.} The constant 375 is because 1 hp = 375 lbf⋅mph. If other units are used, the constant is different. When using coherent SI units (watts, newtons, and metres per second), no constant

3861-507: Is needed, and the formula becomes P = Fv . This formula may also be used to calculate the power of a jet engine, using the speed of the jet and the thrust required to maintain that speed. Example: how much power is generated with a thrust of 4000 pounds at 400 miles per hour? { P } h p = 4000 × 400 375 = 4266.7. {\displaystyle \{P\}_{\mathrm {hp} }={\frac {4000\times 400}{375}}=4266.7.} This measure

3978-434: Is no dividing constant. where pressure is in pascals (Pa), and flow rate is in cubic metres per second (m ). Boiler horsepower is a boiler 's capacity to deliver steam to a steam engine and is not the same unit of power as the 550 ft lb/s definition. One boiler horsepower is equal to the thermal energy rate required to evaporate 34.5 pounds (15.6 kg) of fresh water at 212 °F (100 °C) in one hour. In

4095-506: Is ordinarily stated in watts or kilowatts. In the United States, the power output is stated in horsepower which, for this purpose, is defined as exactly 746 W. Hydraulic horsepower can represent the power available within hydraulic machinery , power through the down-hole nozzle of a drilling rig , or can be used to estimate the mechanical power needed to generate a known hydraulic flow rate. It may be calculated as where pressure

4212-738: Is the approximation of Assuming the third CGPM (1901, CR 70) definition of standard gravity , g n = 9.80665 m/s , is used to define the pound-force as well as the kilogram force, and the international avoirdupois pound (1959), one imperial horsepower is: Or given that 1 hp = 550 ft⋅lbf/s, 1 ft = 0.3048 m, 1 lbf ≈ 4.448 N, 1 J = 1 N⋅m, 1 W = 1 J/s: 1 hp ≈ 745.7 W The various units used to indicate this definition ( PS , KM , cv , hk , pk , k , ks and ch ) all translate to horse power in English. British manufacturers often intermix metric horsepower and mechanical horsepower depending on

4329-610: The Blue Max ; built by Tony Casarez Race Cars, the Mustang II would win at Indianapolis. Beadle later bought out Schmidt and went on to seven funny car national titles, four with NHRA, three with IHRA . Mark Oswald , driving for Candies and Hughes (with Old Milwaukee sponsorship), in 1984 did something no other driver has: he won both the NHRA and IHRA world championships. The team took four IHRA titles between 1983 and 1987, including two in

4446-687: The Camaro , Dodge with the Charger , Ford with the Mustang , and Toyota with the Supra . Worldwide, however, many different body styles are used. These "fake" body shells are not just cosmetic; they serve an important aerodynamic purpose. Modern funny cars can rival or surpass Top Fuel dragsters. Today, fielding a Funny Car team can cost between US$ 2.6 and US$ 3 million. A single carbon fiber body can cost US$ 70,000. The NHRA has strict guidelines for Funny Cars. Most of

4563-591: The Cosworth Vega , a short-lived limited-production performance model, introduced in the spring of 1975. The Vega received the 1971 Motor Trend Car of the Year . Subsequently, the car became widely known for a range of problems related to its engineering, reliability, safety, propensity to rust, and engine durability. Despite a series of recalls and design upgrades, the Vega's problems tarnished both its own as well as General Motors' reputation. Production ended with

4680-749: The kilowatt as the official power-measuring unit in EEC directives. Other names for the metric horsepower are the Italian cavallo vapore (cv) , Dutch paardenkracht (pk) , the French cheval-vapeur (ch) , the Spanish caballo de vapor and Portuguese cavalo-vapor (cv) , the Russian лошадиная сила (л. с.) , the Swedish hästkraft (hk) , the Finnish hevosvoima (hv) ,

4797-443: The " Batmobile ". It would profoundly change Funny Car aerodynamics. In 1991, Jim White, driving for Leong, turned in two of the fastest Funny Car passes to date, at over 290 mph (470 km/h), and placed second to Force in the championship. Al and Helen Hoffman, with tuner Tom Anderson, "were the antithesis of the corporate button-down shirt racers." Sponsored by Blower Drive Service and later Sears, Roebuck, & Co., during

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4914-646: The "Flip-Top Fueler") would beat Chrisman for Top Funny Car at the NHRA World Finals in 1966 at Tulsa, Oklahoma, with a pass of 8.28 at 174.41 mph (280.69 km/h). Nicholson would fit a Pete Robinson-built Top Fuel 427 SOHC late in the 1967 season and turn 7.90s at around 180 mph (290 km/h), earning an eighty-six percent winning record. (The success of the Top Fuel-engined Comets would eventually prompt both Ford and Chrysler to drop funny car sponsorship.) In 1967, Doug Thorley would record

