Production car speed record

A Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Super Sport, the world's fastest road legal production car with a top speed of 415 km/h (258 mph).
Top speed (mph) by year

This is a list of the world's record-breaking top speeds achieved by a street-legal production car (as opposed to concept cars or modified cars). For the purposes of this list eligible cars are defined in the lists rules. This list uses the same definition as the List of automotive superlatives for the sake of consistency and because the term production car is otherwise undefined. The Benz Velo, as the first production car, is an exception.

Difficulties with claims

Comparing claimed speeds of the fastest production cars in the world, especially in historical cases, is difficult as there is no standardized method for determining the top speed and no central authority to verify any such claims. Examples of the difficulties faced were shown up in the dispute between Bugatti and Hennessey over which car was the world's fastest.[1]

Controversies

Hennessey Venom GT

Bugatti Veyron limiter removal

The current Guinness World Records title holder, the Bugatti Veyron Super Sport, was certified for the average top speed achieved on a two-way run, registering 431 km/h (268 mph). Bugatti made 5 Veyrons named the World Record Edition out of the initial production run of 30 Super Sports, all of which would be able to achieve this speed if the limiter was removed. Bugatti did not sell any with the limiter removed. Initially, when challenged by Hennessey, Guinness decided the Bugatti was ineligible because the test car was deemed as being modified. Bugatti sought a review of the decision and Guinness, after a review by a panel of experts, considered removing the limiter was not a modification and thereby making the car eligible for their publication.[2]

Hennessey Venom GT one direction run

In 2014, a Hennessey Venom GT was recorded as exceeding 270.49 mph (435.31 km/h), but as the run was in one direction only, and only 16 cars out of a planned total of 29 have been sold, it does not qualify under the Guinness Book of Records or this list's criteria as the world's fastest production car. Guinness accepted it as production car however.[3][4][5]

List rules

Because of the inconsistencies with the various definitions of production cars, dubious claims by manufacturers and self interest groups, and inconsistent or changing application of the definitions this list has a defined set of requirements. For further explanation of how these were arrived at see the above link.

Post 1945 and over 124 mph (200 km/h) only

This list is also limited to post World War II production road cars which reached more than 124 mph (200 km/h), older cars are excluded even if they were faster. The Benz Velo as the first petrol driven car is the only exception.

Production car definition

For the purposes of this list a production car is defined as:

  1. being constructed principally for retail sale to consumers, for their personal use, and to transport people on public roads (no commercial or industrial vehicles are eligible);
  2. having had 25 or more instances made by the original vehicle manufacturer, and offered for commercial sale to the public in new condition (cars modified by either professional tuners or individuals are not eligible); and
  3. being street-legal in their intended markets, and capable of passing any official tests or inspections required to be granted this status.

Measurement of top speed

To establish the top speed for cars at least since the 1990s the requirement is, in addition to the above, an independent road test with a two-way run. The mean of the top speed for both runs is taken as the car's top speed.[6][7]

Record-breaking production vehicles

Year Make and model Top speed of production car Number built Comment
1894 Benz Velo 12 mph
(20 km/h)[8]		 1,200 First production car
1949 Jaguar XK120 124.6 mph
(201 km/h)[9]		 12,000 Some publications cite the XK120's timed top speed as almost 133 mph / 214 km/h in 1949."[10] The XK120 that achieved this speed was a tuned prototype, not a production car. The production car reached 124.6 mph (201 km/h).
1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL 140 mph
(225 km/h)[11]		 1,400 Tested by Road & Track.
1958 Aston Martin DB4 140.6 mph
(226 km/h)[12]		 1,110 Tested by Autocar magazine in 1961.
1959 Aston Martin DB4 GT 152 mph
(245 km/h)[13]		 75 Tested by Autosport in December 1961.
1963 Iso Grifo GL 365 161 mph
(259 km/h)[14]		 over 400 Tested by Autocar in 1966. A total of 412 Iso Grifos were built 1963–1974.[15]
1965 AC Cobra Mk III 427 165 mph
(266 km/h)[16]		 >25 Tested by Car & Driver. Top speed described as observed
1967 Lamborghini Miura P400 171 mph
(275 km/h)[17]		 over 750 Tested by Motor in June 1967. 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)[18]		 about 1,400 Tested by Autocar in 1971.
1974 Lamborghini Countach LP400 179 mph
(288 km/h)[19]		 158 Tested by Auto, Motor und Sport
1982 Lamborghini Countach LP500 S 182 mph
(293 km/h)[20]		 323 Tested by Auto, Motor und Sport
1984 Ferrari 288 GTO 188 mph
(303 km/h)[21]		 272 Tested by Auto, Motor und Sport in 1985.
1986 Porsche 959 197 mph
(317 km/h)[22]		 337 Tested by Road and Track in 1987. The most common 959 Deluxe version reached 197 mph (317 km/h), the Sport version 198 mph (319 km/h). 29 were built in a performance-enhanced 515 hp sports version which reached 210.645 mph (339 km/h) tested by Auto, Motor und Sport at Nardo in 1988.[23][24]
1987 Ruf CTR 212.509 mph
(342 km/h)[23]		 29[25] Tested by Auto, Motor und Sport at Nardò Ring in 1988
1993 McLaren F1 230 mph
(370 km/h)[26]		 64[27] Without the rev-limiter, it was able to reach a top-speed of 240.1 mph (386.4 km/h).[28]

