gasser

Gasser is a term with several meanings. In automotive culture, it denotes a class of hot rod drag cars from the 1950s and 1960s designed to run on gasoline and known for a distinctive high nose and heavy V8 power. The name likely derives from gasoline-fueled engines, distinguishing them from fuel classes using nitromethane or methanol.

Typical gassers used a forward-mounted engine, a straight front axle, and a weight distribution aimed at lifting the front wheels at launch. Bodies were often lightweight coupes or sedans with large rear tires and an elevated ride height. They emphasized rapid acceleration and dramatic tire smoke when launched.

Gassers developed on postwar drag strips in Southern California and became a prominent feature of early drag racing, especially in sanctioning bodies such as the NHRA. As racing progressed, nitro-powered and altered-wheelbase classes grew, and the original gasser era waned by the mid-1960s. In recent decades, vintage drag racing and exhibitions have revived interest in genuine gassers and in replica builds.

Gasser is also a German surname and toponym. It appears in German-speaking regions and is borne by individuals in historical and contemporary contexts. The term can occasionally appear in general-language usage to refer to someone associated with gas, though such usage is uncommon and not standardized.