5031-501: The 1926 Iowa State Fair , they reported that the peak power over a few seconds has been measured to be as high as 14.88 hp (11.10 kW) and also observed that for sustained activity, a work rate of about 1 hp (0.75 kW) per horse is consistent with agricultural advice from both the 19th and 20th centuries and also consistent with a work rate of about four times the basal rate expended by other vertebrates for sustained activity. When considering human-powered equipment ,

5148-421: The 1955 small-block V8 as chief engineer at Chevrolet and now equally involved with the Vega engine as GM president, often visited the engineering staff engine drafting room on Saturdays, reviewing the design and directing changes, to the consternation of Chevrolet engineers and manufacturing personnel, who knew he wanted a rush job. Cole insisted that the engine didn't require a radiator - the heat rejection from

5265-461: The 1974 model year. The 264 changes for 1975 included H.E.I. (high-energy) electronic ignition and a catalytic converter . New options included power brakes, tilt steering wheel, BR78-13B steel-belted radial tires, and special custom cloth interior for the hatchback and Kammback. In March the Cosworth Vega was introduced with an all-aluminum engine and electronic fuel injection , the first on

5382-469: The 1977 model year. The car was named for Vega , the brightest star in the constellation Lyra . Chevrolet and Pontiac divisions worked separately on small cars in the early and mid 1960s. Ed Cole , GM's executive vice-president of operating staffs, working on his own small-car project with corporate engineering and design staffs, presented the program to GM's president in 1967. GM chose Cole's version over proposals from Chevrolet and Pontiac, and gave

5499-475: The 1990s, Hoffman earned eleven national event wins, as well as the 1991 Winston Invitational and the U. S. Nationals non-championship money race in 1991, 1994, and 1995. Tom McEwen would build his "gorgeous" replica '57 Funny Car, running it as an NHRA exhibition vehicle and creating Nostalgia Funny Car, even though the car would not (now) be legal in that class. Major corporate sponsorship money came to Funny Car starting in 1997, leading to significant changes in

5616-820: The Estonian hobujõud (hj) , the Norwegian and Danish hestekraft (hk) , the Hungarian lóerő (LE) , the Czech koňská síla and Slovak konská sila (k or ks ), the Serbo-Croatian konjska snaga (KS) , the Bulgarian конска сила , the Macedonian коњска сила (KC) , the Polish koń mechaniczny (KM) ( lit.   ' mechanical horse ' ), Slovenian konjska moč (KM) ,

5733-585: The National Drag Racing Championship in Australia. Pro Stock and sportsman classes still race to 1⁄4 mile (1,320 feet, 402 meters). In drag racing in the mid-1960s, Top Fuel horsepower began to be combined with bodied cars with altered wheelbases to produce the first "funny cars". The term "funny car" is attributed to Mercury 's chief of racing, Fran Hernandez, as in "We need to beat those 'funny' cars." The first funny cars were built in

5850-502: The U.S. The first wave of funny car development ended around 1965, when bracket racer Jim Liberman and crew chief Lew Arrington made a deal with Pontiac to supply rare hemis (remnants of Mickey Thompson 's gas dragster program). (The duo later switched to Chrysler powerplants.) Two of the Dodge trio would return in 1965 as the Guzler Chargers team, powered by supercharged, nitro-fuelled hemis, with direct drive; both crashed

5967-648: The Ukrainian кінська сила (к. с.) , the Romanian cal-putere (CP) , and the German Pferdestärke (PS) . In the 19th century, revolutionary-era France had its own unit used to replace the cheval vapeur (horsepower); based on a 100 kgf ⋅m/s standard, it was called the poncelet and was abbreviated p . Tax or fiscal horsepower is a non-linear rating of a motor vehicle for tax purposes. Tax horsepower ratings were originally more or less directly related to

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6084-785: The Vega personnel. In October 1968, there was one body style (the "11" style notchback sedan), one engine, one transmission (MB1 Torque-Drive manually shifted two-speed automatic), one base trim level, a bench seat , molded rubber floor covering, no glove box or headliner and no air-conditioning (ventilation was through the upper dash from the wiper plenum). As the market changed, so did the car in development. In December 1968, hatchback, wagon, and panel delivery styles were added; also floor-level ventilation, and an optional performance engine ("L-11" two-barrel) which, predicted as 20% of production, accounted for 75%. Bucket seats were standard. Hatchback and wagon received carpeting and headliners. Optional air conditioning, predicted as 10% of production,

6201-613: The behest of Don Beebe, by Dragmaster 's Jim Nelson and Dode Martin . Raced in the Supercharged Experimental Stock (S/XS) class, their original 426 Max Wedges were replaced by stroked 480 cu in (8 L) Top Gas engines (virtual clones of the Top Gas Dodge Dart engines also built by Dragmaster). (Thus, they were technically "funny gassers", not fuel cars, unlike the later examples.) Despite their fuel limitations, however, they were turning in E.T.s in

