Editing Koopa Clown Car

{{about|the helicopter-like vehicle often piloted by [[Bowser]]|the [[kart]] from the [[Mario Kart (series)|Mario Kart series]]|[[Koopa Clown]]|[[Bowser Jr.]]'s personal airship|[[Junior Clown Car]]}}

{{item infobox

|image=[[File:MPS Bowser Artwork.png|220px]]<br>Artwork of [[Bowser]] riding the Koopa Clown Car from ''[[Mario Party Superstars]]''

|latest_appearance=''[[Mario & Luigi: Brothership]]'' ([[List of games by date#2024|2024]])

The '''Koopa Clown Car''', also called '''Bowser's Heli''',<ref name=MM>{{cite|title=''Mario Mania'' Player's Guide|page=52|date=August 1991|publisher=Nintendo of America|language=en-us}}</ref> the '''Clown Ship''',<ref name=MM/> the '''Koopa-Kopter''',<ref>{{cite|author=Pelland, Scott; Miller, Kent|title=''Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars'' Player's Guide|date=1996|publisher=Nintendo of America|language=en-us|page=6}}</ref> the '''Koopa Clown 'Copter''',<ref>{{cite|author=Stratton, Bryan|title=''Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2'' Prima's Official Strategy Guide|page=91|language=en-us|date=February 26, 2002|isbn=0-7615-3913-1}}</ref> or '''Bowser's Clown Copter''',<ref>{{cite|author=Nintendo of America|url=x.com/NintendoAmerica/status/1634252793795039232|title=MAR10DAY post|publisher=X|accessdate=March 10, 2023}}</ref> is one of [[Bowser]]'s many modes of aerial transportation. It is a helicopter-like vehicle with a large clown face on the front, which has the ability to change its expression. A smaller version of the Koopa Clown Car named the [[Junior Clown Car]] is often piloted by [[Bowser Jr.]]

[[File:SMWMvsB.png|thumb|left|[[Bowser]] fighting [[Mario]] in his Koopa Clown Car in ''[[Super Mario World]]'']]

The first appearance of the Koopa Clown Car was in ''[[Super Mario World]]''; in the [[Valley of Bowser]], Bowser can be seen flying around [[Bowser's Castle|his castle]] in it. After making his way through Bowser's Castle and onto the rooftop of it, [[Mario]] proceeds to battle Bowser, who rides around in the Koopa Clown Car. Attacking Mario by dropping [[Metal ball|Big Steelies]] and [[Mechakoopa]]s on him, Bowser can be injured only by having a jumped-on Mechakoopa thrown at him when he sticks his head out of the Koopa Clown Car. After being hit by Mechakoopas several times, Bowser tries to use the Koopa Clown Car, whose face grows more sinister and manic, to crush Mario. Bowser also begins dropping [[Bowser's Flame|Flame]]s from the Koopa Clown Car. [[Princess Peach|Princess Toadstool]] tosses Mario a [[Super Mushroom]]. After being hit six times by flung Mechakoopas, Bowser and the Koopa Clown Car are beaten; he then relinquishes Princess Toadstool from it and retreats. The Koopa Clown Car here is able to blink and show other facial expressions with its eyes.

[[List of Super Mario World pre-release and unused content|Early]] sprites found in the game's source assets seem to indicate it was initially intended to have a wind-up key on the bottom instead of a propeller.<ref>{{cite|author=GamingAlexandri|date=July 24, 2020|url=x.com/GamingAlexandri/status/1286734000057458689|title=People are digging up all sorts of unused art assets from the latest Nintendo leak. Here's some screenshots of some examples. Bowser from SMW apparently had legs at one time?|publisher=X|accessdate=July 25, 2020}}</ref>

In ''[[New Super Mario Bros. Wii]]'', [[Bowser Jr.]] gets his own version of the Koopa Clown Car (later named the [[Junior Clown Car]]). It is encountered in {{world|4|airship}} and {{world|6|airship}}, but in {{world|8|airship}}, Bowser Jr. kicks it out of the boss room in favor of the original Koopa Clown Car. He attacks Mario and friends with fireballs and spiked bombs, which can be used to defeat him with a well-timed [[Ground Pound]].

