Who Were the Drivers of the Custom Body Funny Car?
The custom body funny car is a type of drag racing car that was popular in the 1960s and 1970s. These cars were typically built on a shortened chassis and featured a fiberglass body that was often decorated with elaborate paint schemes and graphics.
Custom body funny cars were powered by large V8 engines and were capable of reaching speeds of over 200 mph. They were raced in a variety of different classes, including the NHRA Funny Car division.
Some of the most famous drivers of custom body funny cars include:
Don Prudhomme
Don Prudhomme is one of the most successful drivers in the history of drag racing. He won the NHRA Funny Car championship four times and was the first driver to win the prestigious Big Daddy Don Garlits Memorial Award.
Prudhomme began his career in drag racing in the early 1960s. He quickly made a name for himself as a talented driver and crew chief. In 1965, he won his first NHRA Funny Car championship.
Prudhomme continued to race throughout the 1960s and 1970s. He won three more NHRA Funny Car championships in 1975, 1976, and 1978. He also won the Big Daddy Don Garlits Memorial Award in 1977.
Prudhomme retired from drag racing in 1986. He was inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in 1993.
Don Garlits
Don Garlits is another legendary drag racing driver. He is known for his innovative designs and his success in the NHRA Top Fuel division.
Garlits began his career in drag racing in the early 1950s. He quickly became known for his unique dragster designs. In 1957, he built the first rear-engine dragster. This design revolutionized the sport of drag racing.
Garlits continued to race throughout the 1960s and 1970s. He won the NHRA Top Fuel championship eight times and was the first driver to win the prestigious NHRA Triple Crown.
Garlits retired from drag racing in 1978. He was inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in 1987.
Tommy Ivo
Tommy Ivo is a former drag racing driver who is known for his innovative designs and his success in the NHRA Funny Car division.
Ivo began his career in drag racing in the early 1960s. He quickly became known for his unique dragster designs. In 1965, he built the first fiberglass-bodied dragster. This design revolutionized the sport of drag racing.
Ivo continued to race throughout the 1960s and 1970s. He won the NHRA Funny Car championship twice in 1966 and 1967.
Ivo retired from drag racing in 1974. He was inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in 1990.
Conclusion
The custom body funny car was a popular type of drag racing car in the 1960s and 1970s. These cars were powered by large V8 engines and were capable of reaching speeds of over 200 mph. Some of the most famous drivers of custom body funny cars include Don Prudhomme, Don Garlits, and Tommy Ivo.