6318-415: The car gained gauge-pack cluster, HD suspension , wider tires; adjustable seat back (45% of production); bumpers restyled, lower valance panels added; swing-out quarter window option (10% of production). In July 1969, an electrically heated rear window option (10% of production); "GT" package, $ 325.00 extra (35% of production); bright window-frame and roof drip moldings added to hatchback and wagon. This

6435-414: The car to Chevrolet to sell. Corporate management made the decisions to enter the small car market and to develop the car itself. In 1968, GM chairman James Roche announced GM would produce the new car in the U.S. in two years. Ed Cole was chief engineer and Bill Mitchell , vice-president of design staff, was the chief stylist. Cole wanted a world-beater in showrooms in 24 months. Roche noted that GM had

6552-774: The cars would be built to Super Stock standard. Three months after the Chargers' debut, the factory-backed Sachs and Sons 1964 Mercury Comet , powered by a supercharged 427 wedge engine, made its debut, at the 1964 Nationals in Indianapolis. Driven by Jack Chrisman , and entered in B/FD, the Comet created a sensation. When Chrisman's Comet first ran in Indy, the Charger program had been waylaid by financial issues and parts shortages. Their final race appearance

6669-1130: The conditions) during the 180,000 miles. They averaged 28.9 mpg ‑US (8.1 L/100 km; 34.7 mpg ‑imp ) and used one quart of oil per 3,400 miles. Driving expenses averaged 2.17 cents per mile. One of the cars went on display at the 1976 New York Auto Show . The 1976 Vega was marketed as a durable and reliable car. 136 lb⋅ft (184 N⋅m) @ 2,400 rpm 138 lb⋅ft (187 N⋅m) @ 3,200 rpm 121 lb⋅ft (164 N⋅m) @ 2,400 rpm 121 lb⋅ft (164 N⋅m) @ 2,800 rpm 100 lb⋅ft (136 N⋅m) @ 2,000 rpm 115 lb⋅ft (156 N⋅m) @ 2,400 rpm 115 lb⋅ft (156 N⋅m) @ 2,400 rpm 122 lb⋅ft (165 N⋅m) @ 2,400 rpm 120 lb⋅ft (163 N⋅m) @ 2,000 rpm 122 lb⋅ft (165 N⋅m) @ 2,800 rpm 107 lb⋅ft (145 N⋅m) @ 4,800 rpm 120 lb⋅ft (163 N⋅m) @ 2,000 rpm 122 lb⋅ft (165 N⋅m) @ 2,800 rpm 107 lb⋅ft (145 N⋅m) @ 4,800 rpm 122 lb⋅ft (165 N⋅m) @ 2,800 rpm Horsepower Horsepower ( hp )

6786-579: The creation of a funny car chassis-building industry, which was soon joined by Dick Fletcher , Don Hardy, Ronnie Scrima , and a number of others. Late in 1969, Pat Foster and John Buttera would devise a Top Fuel dragster-style chassis to replace the "dune buggy" design common at the time. This would go under the Mustang Mach Is of Danny Ongais and Mickey Thompson . Similar chassis would be built by Logghe, Scrima, Buttera, Woody Gilmore , Don Long , and Steve Plueger , among others; this design remains

6903-411: The deserts of California and Nevada by nine drivers, covering a total of 180,000 miles (290,000 km). With the sole failure a broken timing belt , Vega project engineer Bernie Ernest said GM felt "very comfortable with the warranty." In ambient temperatures between 99 °F (37 °C) and 122 °F (50 °C) the cars lost 24 US fluid ounces (0.71 L) of coolant (normal evaporation under

7020-652: The early days of steam use, the boiler horsepower was roughly comparable to the horsepower of engines fed by the boiler. The term "boiler horsepower" was originally developed at the Philadelphia Centennial Exhibition in 1876, where the best steam engines of that period were tested. The average steam consumption of those engines (per output horsepower) was determined to be the evaporation of 30 pounds (14 kg) of water per hour, based on feed water at 100 °F (38 °C), and saturated steam generated at 70 psi (480 kPa). This original definition

7137-415: The early to mid-1960s. Funny Car as a class traces its roots to Super Stock , through "the intriguingly named Optional Super Stock class", to A/Factory Experimental (A/FX), which NHRA introduced in 1962, and ultimately XS (experimental stock). At the start, the rear tires (" slicks ") were made with a bias-ply construction ("wrinklewall" slicks had not been invented yet), which meant that grip upon launching

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7254-463: The engine led to a redesign for 1976–1977. Marketed as the Dura-Built 140, the new engine had improved coolant pathways, redesigned cylinder head with quieter hydraulic valve lifters, longer-life valve stem seals that reduced oil consumption by 50%, and redesigned water pump, head gasket , and thermostat . Warranty was upgraded to five years or 60,000 miles (97,000 km). In 1977 a pulse-air system

