List of fastest production cars

"Fast cars" redirects here. For the U2 song, see Fast Cars (song).

This is a progressive history of the world's fastest street-legal production car over the years (as opposed to concept cars or modified cars).

Comparing claimed speeds of the "fastest car(s) in the world", especially in historical cases, is difficult due to there being no standardized method for determining the top speed, nor a central authority to verify any such claims. The current title holder, the Bugatti Veyron Super Sport, was certified as such by Guinness World Records for the average top speed achieved on a two-way run, registering 431 km/h (268 mph).

Contents

Fastest production cars

Year Make and model Top Speed Comment
1949 Jaguar XK120 124.6 mph (200.5 km/h)[1] An adapted version reached 136 mph (219 km/h) by Jaguar tester Ron "Soapy" Sutton.[2][3] 12000 were produced from 1948 till 1954.
1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL 140 mph (225 km/h)[4] Claimed top speed 161 mph (259 km/h). In 2005 modified car reached 150 mph (240 km/h).[5] 1400 were produced from 1954 till 1957.
1961 Jaguar E-type S1 3.8 152 mph (245 km/h)[6] As tested by Autocar[7]. Different versions of Jaguar E-Type were produced from 1961 till 1975, reaching total number of over 72000 units.
1963 Iso Rivolta Grifo A3/L 327 161 mph (259 km/h)[8][9] Tested by Autocar[10][11]. Over 400 units produced from 1963 to 1974.
1966 Lamborghini Miura P400 171 mph (275 km/h)[12] Tested by Motor. Over 750 units build in 1966-1973 period, which includes P400, P400 S and P400 SV models.
1968 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona 174 mph (280 km/h)[13] Tested by Autocar[14].About 1400 units made in 1969-1973 production run.
1984 Ferrari 288 GTO 188 mph (303 km/h)[15] 272 produced from 1984 till 1986.
1986 Porsche 959 197 mph (317 km/h)[16] The 197 mph (317 km/h) top speed was recorded by the 959 Sport of which 6 were ever made. The rest of the 337 units production run (1986-1989) were 959 Touring version that topped at 195 mph (314 km/h).
1987 Ferrari F40 202.687 mph (326.193 km/h)[17] As tested by Quattroruote magazine. Claimed top speed 201 mph (323 km/h). 1311 produced in 1987-1992.
1990 Lamborghini Diablo 202 mph (325 km/h)[18] Tested by Road & Track.[19] Overall production of all types reached 2884 in the 1990-2001 period.
1992 Jaguar XJ220 213 mph (343 km/h)[20] A speed of 217.1 mph (349.4 km/h) was recorded by Jaguar in 1992 by Martin Brundle at Nardo (oval) test track.[21] 281 were made in 1992-1994.
1993 McLaren F1 231 mph (372 km/h) Production run of 107. At factory rev limit, it reached 231 mph (371.8 km/h) at Nardo (oval) test track. In March 31, 1998, with the rev limiter disabled, it reached 240.1 mph (386.4 km/h). It still remains the world's fastest naturally aspirated production car.[22]
February 28, 2005 Koenigsegg CCR 241 mph (388 km/h) Recorded at Nardo (oval) test track and verified by Guinness World Records.[23]
April 19, 2005 Bugatti Veyron 253.81 mph (408.47 km/h) Production run of 300. Recorded and verified by inspection officials.[24]
September 13, 2007 SSC Ultimate Aero TT 256.18 mph (412.28 km/h) Production run of 24, built between 2006 and 2007. Recorded and verified by Guinness World Records officials.[25]
June 26, 2010 Bugatti Veyron Super Sport 267.856 mph (431.072 km/h) 30 to be built, of which 5 will be capable of this top speed. Top speed of customer cars will be electronically limited to 415 km/h (258 mph). Recorded and verified by Guinness World Records officials.[26][27][28]

