The Worlds first Funny Car
One of those cocky statement that lights a firework of skeptics, raises a murmur of protests and provide fuel for brains with better judgment. -Fine. Krantz is pleased to contribute to raising the topic and reach public clarity. This is the worlds first Funny Car – correct me if I am wrong.
The world’s first Funny Car – May 1965.
WORLDKUSTOM’S editor in chief Lars Krantz hereby declare that Ron Pellegrini’s Super Mustang is the world’s first Funny Car!
Defining Funny Car
Plastic Body – tubular frame – centered cockpit – full body and looking like an existing car.
First I want to define the word Funny Car. A Funny car must have a fiberglass body. Metal body cars go away immediately. A funny car must also have a purpose built chassis that holds up the plastic
By: Lars Krantz
body. Original frames go away immediately. A Funny Car must also have the cockpit in the middle. You do not ride shotgun in a Funny or sit on the “driver’s side”. You sit in the middle of the car, and finally, a Funny car is similar to an existing brands body and look. Not a jet engine sausage, not a dragster cigar, not a half roadster with naked front wheels. Therefore, this is the world’s first Funny Car, and it came in the month of April 1965.
The TV celebrity Tommy Ivo, Don Prudhomme, Don Garlits and many others created the most amazing builds for the dragstrip in the early sixties. New, larger engine blocks were produced by the auto industry and on the race track the power exploded in the hands of excellent motor builders and race teams. Everything was power and speed and everything grew annually when the major manufacturers tried to outdo each other in concept cars and motor combinations.
In the Chicago area there was a young man living only for racing. The kid saw the annual trend and rode its waves. Bigger, stronger, faster. His name was Ron Pellegrini.
Ron was one of those
who kept the pedal to
the metal for anyone
who paid and who
needed a driven,
totally fearless pilot.
The Showboat
Ron Pellegrini drove
series in a multi-
engine dragster with
Tommy Ivo 1962-1963.
A four wheel drive
show monster with
four engines did
burnouts with all four