7371-470: The engine's bore size, number of cylinders, and a (now archaic) presumption of engine efficiency. As new engines were designed with ever-increasing efficiency, it was no longer a useful measure, but was kept in use by UK regulations, which used the rating for tax purposes . The United Kingdom was not the only country that used the RAC rating; many states in Australia used RAC hp to determine taxation. The RAC formula

7488-499: The engine. The situation persisted for several generations of four- and six-cylinder British engines: For example, Jaguar's 3.4-litre XK engine of the 1950s had six cylinders with a bore of 83 mm (3.27 in) and a stroke of 106 mm (4.17 in), where most American automakers had long since moved to oversquare (large bore, short stroke) V8 engines . See, for example, the early Chrysler Hemi engine . The power of an engine may be measured or estimated at several points in

7605-480: The fenders were replaced under warranty on 1971–1974 models. In February, the "Spirit of America" limited-edition hatchback was introduced, with a white exterior, white vinyl roof, blue and red striping on body sides, hood and rear-end panel, emblems on front fenders and rear panel, white "GT" wheels, A70-13 raised white-letter tires, white custom vinyl interior, and red accent color carpeting. Seventy-five hundred Vegas were built through May. Sales peaked at 460,374 for

7722-472: The final in 105 of 228 events and took sixty-one tour wins, as well as qualifying for all ten Big Bud Shootouts, winning in 2000 and 2006. On top of that, he had ten of the quickest or fastest passes in Funny Car. In recent years, a resurgence of interest in vintage drag cars has created many new "nostalgia" funny cars, which are newly made vintage-style funny car bodies mounted on modern funny car frames or, in certain cases, newly built frames that look close to

7839-471: The first sand-cast aluminum blocks had preceded the decision to build the car by two years. A relatively large displacement engine with good low-speed torque was decided on, with gear ratios for low engine rpm to achieve fuel economy. Engine testing totaled 6,000,000 miles. A pre-test engine was installed in a Fiat 124 sedan for development of the aluminum block, while several 1968 Opel sedans were used for drivetrain development Chevrolet instituted

7956-537: The first 'Funny Car' (it just looked funny at the time). First appearing at the AHRA Winternationals at Phoenix, Arizona, 29–31 January 1964, the combination improved E.T.s from low 11s with speeds in the 120 mph (190 km/h) range to 10.60s at almost 130 mph (210 km/h). For 1965, Plymouth Belvederes and Dodge Coronets were treated to the altered wheelbase configuration for their factory drivers. Only twelve were built. The three Chargers, wearing

8073-403: The first (unofficial) 200 mph (320 km/h) funny car pass in his Corvair at Lions. Even in 1965, Ford factory support wavered since the manufacturer did not build street versions of the radically altered cars; by 1968, pioneering Chrysler was also considering withdrawal. Of the privateers in this era, Bruce Larson's USA-1 (a '66 Chevelle with a Hilborn-injected 427 and four-speed)

8190-550: The first Funny Car on the cover of Hot Rod , in April 1966.) Similar cars went to Chrisman, "Fast Eddie" Schartman, and Kenz and Leslie. These cars had the first coilover suspension in funny car, and were powered by Hilborn -injected 427 SOHCs producing 1,000 hp (750 kW) on 80% nitro. (Chrisman's was the oddity, a roadster running a 6-71 GMC supercharger.) They were capable of mid-seven second e.t.s at around 185 mph (298 km/h). Schartman (working with Roy Steffey, on

8307-416: The five-bearing camshaft plus the water pump and fan. Compression ratio for the standard and optional engine is 8.0:1, as the engine was designed for low-lead and lead-free fuels. The single-barrel carburetor version produces 90 hp (67 kW); the two-barrel version ( RPO L11) produces 110 hp (82 kW). From 1972, ratings were listed as SAE net. The engine is prone to vibration, which

8424-411: The front 5 mph bumper . Front and rear 5 mph bumpers on 1974 to 1977 models add another 5.7 inches (140 mm). The hatchback, with its lower roofline and a fold-down rear seat, accounted for nearly half of all Vegas sold. The sedan, later named " Notchback ", is the only model with an enclosed trunk, and had the lowest base price. The Kammback wagon has a lower cargo liftover height and

8541-677: The front wheel centerline, with a cushioned two-piece shaft. Front suspension was by short and long arms, with lower control arm bushings larger than on the 1970 Camaro . Four-link rear suspension copies the 1970 Chevelle . The design features coil springs front and rear. The chassis development engineers aimed for full-size American car ride qualities with European handling. Later torque-arm rear suspension eliminated rear wheel hop under panic braking. Brakes (front discs, rear drums) copy an Opel design, with 10-inch (250 mm) diameter single-piston solid rotors, 9-inch (230 mm) drums and 70/30 front/rear braking distribution. All models shared