The Clown Car re-appears in the [[Nintendo 3DS|3DS]] game ''[[New Super Mario Bros. 2]]''. The [[Koopalings]] can be seen riding in it together. In the corridors of the final castle in World 6 (and World Star), the Koopalings are seen "flashing" with the Koopa Clown Car's eyes. Mario can evade said "flash" by passing between the castle's pillars. If the flash touches Mario, he will be turned into stone. After Mario defeats Bowser for the first time, the Koopalings use their magic to enlarge Bowser, but in doing so they and the Clown Car get knocked into the lava. The Koopa Clown Car was used one final time in the ending, where the Koopalings attempted to carry Bowser with it. However, because Bowser's size exceeded its capacity, the Koopalings and Bowser were scattered throughout the trees and floor. The Koopa Clown Car was also revealed to have an autopilot function, as demonstrated when the Koopa Clown Car delivered a caged Princess Peach to Bowser's castle shortly after [[Ludwig|Ludwig von Koopa]]'s defeat at the hands of Mario in the game.

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The Koopa Clown Car makes an appearance in ''[[Super Mario Maker]]'' and ''[[Super Mario Maker for Nintendo 3DS]]'', where it can be placed multiple times in levels. It can be used ''Super Mario Bros.'', ''Super Mario Bros. 3'', ''Super Mario World'' and ''New Super Mario Bros. U'' styles, where it will simply bob up and down in place when not in use. Additionally, it has been given new sprites for the ''Super Mario Bros.'' and ''Super Mario Bros. 3'' styles. Mario or any enemy can ride the Koopa Clown Car, including Bowser and Bowser Jr. themselves. When the player rides it, it functions similar to [[Lakitu's Cloud]], though it is slower and can be used indefinitely. If Mario is riding it, he can attack most enemies by hitting them with the car's propeller, which will have the same effect as a jump; however, rather than hurting Mario through the car, an enemy only pushes him back. Fire Mario can throw fireballs from inside the car. When the car hits something, including another car, it will bounce against it. If it hits [[Spike Trap]]s, the Clown Car will become dizzy and uncontrollable for a limited period of time. The Clown Car is defeated if it is crushed by more than one Bill Blaster or Muncher. When a [[Boo]] is in a Clown Car, the Clown Car will close its eyes when looked at. The Clown Car takes the form of the [[Junior Clown Car]] in the ''New Super Mario Bros. U'' style. Shaking it transforms it into the [[Fire Koopa Clown Car]].

Bowser always appears using the Koopa Clown Car in ''[[Super Mario Run]]'', except for his appearance in Remix 10. The course [[Bowser's Bob-ombing Run]] is dedicated to a boss fight where Bowser stays on the right side of the screen while attacking the player with projectiles. The Koopa Clown Car's contribution to the battle, aside from letting Bowser fly, is revealing a cannon that can shoot a [[Spike Ball]]. After being hit twice with reflected [[Bob-omb]]s, the Koopa Clown Car becomes angry permanently while expelling smoke. The Spike Balls become larger. After the third hit, Bowser is defeated. Both Bowser and the car tumble off screen and crash.

In ''[[Super Mario Odyssey]]'', the Koopa Clown Car can be briefly seen in the cutscene when [[Mario]] captures [[Bowser]], in a flashback depicting the Bowser battle from ''[[Super Mario World]]''.

Koopa Clown Cars, as well as Fire Koopa Clown Cars, reappear in ''[[Super Mario Maker 2]]'', functioning the same as they do in the original ''Super Mario Maker''. They are located in the Enemies category.

[[File:CartoonClownCar.jpg|thumb|King Koopa using the Flying Clown Head in the ''Super Mario World'' television series episode "[[Send in the Clown]]".]]

The Koopa Clown Car, referred to as the '''Flying Clown Head''' in ''[[Koopa's Stone Age Quests]]'' and a ''[[Captain N: The Game Master]]'' preview, appeared in the [[Super Mario World (television series)|''Super Mario World'' cartoon]] episode "[[Send in the Clown]]." King Koopa uses the Flying Clown Head to announce to the cave-people of [[Dome City]] that they could go to the "[[Koopalings|Koopaling]] Bros. Circus" free of charge. Near the end of the episode, after Mario has destroyed the fake circus, an enraged King Koopa, having taken Princess Toadstool hostage, begins to attack Mario in the Flying Clown Head in a manner similar to the final boss battle from the game. He does so by dropping Big Steelies and [[Mechakoopa|Mechkoopas]] on Mario, as well as attempting to crush him. Eventually, King Koopa and his Flying Clown Head were defeated when Mario hurled a Mechkoopa at the vehicle, damaging its controls and causing it to fly off upside-down, dropping Princess Toadstool in the process.