See also

References

  1. ^ "The Jaguar 2-seater Type XK120 Road Test". The Motor. 1949. 
  2. ^ Gerard, Jasper (2010-05-06). "Classic Jaguar XK120". The Daily Telegraph (London). http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/classiccars/7711044/Classic-Jaguar-XK120.html. Retrieved 2011-04-28. 
  3. ^ The Observer's Book of Automobiles, Fifteenth Edition, 1969, page 137
  4. ^ "Mercedes 300SL Test". Road & Track April. 1955. 
  5. ^ "A Gullwing at Twilight: The Bonneville Ride of John Fitch". http://szwedo.com/gullwing.html. Retrieved 2011-05-24. 
  6. ^ "Jaguar E-type". http://www.autozine.org/Archive/Jaguar/classic/E.html. Retrieved 2011-08-28. 
  7. ^ "Jaguar E-type coupe review". http://www.autocar.co.uk/CarReviews/RoadTestsData/Jaguar-E-type-3.8/200099/. Retrieved 2011-05-26. 
  8. ^ "Iso Grifo". http://www.girlracer.co.uk/motorsport/michael-gulett/10868-iso-grifo-.html. Retrieved 2011-09-25. 
  9. ^ "Iso Rivolta Grifo". http://www.autozine.org/Archive/Iso_Rivolta/classic/Grifo.html. Retrieved 2011-08-28. 
  10. ^ "Sports & G.T. Cars". Autocar April. 1966. 
  11. ^ "Iso Grifo". http://www.autocar.co.uk/CarReviews/RoadTestsHistory/Lamborghini-Muira-P400-S/202085/. Retrieved 2011-05-29. 
  12. ^ "Lamborghini Miura". http://www.autozine.org/Archive/Lamborghini/classic/Miura.html. Retrieved 2011-05-24. 
  13. ^ "Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona". http://www.autozine.org/Archive/Ferrari/classic/Daytona.html. Retrieved 2011-08-28. 
  14. ^ "Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona review - on the road". http://www.autocar.co.uk/CarReviews/RoadTestsOnTheRoad/Ferrari-365-GTB/4-Daytona/202084/. Retrieved 2011-05-24. 
  15. ^ "Ferrari 288GTO". http://autozine.org/Archive/Ferrari/classic/288GTO.html. Retrieved 2011-02-25. 
  16. ^ "The True Story of Porsche 959". http://autozine.org/959/959_7.htm. Retrieved 2011-02-25. 
  17. ^ "Ferrari "F40" Febbre a quaranta". Quattroruote September: 72–85. 1989. 
  18. ^ "Lamborghini Diablo". http://www.autozine.org/classic/lambo_diablo.htm. Retrieved 2011-05-24. 
  19. ^ "Admiring the new Lamborghini Diablo". Road & Track March: 42–49. 1990. 
  20. ^ "Jaguar XJ 220 2dr". Autocar. http://www.autocar.co.uk/CarReviews/RoadTestsData/Jaguar-XJ-Series-220/204157/. Retrieved 2010-10-26. 
  21. ^ Harry Metcalf (2009-01-12). "Jaguar XFR: 225mph". Evo. http://www.evo.co.uk/news/evonews/233470/jaguar_xfr_225mph.html. Retrieved 2011-01-20. 
  22. ^ "McLaren F1". http://autozine.org/Archive/McLaren/classic/F1.html. Retrieved 2011-02-25. 
  23. ^ "Koenigsegg CCR". http://www.supercarstats.com/cars/koenigsegg/ccr/1/article/. Retrieved 2011-02-25. 
  24. ^ "Bugatti Veyron". http://www.bugatti.com/en/veyron-16.4/technology/speed.html. Retrieved 2011-02-25. 
  25. ^ "Official: SSC Ultimate Aero World Record Validated by Guinness World Records officials". Shelby SuperCars. 2007-10-09. http://www.shelbysupercars.com/news-100907.php. Retrieved 2010-10-06. 
  26. ^ Von Timo Friedmann. "Bugatti Supersport: Der 1200-PS-Boooahgatti auf Rekordfahrt - Auto". Bild.de. http://www.bild.de/BILD/auto/bams/2010/07/bugatti-supersport/schnellstes-serien-auto-der-welt.html. Retrieved 2010-07-04.  (German)
  27. ^ "Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Super Sport sets land speed record at 267.81 mph!". autoblog.com. http://www.autoblog.com/2010/07/04/bugatti-veyron-16-4-super-sport-sets-land-speed-record-at-267-81. Retrieved 2010-07-04. 
  28. ^ "Veyron Super Sport hits 267mph". topgear.com. http://www.topgear.com/uk/car-news/veyron-ss-record-2010-07-06. Retrieved 2010-07-06. 

Further reading

External links

Extremes of motion
Speed
Distance
See also