It still remains the world's fastest naturally aspirated production car in terms of top speed.[29]

2005 Bugatti Veyron 16.4 253.81 mph
(408.47 km/h)		 300 Recorded and verified by German inspection officials.[30]
2010 Bugatti Veyron Super Sport 257.87 mph
(415 km/h)		 30 Out of the initial production run of 30, 5 cars were named the Super Sport World Record Edition. With the electronic limiter turned off all 30 were capable of 267.857 mph (431.074 km/h). When sold they electronically limited to 257.87 mph (415.00 km/h). Pierre-Henri Raphanel drove the unlimited car and its top speed was verified by Guinness World Records.[31][32][2]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Fastest production car world not exactly clear cut, George Kennedy, Boldride, September 3, 2015; retrieved 12 January 2016
  2. 1 2 "Guinness World Records statement: Fastest Production Car". Guinness World Records. 12 April 2013. Retrieved 13 May 2013.
  3. ↑ Nunez, Alex (24 February 2014), "The Hennessey Venom GT is the world's fastest car; Hits 270 mph on tarmac reserved for astronauts", Road & Track
  4. ↑ Hennessey Performance Engineering (24 February 2014), Aerodynamic Test Session Results in New Top Speed for Hennessey Venom GT (press release), HPE Design
  5. ↑ http://i1.wp.com/www.venomgt.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/hennessey-venom-gt-record-34.jpg?w=800
  6. ↑ http://www.roadandtrack.com/go/news/hennessey-venom-hits-270-mph-is-worlds-fastest-car Guinness two-way run requirement
  7. ↑ http://www.fia.com/sports/fia-world-land-speed-records FIA two-way run requirement
  8. ↑ Danielson, C. (12 September 2008). "eMercedesBenz Feature: The World's First Production Car, The Benz Patent Motor Car Velocipede Of 1894". eMercedesBenz.
  9. ↑ Stoy, Andy (15 October 2012). "Worth the Wait". Autoweek. 62 (21): 40–41. ISSN 0192-9674. But the XK120 was a post-war performance revelation, proving itself as the fastest production car in the world at the time.
  10. ↑ Hodges, David; Burgess-Wise, David; Davenport, John; Harding, Anthony (1994). The Guinness Book of Car Facts and Feats (4 ed.). London: Guinness Publishing. p. 52. ISBN 0-85112-768-1.
  11. ↑ "Mercedes 300SL Test". Road & Track. April. 1955.
  12. ↑ "Autocar road tests 1842 Aston Martin DB4". Autocar. 13 October. 1961.
  13. ↑ "John Bolster Tests the Aston Martin DB4 G.T.". Autosport. December: 778. 1961.
  14. ↑ "Autocar Road Test Number 2077". Autocar. 29 April. 1966.
  15. ↑ Oleski, Frank; Lehbrink, Hartmut. 100 Jahre Sportwagen.
  16. ↑ http://media.caranddriver.com/files/shelby-cobra-427shelby-cobra-427-roadster-road-test-nov-65.pdf Car and Driver magazine August 1965
  17. ↑ "Sackey,Joe. The Lamborghini Miura Bible" (PDF).
  18. ↑ Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona review – on the road at the Wayback Machine (archived 6 May 2007)
  19. ↑ Auto, Motor und Sport 9/1978
  20. ↑ Auto, Motor und Sport 15/1983
  21. ↑ Auto, Motor und Sport 7/1985
  22. ↑ Road and Track July 1987 Egan, Peter (2016-05-29). "In 1987, The World's Fastest Cars Couldn't Catch A 211-mph Twin-Turbo Ruf". Road & Track. US.
  23. 1 2 Auto, Motor und Sport 25/1988
  24. ↑ Bernd Woytal (18 October 2015). "Ferrari F40 gegen Porsche 959: Nonplusultra-Supersportler der 80er – Auto Motor und Sport". auto motor und sport.
  25. ↑ 1987 Ruf CTR "Yellowbird" 911 Turbo Driven, Car and Driver, November 2012, Jethro Bovington
  26. ↑ Auto, Motor und Sport 12/1994
  27. ↑ "McLaren F1 Owners Club Tour 2014 – Photo Gallery". Sports Car Digest. 21 July 2014.
  28. ↑ "McLaren F1". Retrieved 17 January 2016.
  29. ↑ "McLaren F1". Retrieved 17 January 2016.
  30. ↑ "Bugatti Veyron". Retrieved 25 February 2011.
  31. ↑ "Fastest Production Car". Guinness World Records. Retrieved 7 March 2012.
  32. ↑ "Veyron Super Sport hits 267 mph". topgear.com. Retrieved 6 July 2010.