8658-415: The hands of Chrisman, Kenz and Leslie, and Eddie Schartman ; at the 1966 World Final, Schartman would become NHRA's first official Funny Car title winner. Tom McEwen , better known for his dragster racing, flirted with funny cars in 1965, as did Lou Barney , a veteran slingshot racer; Barney's hemi-powered, mid-engined Barracuda proved unsafe before being replaced by another, which turned out to be "one of

8775-612: The heater core would be sufficient. After many prototype failures, a (small) radiator was added to the vehicle. The engine in development became known in-house as "the world's tallest, smallest engine" due to the tall cylinder head. Its vibration, noise, and tendency to overheat were rectified by 1974. The Vega's suspension, live rear axle , 53.2% front/46.8% rear weight distribution , low center of mass and neutral steering gave good handling. Lateral acceleration capacities were 0.90 g (standard suspension) and 0.93 g (RPO F-41 suspension). Steering box and linkage were ahead of

8892-443: The high 10s, with speeds around 130 mph (210 km/h), when Super Stock and FX cars were only running 11s at about 120 mph (190 km/h), clearly a winning edge. They would also be the first factory cars fitted with parachutes, and the first to see the drivers wear firesuits . The first major altered-wheelbase car was Dick Landy 's class-legal SS/A 1964 Dodge 330 , which had front and rear axles moved radically forward,

9009-484: The horse could pull with a force of 180 pounds-force (800 N). So: Engineering in History recounts that John Smeaton initially estimated that a horse could produce 22,916 foot-pounds (31,070 J) per minute. John Desaguliers had previously suggested 44,000 foot-pounds (59,656 J) per minute, and Thomas Tredgold suggested 27,500 foot-pounds (37,285 J) per minute. "Watt found by experiment in 1782 that

9126-637: The implementation of the EU Directive 80/181/EEC on 1 January 2010, the use of horsepower in the EU is permitted only as a supplementary unit. The development of the steam engine provided a reason to compare the output of horses with that of the engines that could replace them. In 1702, Thomas Savery wrote in The Miner's Friend : The idea was later used by James Watt to help market his improved steam engine. He had previously agreed to take royalties of one-third of

9243-450: The limit. In that legend, Watt accepted the challenge and built a machine that was actually even stronger than the figure achieved by the brewer, and the output of that machine became the horsepower. In 1993, R. D. Stevenson and R. J. Wassersug published correspondence in Nature summarizing measurements and calculations of peak and sustained work rates of a horse. Citing measurements made at

9360-593: The mandatory factory distance between axle centers. The first of the "funny-looking cars" were a trio of 1964 Dodge 330 Max Wedges which were named the "Dodge Chargers". They debuted in March 1964 at San Diego Raceway . Funny Cars started as stockers , and were, at first, pure exhibition cars, in the Super/Factory Experimental (S/FX) class; NHRA treated them like a passing fad, and tried to "legislate them out of existence" by placing them in first gas and then fuel dragster classes, with cars of half

9477-485: The millionth Vega left the Lordstown Assembly plant – an orange GT hatchback with white sport stripes, power steering, and neutral custom vinyl interior including exclusive vinyl door panels. A limited-edition "Millionth Vega" was introduced replicating the milestone car, with orange carpeting and Millionth Vega door handle accents. Sixty-five hundred were built from May 1 to July 1. For the first time, cloth upholstery

9594-460: The most famous (and popular) funny cars in NHRA history would appear in 1969: Chi-Town Hustler , a Charger prepared by Fakonas and Coil (driven by Pat Minnick ). Another Funny Car record was set in 1970 by Leroy Goldstein ("The Israeli Rocket"), then testing Firestone tires , with a 6.99 pass at Capitol Raceway, Funny Car's first under seven seconds. By November, Jake Johnson in the hemi-powered Blue Max (driving for Harry Schmidt) turned in

9711-562: The notchback and hatchback (although the amber turn signals were nonfunctional). The cooling and durability of the Dura-Built 2.3 L engine were improved. The chassis received the Monza's upgraded components including box-section front cross-member, larger front and rear brakes (with the fronts gaining vented rotors), and torque-arm rear suspension. Extensive anti-rust improvements to the body included galvanized fenders and rocker panels. New models were introduced: GT estate wagon, Cabriolet notchback (with

9828-505: The origin of the engine in question. DIN 66036 defines one metric horsepower as the power to raise a mass of 75 kilograms against the Earth's gravitational force over a distance of one metre in one second: 75 kg × 9.80665 m/s × 1 m / 1 s = 75  kgf ⋅m/s = 1 PS. This is equivalent to 735.49875 W, or 98.6% of an imperial horsepower. In 1972, the PS was replaced by

