A gasser is a type of hot rod originating on the dragstrips of the United States in the late 1950s and continued until the early 1970s. Gassers are based on production models from the 1930s to mid 1960s, which have been stripped of extraneous weight and jacked up using a truck beam axle to provide better weight distribution on acceleration (Beam axles are lighter than an independent front suspension as well), though a raised stock front suspension is common as well. Common weight reduction techniques include fibreglasss body panels, stripped interiors and perspex windows (sometimes colour tinted).
Being built for racing, these cars are subject to either an engine swap, tuning or both. It was very common to fit a Roots supercharger and mechanical fuel injection, such as one from Algon, Hillborn or Crower.
With form being dictated by function, their appearance is often very top heavy and ungainly, largely due being raised higher than stock. Having their exhaust headers exiting through the fender well is a common characteristic, as it is the most direct route. Although being functional, these were often flamboyantly painted in metalflakes, pearls and candy finishes complemented by lettering in wild fonts.
The name arose because they were a gasoline-driven class, as opposed to using methanol or nitromethane.
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