Further reading

Notes for editors

Cars excluded from the list together with basic reason

Make and model Year Claimed top speed Number built Reason
Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 Super Sport 1946–1951 106 mph
(171 km/h)		 Unknown No road test
Allard J1 and K1 1946–1948 92 mph
(148 km/h) to 93 mph
(150 km/h) with one source claiming over 100 mph
(161 km/h)		 151 K1's No road test
Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato 1960 153.5 mph
(247 km/h)		 19 excluded because of number built
Barabus TKR 2006 270.0 mph
(435 km/h)		 unknown crashed on record attempt – no record set
Bugatti Veyron 16.4 World Record Edition 2010 267.557 mph
(431 km/h)		 5 excluded because of number built – see discussion on this articles talk page. Out of the initial production run of 30 there were 5, named the Super Sport World Record Edition, which had the electronic limiter turned off, and were capable of 267.857 mph (431.074 km/h), although Guinness World Records later re-verified the official land speed record.
Dauer 962 Le Mans 1994 251.4 mph
(404.6 km/h)		 About 13 not enough built
Delahaye 135 1946–1954 100 mph
(161 km/h)		 unknown no road test, numbers unknown, coachbuilt
Ferrari 340, 342, and 375 America, and 400 and 410 Superamerica 1950–1959 159.69 mph
(257 km/h)		 varies depending on model – almost all custom made less than 20 made for any model and many were racing cars
Ferrari 250 GTO 1962–1964 158 mph
(254 km/h)		 >20 no independent road test and each car tends to be customised
Ferrari 500 Superfast 1964–1966 171 mph
(275 km/h)		 23 Mk 1's, 12 Mk 2's, 1 custom made excluded because of no independent road test[1]
Hennessey Venom GT 2010 265.7 mph
(428 km/h)(2013) 270.49 mph
(435 km/h)(2014)		 16 excluded because of number built and single direction top speed test run
Hennessey Venom F5 2016 290 mph
(467 km/h) proposed		 30 to be built unconfirmed numbers and no road test
Koenigsegg Agera (models R and One:1) 2011–2014 273 mph
(439 km/h) to 280 mph
(451 km/h) depending on model		 less than 20 for any model excluded because of numbers built and/or unverified top speed
Koenigsegg CCR 2004 242 mph
(389 km/h)		 17 excluded because of numbers built
Lamborghini Countach 5000QV 1985 185 mph
(298 km/h)		 speed record already higher
Lamborghini Muira P400S 1969 172 mph
(277 km/h)		 338 this model was introduced after the Ferrari Daytona
Maserati 5000 GT 1959–1965 172.4 mph
(277 km/h) claimed – more an estimate than a true measure		 34 but with different bodies no independent test
Monteverdi Hai 450 1970 180 mph
(290 km/h) claimed		 only 2 proto-types built, the SS and GTS no production version
Pegaso Z-102 BS 2.8 Supercharged 1953 151 mph
(243 km/h)		 <20 less than 20 built
Shelby SuperCars SSC (all models including TT, Ultimate Aero, and Tuatara's) 2004–2014 236 mph
(380 km/h)to 276 mph
(444 km/h) depending on model		 less than 20 for each model excluded because of numbers built
Studebaker Avanti R2 1962–1963 158 mph
(254 km/h)		 unknown for version tested data on speed tests and configuration of the car tested unknown at this stage
Studebaker Avanti R3 1962–1963 171.1 mph
(275 km/h)		 6[2] insufficient made
Talbot Lago T26 Record and Grand Sport 1946–1954 105 mph
(169 km/h) (Record) and 124 mph
(200 km/h) (Grand Sport)		 less than 20 for either model excluded because of numbers built and lack of independent road test
Vector W8 1990–1993 242 mph
(389 km/h) for prototype		 17 production models excluded because of number built and no verified top speed for production model

Many of these cars have been debated on this articles talk pages. Should more detailed reasoning be required refer to the relevant discussion or raise the issue on the talk page.


  1. ↑ "Know Your Ferraris: 1958–1964". Drive Cult.
  2. ↑ "1964 Studebaker Avanti R2 (Paxton Supercharger) – Conceptcarz". conceptcarz.com.
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