In "[[Rock TV]]," a flower pot resembling the Koopa Clown Car can be seen in King Koopa's throne room.

Bowser briefly uses the Koopa Clown Car in the ''[[Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars]]''. In this game, Bowser uses the Koopa Clown Car to abduct [[Princess Peach]] from Mario's yard. Bowser then uses the Koopa Clown Car to transport himself and Peach to [[Bowser's Castle|Bowser's Keep]].

[[File:Paper Clown Car.png|thumb|The Koopa Clown Car from the GameCube version of ''Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door''.]]

Later on in ''Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door'', Bowser, after failing to get a ride on the [[Blimp|Cheep Blimp]], uses his Koopa Clown Car to get to [[Glitzville]]. Unfortunately, the Koopa Clown Car breaks-down in mid-flight and crashes into the ocean, where Bowser apparently left it.

Right after its absence in ''[[Super Paper Mario]]'' and ''[[Paper Mario: Sticker Star]]'', the Koopa Clown Car makes a background appearance in the end credits of ''[[Paper Mario: Color Splash]]'', where Bowser rides it, attached to the airship float. The Junior Clown Car also can be seen in the storage room behind [[the Emerald Circus]] tent, but concept art shows that it was originally going to be the Koopa Clown Car.

[[File:PMTOK Shy Guy Clown Car.png|left|thumb|100px|A Shy Guy coming to assist Bowser in ''Paper Mario: The Origami King'']]

{{main-wiki|SmashWiki|Koopa Clown Car}}

In the [[Super Smash Bros. (series)|''Super Smash Bros.'' series]], the Koopa Clown Car has a few minor appearances. It first appears in ''[[Super Smash Bros. Melee]]'', in the form of a [[Trophy (Super Smash Bros. series)|trophy]], which shows Bowser holding on to the rims of the Koopa Clown Car while peeking out slightly. In ''[[Super Smash Bros. Brawl]]''{{'}}s [[smashwiki:Adventure Mode: The Subspace Emissary|The Subspace Emissary]] mode, the Koopa Clown Car appears twice: [[Bowser]] first uses the Koopa Clown Car to escape from [[Mario]], [[Pit (character)|Pit]], [[Yoshi]], [[Link]], and [[Kirby]] while taking the princess ([[Princess Peach|Peach]] or [[Zelda]]), then later uses it again to escape from [[Falco Lombardi|Falco]], [[Diddy Kong]], and [[Fox]]. In ''[[Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS]]'', ''[[Super Smash Bros. for Wii U]]'', and ''[[Super Smash Bros. Ultimate]]'', the Koopa Clown Car occasionally appears in the background of the [[Super Mario Maker (stage)|Super Mario Maker]] stage.

In the [[Mario Golf (series)|''Mario Golf'' series]], the Koopa Clown Car first appears in ''[[Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour]]''. During the game's opening clip, Bowser uses the Koopa Clown Car, as well as the two [[Bill Blaster|Bullet Bill Blaster]]s equipped to it, to chase down [[Wario]] and [[Waluigi]] in retribution for unwittingly giving him a black eye during their golfing session. Additionally, Hole 11 of [[Bowser Badlands]] takes place on a giant Koopa Clown Car. In ''[[Mario Golf: World Tour]]'', an even larger Koopa Clown Car appears as the green for Hole 7 in [[Bowser's Castle (golf course)|Bowser's Castle]].

[[File:KCCMP8.png|thumb|The Koopa Clown Car in ''Mario Party 8'']]

The Koopa Clown Car has appeared in several installments of the [[Mario Party (series)|''Mario Party'' series]], most notably in ''[[Mario Party 5]]'', ''[[Mario Party 6]]'', ''[[Mario Party 7]]'', and ''[[Mario Party 8]]''. In ''Mario Party 8'', it is depicted as having thicker lips and a green extension attached to its propeller; in addition to summoning cannons, it also has the ability to open its mouth, revealing a laser gun. However, these weapons are not all revealed in the beginning of the battle. The battle starts out with Bowser breathing fireballs, and for every three times [[Bowser]] is hit with blasts from the [[Star Rod (Mario Party 8)|Star Rod]] (except for the ninth hit, in which he blows out a large fireball instead before continuing using his normal attacks), he becomes angrier and summons additional weapons, eventually progressing to a full-scale assault, with laser gun blasts and [[Bullet Bill]] cannons being fired simultaneously. In ''[[Mario Party 9]]'', Bowser appears in the Koopa Clown Car at the end of a stage. Bowser and Bowser Jr. also ride their vehicles together in the ending. In ''[[Mario Party: Island Tour]]'', Bowser uses the Koopa Clown Car for transportation and during [[Bowser's Sky Scuffle]]. The Koopa Clown Car is used by Bowser for all three of the Bowser's Gauntlet minigames in ''[[Mario Party: Star Rush]]''. The Clown Car makes a minor appearance in ''[[Mario Party: The Top 100]]'' where it replaces Bowser's unnamed hovercraft in [[The Final Battle! (minigame)|The Final Battle!]]. In the remake of [[Yoshi's Tropical Island]] in ''[[Mario Party Superstars]]'', the Koopa Clown Car replaces the [[Bowser's Shell]] Bowser uses to swap places with [[Toadette]] (who herself replaces [[Toad]] as the one who gives [[Star (Mario Party series)|Stars]] to the players).

