The History of the Coveted World Record
Such is the nature of man that each generation yields bigger, stronger, and faster men and machine. Automobiles have proved to be no exception.
The 1886 Benz Patent Motorwagen posted a record speed of 11.81 mph to become the first World's Fastest Production Car, sparking a furious race of technology and nerve to reach ever-higher speeds. Just 25 more vehicles in the history of the automobile have held this coveted title, each representing the pinnacle of the period's ability to design, engineer, and produce a high performance automobile. Each such vehicle is the master of the automotive domain – the supercar of supercars – feared, revered, and respected on road and on track wherever found. The record is a source of national pride and achievement for the country that the company calls home.
To push the threshold of attainable speed requires command of every aspect of contemporary performance: aerodynamics, traction, and - typically most endeared - power. In pursuit of this engineering perfection, automotive masterminds make innovations that trickle down to create more efficient, stable, and powerful automobiles for general consumption. It is for this reason that each and every record-holding car is an important piece of automotive history, providing a glimpse into the future of automotive technology.
. On September 13, 2007, Ultimate Aero Chassis #TT-02 recorded an official average top speed of 256.18 mph by way of an 1183 hp power plant. Ferocious and unmatched, the Ultimate Aero demolished the Koenigsegg CCR’s previous official record by 11.83 mph and the Bugatti Veyron’s unofficial record by 3.63 mph, as certified by Guinness World Records. It is the first American car to hold the record since the Ford GT40 shocked the world in 1967.
Preserved and maintained in SSC's facility in Richland, WA, Ultimate Aero Chassis #TT-02 is a rare and irreplaceable automotive milestone. Certified the actual car used to capture the world record, it is quite literally the World's Fastest Production Car. As one of just 26 cars in the history of the automobile to hold this coveted title, it is sure to remain valuable and sought-after by future generations.
Official World Record Press Releases
SSC Ultimate Aero Breaks Production Car World Speed Record
Guinness™ Verifies SSC's World Record
Previous World Record Holders
- Benz Patent Motorwagen (19 KMH, 11.81 MPH)
- Daimler Motorized Carriage (23 KMH, 14.29 MPH)
- Mercedes 35 HP (85 KMH, 53 MPH)
- Mercedes 60 HP (96 KMH, 60 MPH)
- Bentley 3 Litre Super Sports (160 KMH, 100 MPH)
- Bentley 4.5 Litre (160 KMH, 100 MPH)
- Duesenberg Murphy Roadster (210 KMH, 130.5 MPH)
- Bentley 4.5 Litre Supercharged (222.02 KMH, 137.96 MPH)
- Duesenberg SJ 217 (217 KMH, 135 MPH)
- Pegaso Z-102 Supercharged (244.62 KMH, 152 MPH)
- Mercedes-Benz 300SL (250 KMH, 155 MPH)
- Ferrari 410 Superamerica (261 KMH, 162.2 MPH)
- Ferrari 250 GTO (279.06 KMH, 173.4 MPH)
- Ferrari Daytona GTB/4 (281 KMH, 175 MPH)
- Monteverdi Hai 450 (283 KMH, 176 MPH)
- Lamborghini Miura P400 SV (288.07 KMH, 179 MPH)
- Ferrari 288 GTO (304 KMH, 189 MPH)
- Porsche 959 (320.3 KMH, 199 MPH)
- Ferrari F40 (324 KMH, 201 MPH)
- Lamborghini Diablo (325 KMH, [VT])
- Bugatti EB110 SS (346 KMH, 214 MPH)
- Jaguar XJ220 (349.2 KMH, 217 MPH)
- McLaren F1 (386.4 KMH, 240 MPH)
- Koenigsegg CCR (387.37 KMH, 240.1 MPH)
- Bugatti Veyron (408.47 KMH, 253 MPH)