9945-682: The originals and are made NHRA legal. These "Nostalgia Funny Cars" often compete in various nostalgia drag racing events, such as the NHRA Heritage Hot Rod Racing Series, which includes the National Hot Rod Reunion and the California Hot Rod Reunion. In 2007, NHRA limited technical innovation in Funny Car, as well as introducing a 1,000 ft (300 m) track length and restrictions on maximum engine revs. Chevrolet Vega The Chevrolet Vega

10062-515: The piston's proximity to the air intake. Funny Cars have a fixed gear ratio of 3.20:1 and have a reversing gear ; power is transmitted from engine to final drive through a multiple staged clutch which provides progressive incremental lockup as the run proceeds. The rate/degree of lockup is mechanically/pneumatically controlled and preset before each run according to various conditions, in particular track surface. Wheelbases are between 100 and 125 in (2,500 and 3,200 mm). The car must maintain

10179-670: The power generated can be calculated. To determine the maximum power available, a controllable load is required; it is normally a second locomotive with its brakes applied, in addition to a static load. If the drawbar force ( F ) is measured in pounds-force (lbf) and speed ( v ) is measured in miles per hour (mph), then the drawbar power ( P ) in horsepower (hp) is { P } h p = { F } l b f { v } m p h 375 . {\displaystyle \{P\}_{\mathrm {hp} }={\frac {\{F\}_{\mathrm {lbf} }\{v\}_{\mathrm {mph} }}{375}}.} Example: How much power

10296-487: The proving grounds were performed by customers, necessitating numerous piecemeal "fixes" by dealers. Chevrolet's "bright star" received an enduring black eye despite a continuing development program which eventually alleviated most of these initial shortcomings." The wheelbase on all models is 97.0 inches (2,460 mm). Width is 65.4 inches (1,660 mm). The 1971 and 1972 models are 169.7 inches (4,310 mm) long. The 1973 models are 3 inches (76 mm) longer due to

10413-522: The quickest early match racers". So did Gary Gabelich , probably better known for land speed racing , in the Beach City Chevrolet-sponsored Sting Ray . Before TF/FC became an official class, funny cars were run as B/FDs and C/FDs (B and C/Fuel Dragster), an odd classification, since they were bodied cars, not dragsters. In 1965, Ford produced Holman and Moody-built fiberglass-bodied Mustangs for (among others) Gas Ronda , who

10530-543: The rules relate to the engine. In short, the engines can only be V8s displacing no more than 500 cu in (8.2 L). The most popular design is a Donovan , loosely based on the second generation Chrysler 426 Hemi . Crankshafts are CNC machine carved from steel billet then nitrided in an oven to increase surface hardness. Intake valves are titanium and of 2.40 in (61 mm) diameter, while exhaust valves are 1.90 in (48 mm) diameter, made from Inconel . Every Funny Car has ballistic blankets covering

10647-564: The same hood, fenders, floor pan, lower door panels, rocker panels, engine compartment and front end. In mid-1971, Chevrolet introduced an optional GT package for hatchback and Kammback models, which included the RPO L11 two-barrel 140 engine, F41 handling option, special tires, and trim. For 1972, models had a revised exhaust system and driveline to reduce vibration and noise; also revised shock absorbers . Turbo Hydra-Matic three-speed automatic transmission and custom cloth interior were optional and

10764-565: The same year, with the death of Jerry Schwartz in the ex-Foster Mach I. In a virtually identical car (except the color), Ongais won a number of rounds, with passes frequently in the low sevens at over 182.16 mph (293.16 km/h), including taking Funny Car Eliminator at the USnats . Gene Snow would record the first official 200 mph (320 km/h) pass in the Keith Black -engined, Logghe-chassised 1969 Dodge Charger , Rambunctious . One of

10881-618: The same year. The popularity of funny car grew that year, with January's AHRA Winternationals seeing seven entrants: the Ramchargers, ”Dandy Dick” Landy , and Bud Faubel , in Dodges; and Butch Leal , Sox & Martin, the Golden Commandos , and Lee Smith in Plymouths. By June, the number was over a dozen, including factory Mustangs and Cyclones with 427 “cammers”. A dedicated funny car class

10998-408: The savings in coal from the older Newcomen steam engines . This royalty scheme did not work with customers who did not have existing steam engines but used horses instead. Watt determined that a horse could turn a mill wheel 144 times in an hour (or 2.4 times a minute). The wheel was 12 feet (3.7 m) in radius; therefore, the horse travelled 2.4 × 2π × 12 feet in one minute. Watt judged that

11115-423: The size of the engine; but as of 2000, many countries changed over to systems based on CO 2 emissions, so are not directly comparable to older ratings. The Citroën 2CV is named for its French fiscal horsepower rating, "deux chevaux" (2CV). Nameplates on electrical motors show their power output, not the power input (the power delivered at the shaft, not the power consumed to drive the motor). This power output