Machines similar to the Koopa Clown Car make an appearance in [[Neo Bowser Castle]] as [[Dreampoint]]s. A switch on the vehicles causes them to hover into the air, activating [[Luiginary Antigravity]] in the [[Dream World]]. The actual machine appears in the ending, where Bowser and his minions use it to escape [[Pi'illo Island]], only for it to start losing altitude due to [[Private Goomp]] and [[Sergeant Guy]] shaking it in an attempt to catch the raining coins. In this game, the Clown Car is not bowl-shaped as it has been in previous games, but has a flat surface level with the rim on which the rider stands. The Dreampoint replicas also have this trait.

[[File:MLPJKoopaClownCar.png|thumb|The Koopa Clown Car in ''Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam'']]

Both the normal and the paper versions of the Koopa Clown Car make a reappearance in ''[[Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam]]''. They are used by the Bowsers as they kidnap the two versions of Princess Peach and later to escape from Mario, Luigi, and Paper Mario. The normal Koopa Clown Car is later used in [[Neo Bowser Castle]] where Bowser attacks the bros to prevent them from taking one of the two Fire Ores. Additionally, faceless variants are used by Roy, Iggy, Wendy and Morton during various quests. The paper Koopa Clown Car has had a slight redesign, resembling the normal Koopa Clown Car and both versions of the Junior Clown Car.

In ''[[Mario Kart DS]]'', Bowser's third choice kart is the [[Hurricane (kart)|Hurricane]], a kart that resembles his Clown Car but with a plane motif.

In ''[[Mario Kart 7]]'', an unlockable kart part called the [[Koopa Clown]] is modeled after the Koopa Clown Car. The kart part features a handling boost, but it hinders acceleration and off-road during the process. Actual Koopa Clown Cars appear in the retro battle stage, {{classic-link|N64|Big Donut}}, and in the tracks [[Wuhu Loop]] and [[3DS Neo Bowser City|Neo Bowser City]], blowing wind for drivers flying above with gliders; the ones in <small>N64</small> Big Donut and Neo Bowser City have a green rim and feature Bowser's emblem instead of a face, while the one in Wuhu Loop is featureless and has a teal rim.

[[File:MK8DX Koopa Clown.png|thumb|left|100px|The Koopa Clown in ''Mario Kart 8 Deluxe'']]

In ''[[Mario Kart 8]]'' [[Animal Crossing x Mario Kart 8|DLC]], jack-in-the-boxes shaped like Koopa Clown Cars with [[? Block]]s for the boxes are hazards on the glider portion of {{classic-link|GBA|Ribbon Road}}. The Koopa Clown Car on {{classic|3DS|Neo Bowser City}} returns, but has been slightly redesigned.

In ''[[Mario Kart 8 Deluxe]]'', the Koopa Clown returns from ''Mario Kart 7'' as an additional kart body. The Koopa Clown Car appearances from the ''Mario Kart 8'' DLC are also present.

In ''[[Mario Kart Tour]]'', air-blowing Koopa Clown Cars from ''Mario Kart 7'' appear in 3DS Neo Bowser City and [[GBA Bowser's Castle 2|GBA Bowser's Castle 2T]]. Regular Koopa Clown Cars are found in [[Tour Paris Promenade|Paris Promenade 3]]'s [[Ring Race]] and [[Los Angeles Laps|Los Angeles Laps 3]]'s [[Break Item Boxes]] bonus challenges, producing [[Ring (Mario Kart series)|rings]] or [[Item Box]]es for the characters to drive through. The Koopa Clown returns in this game alongside a new darker variant known as the [[Dark Clown]] and a Christmas-themed variant known as the [[Candy Clown]].