11232-444: The sport. Multi-car teams, with several tuners each, became commonplace, and single car teams "had a very slim chance of winning an NHRA World Championship". Force's domination would continue, with ten NHRA FC World Championship wins from 1993 to 2002, including six straight 1997–2002; his success was so amazing he was accused of cheating (and was willing to strip off his firesuit to prove he was not). Between 1997 and 2006, Force went to

11349-597: The standard in TF/FC. In 1968, Thorley would drive a rear-engined Javelin , built by Woody Gilmore , powered by an AMC 401 . (This engine would later be replaced by a 392 Hemi prepared by John Hoven and Glenn Okazaki .) That same year, Leal would sell his 'cuda to Don Schumacher . NHRA created the new Funny Car (TF/FC) class at the NHRA Winternationals in 1969; Funny Car Eliminator (FCE) would be won by Clare Sanders , teammate of "Jungle Jim" Liberman. Tragedy struck

11466-636: The supercharger because this part of the engine is prone to explosion. Funny Car fuel systems are key to their immense power. During a single run (starting, burnout , backing up, staging, 1/4 mile) cars can burn as much as 15 US gallons (12 imp gal; 57 L) of fuel. The fuel mixture is usually 85–90% nitromethane (nitro, "fuel") and 10–15% methanol (alcohol, "alky"). The ratio of fuel to air can be as high as 1:1. Compression ratios vary from 6:1 to 7:1. The engines in Funny Cars commonly exhibit varying piston heights and ratios that are determined by

11583-502: The transmission of the power from its generation to its application. A number of names are used for the power developed at various stages in this process, but none is a clear indicator of either the measurement system or definition used. In general: All the above assumes that no power inflation factors have been applied to any of the readings. Engine designers use expressions other than horsepower to denote objective targets or performance, such as brake mean effective pressure (BMEP). This

11700-464: The twin parachutes to help stabilize and decelerate the car after crossing the finish line. Less visible precautions include roll cages and fire extinguishers . During safety evaluations in the wake of the fatal crash of Scott Kalitta on June 21, 2008, in Englishtown, N.J., the NHRA reduced the distance of Top Fuel and Funny Car races to 1,000 feet (304 meters) effective July 2, 2008, as later did

11817-449: The wagon models). A 16-US-gallon (61 L; 13 imp gal) fuel tank replaced the 11-US-gallon (42 L; 9.2 imp gal) tank. Side striping replaced the hood and deck stripes for the GT sport stripes option. The custom interior's wood-trimmed molded door panels were replaced by vinyl door panels matching the seat trim. January saw plastic front fender liners added after thousands of

11934-460: The weight and twice the horsepower. Funny car success followed the popularity of gassers , the previous favorite doorslammer class. The precursor of the funny car, appearing almost a decade earlier, was John Bandimere 's blown '55 Chevy. Funny cars were also preceded by the Modified Sport cars, which had fiberglass bodies, tube frames, and supercharged set-back engines even before Super Stock

12051-482: Was actually selected 45% of the time. In February 1969, Opel three- and four-speed transmissions (three-speed standard, others optional); Powerglide were added (now four transmissions); mechanical fuel pump replaced by in-tank electric pump (making this the first GM product with an in tank fuel pump prior to the adoption of fuel injection); power steering option; base "11" style notchback trim upgraded to match hatchback and wagon carpet and headliner. In April 1969,

12168-591: Was added to meet stricter 1977 U.S. exhaust emission regulations and the engine paint color (used on all Chevrolet engines) changed from orange to blue. In August 1975, Chevrolet conducted an endurance test of three Vegas powered by Dura-Built engines, advertised as a "60,000 miles in 60 days Durability Run". Supervised by the United States Auto Club , three pre-production 1976 hatchback coupes with manual transmissions and air conditioning were driven non-stop for 60,000 miles (97,000 km) in 60 days through

12285-478: Was adopted in the late 18th century by Scottish engineer James Watt to compare the output of steam engines with the power of draft horses . It was later expanded to include the output power of other power-generating machinery such as piston engines , turbines , and electric motors . The definition of the unit varied among geographical regions. Most countries now use the SI unit watt for measurement of power. With

12402-757: Was at a Greer, South Carolina , dragstrip, in July 1964. Nix, disappointed, went back to TG/D. Chrisman's Comet was placed in the B/Fuel Dragster class at Indianapolis; he was defeated in eliminations, but not before recording a pass of 10.25 seconds at 156.31 mph (251.56 km/h) mph. The success of these cars inspired other racers to give up class racing for supercharged exhibition cars, led by "Arnie Farmer" Beswick and his Pontiac GTO , Gary Dyer 's hemi Dodge A/FX (financed by Norm Krause , "Mister Norm"), and Funny cars proved enormously popular, with cars driven by Chrisman and Beswick setting track records all over

12519-471: Was canceled in July after 1,446 1976 models were built. For 1977, models had few revisions. The notchback was renamed "coupe". On the Dura-built 140 engine, a pulse-air system met stricter Federal emission standards. The single-barrel engine and three-speed manual transmission were dropped. Interiors received a color-keyed steering column, steering wheel, instrument-cluster face, and parking-brake cover, with

12636-531: Was conceived. Among the Modified Sport racers to challenge early funny cars were Roger Hardcastle and Les Beattie with the Stinger, sporting a blown, fuel injected Chrysler hemi in an Astra J-5. In 1964 its 1/4 mile data was 143.85 mph and 10.02 ET. See Hot Rod Magazine from April 1964. Pages 58–60. The first funny cars were Super Stock 1964 Dodge 330 Max Wedges , named the "Dodge Chargers", prepared, at

12753-531: Was instituted by the Royal Automobile Club and was used to denote the power of early 20th-century British cars. Many cars took their names from this figure (hence the Austin Seven and Riley Nine), while others had names such as "40/50 hp", which indicated the RAC figure followed by the true measured power. Taxable horsepower does not reflect developed horsepower; rather, it is a calculated figure based on

12870-668: Was offered, with the Custom interior in black or blue. For 1974, the major exterior changes were a revised front end and 5 mph rear bumper, increasing overall length 6 inches (150 mm), and a slanted front header panel with recessed headlamp bezels. Louvered steel replaced the egg-crate plastic grille . Front and rear aluminum bumpers with inner steel spring replaced the chrome bumpers, with license plate mountings relocated. A revised rear panel on notchback and hatchback models had larger single-unit taillights, with ventilation grills eliminated from trunk and hatch lids (rear quarter panels on

12987-442: Was poor. Racers who performed these altered wheelbase modifications found it shifted the center of gravity rearward, which placed more weight on the rear wheels, enhancing traction from these bias-ply slicks. Because of these many obvious modifications they did not look stock, hence the name "funny". The wheelbases were changed to assist traction for the narrow (7 in (180 mm)-wide) slicks (required by NHRA rules), while keeping

13104-564: Was set up, headed by James G. Musser Jr., who had helped develop the Chevy II , the Camaro , the Chevrolet small-block V8 engines , and the Turbo-Hydramatic transmission. Musser said, "This was the first vehicle where one person was in charge", and that his team "did the entire vehicle". The Vega was conceived in 1968 to utilize newly developed all-aluminum die-cast engine block technology –

13221-470: Was sometimes applied in British colonies as well, such as Kenya (British East Africa) . where Since taxable horsepower was computed based on bore and number of cylinders, not based on actual displacement, it gave rise to engines with "undersquare" dimensions (bore smaller than stroke), which tended to impose an artificially low limit on rotational speed , hampering the potential power output and efficiency of

13338-524: Was the most successful Ford racer. In 1966, Mercury offered a revolutionary flopper-bodied Comet, as exemplified by Don Nicholson's Eliminator I , which clocked a 7.98 at Detroit Dragway in its debut season, the quickest of the fuel injected cars. The car was built by Logghe Bros. (based in Detroit) (with bodies by Fiberglass Trends ), weighing in around 1,700 lb (770 kg), making it heavier than most contemporary top fuel dragsters . (It would be

13455-462: Was the most successful of the rear-engined funny cars. The Funny Car Eliminator title at the 1971 Winternats would go to Roland Leong 's Charger, Hawaiian . At the 1972 Supernationals, Jim Dunn recorded a historic win in his Barracuda, the first and only, won by a mid-engined funny car. In 1973, Shirley Muldowney teamed up with Connie Kalitta as the Bounty Hunter and Bounty Huntress in

13572-412: Was the most successful. Among other early funny car competitors were Hayden Proffitt, who faced Chrisman at Lions Dragway in 1966 and won in a Hicks and Sublet-chassised Corvair . Butch Leal would body one of Logghe's first customer chassis with a fiberglass Plymouth Barracuda and run an injected 426 Hemi on 100% nitro; this car's best pass would be a 7.82 at 182.16 mph (293.16 km/h), with

13689-594: Was tried by NHRA at one 1966 national event, and at two in 1968, before Funny Car Eliminator was created in 1969. The trend to flip-top fiberglass bodies ("floppers") began with Jim Lytle 's US$ 2000 Allison V-1710 -powered chopped '34 Tudor Big Al II . It would inspire "every flopper body ever formed." Chrysler's dominance led Hernandez and Al Turner to try and turn things in Mercury's favor; Don Nicholson's flip-top, tube-chassis Comet, arriving in 1966, changed everything. The “flopper” bodied Comets were highly successful in

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