 

 

In ''[[The Super Mario Bros. Movie]]'', miniature versions of the Koopa Clown Car can seen piloted by [[Koopa Troopa]]s, some with cannons in their mouths. In an ad for the film, one Koopa Clown Car can be seen carrying a [[Bob-omb]] with arms similar to the [[Junior Clown Car]]'s boxer form but with metallic claws instead of boxing gloves.<ref>{{cite|author=Universal Pictures|date=March 10, 2023|url=www.facebook.com/watch/?v=6177867658901146|title=Super Mario Bros. Il Film {{!}} Fan screening|publisher=Facebook|accessdate=March 24, 2023}}</ref>

In ''[[Skylanders: SuperChargers]]'' and ''[[Skylanders: SuperChargers|Skylanders: SuperChargers Racing]]'', [[Bowser|Hammer Slam Bowser]]'s signature vehicle is the '''Clown Cruiser'''. Essentially, it is a mix between a Koopa Clown Car and a plane (much like ''[[Mario Kart DS]]''{{'}}s [[Hurricane (kart)|Hurricane]]). Like its owner, it also possesses a dark variant, known as the '''Dark Clown Cruiser'''.

==Profiles and statistics==

===''Super Smash Bros. Melee''===

{{SSBM trophy

|name=Koopa Clown Car

|image=[[File:Trophy210.png|100px]]

|game=''Super Mario World''<br>8/91

|unlock=Randomly obtainable from the [[smashwiki:Lottery|Lottery]] after obtaining 250 [[Trophy (Super Smash Bros. series)|trophies]]

|desc=Bowser's single-seat, personal airship doesn't exactly handle like a dream, but it wasn't designed to be sporty. The Koopa Clown Car was made to carry Bowser's huge weight, not to mention a logic-defying arsenal of massive bowling balls. In Super Mario World, Mario busted the Koopa Clown Car by pelting it with [[Mechakoopa|Mecha Koopa]]s.

}}

*'''[[Play Nintendo]]:<br>''Hitch a ride in a Koopa Clown Car'''<br>Swipe a Koopa Clown Car for the ultimate mode of travel. Plus, they don’t evaporate like clouds, so you can zoom all the way to the finish if you’re lucky.''<ref>[https://play.nintendo.com/news-tips/tips-tricks/super-mario-maker-platforming-tips/ Super Mario Maker Platforming Tips]. ''Play Nintendo''. Retrieved July 5, 2020.</ref>

SMWMAYAL Mechakoopa Army.png|''[[Super Mario World: Mario to Yoshi no Bōken Land]]''

PDSMBE-BowserandHisMinions-TeamImage.png|''[[Puzzle & Dragons: Super Mario Bros. Edition]]''

ClownCarMarioRun.png|''[[Super Mario Run]]''

|ChiS=酷霸王小丑车

|Dut=Koopa Clown-capsule<ref>{{cite|author=Nintendo Nederland|date=December 17, 2015|url=youtu.be/aQYvjze2Cqs?t=85|timestamp=01:25|title=Super Mario Maker - Nieuwe functies! (Wii U)|publisher=YouTube|accessdate=May 19, 2019}}</ref>

|Fre2=Koopa Coptère

|Fre2N=''Super Mario Adventures''

|FreM=From Koopa and ''automobile''

|Fre2M=Koopa Copter

|Ita3M=[[Junior Clown Car|Junior Clown]]

|SpaA=Cápsula Koopayaso, or simply Koopayaso

|SpaAM=From ''Koopa'', ''payaso'' ("clown") and ''cápsula'' ("capsule")

|SpaE=Helikoopa<ref>{{cite|url=youtu.be/sdOeqejdhsk?t=3843|timestamp=1:04:03|title= Parte 20 ¡¡El Castillo de los HORRORES!! 🌹 Paper Mario: The Origami King 🌹 Guía en Español|author=FatalRagnarok|publisher=YouTube|accessdate=May 18, 2024|date=July 25, 2020}}</ref>

|SpaEM=From ''hélice'' ("propeller") or ''helicóptero'' ("helicopter"), and "Koopa"

|Hun=Repülő bohócfej <small> (''Super Mario World'' animated series) </small>

|HunM=Flying clown head

*In ''Super Mario Maker'', there are unused sprites for a Big Steely and a tear. These were likely intended for a further replication of Bowser's behavior in ''[[Super Mario World]]'', while in the final game, he simply chases the player and throws [[Bob-omb]]s.

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