Fastest Road Car of the Last 5 Decades

[LotusOmega375D]

Any suggestions for the fastest road car of the 1960's through to present day? It has to be a production road car of at least 5 units, so no road-registered race cars please. I am only interested in independently tested top speed, not acceleration.

Here's my quick list, but I am happy to be corrected:

1960's: Ferrari Daytona 174mph
1970's: Lamborghini Countach LP400 190mph (not sure if this was ever verified)
1980's: Ferrari F40 202mph
1990's: McLaren F1 243mph
2000's: Ultimate Aero TT 256mph
2010's: Bugatti Veyron Super Sport 268mph

[StottyZr]

Was the 1966 Shelby Cobra ever verified at above 174?

[Liquid Knight]

The Cobra Le Mans is why we have a motorway speed limit because one was clocked at sill speed.

[Gad-Westy]

Liquid Knight said:

The Cobra Le Mans is why we have a motorway speed limit because one was clocked at sill speed.

I think this is something of an urban myth. Many manufacturers were using the M1 as a test facility and it was causing a fair bit of controversy. I don't think the Cobra can be singled out.

[DJRC]

Liquid Knight said:

The Cobra Le Mans is why we have a motorway speed limit because one was clocked at sill speed.

You mean the Daytona coupe and no it wasn't.

Im not sure what a genuine road going original Cobra Daytona was ever tested at.

[LongLiveTazio]

RUF's CTR hit 211mph in the '80s and I'm sure they made more than 5, all to proper production car spec rather than some whizzbang tuners' special.

Doubt the LP400 got anywhere near 190.

[joncon]

Liquid Knight said:

The Cobra Le Mans is why we have a motorway speed limit because one was clocked at sill speed.

i read recently in classic and sportscar mag that they worked out the speed from the engine rev's in top gear , they maxed it on he M1.

[Paul v8]

lotus carlton was 180

[DaveH23]

Didn't the 335d remapped beet the veyron SS?

[LuS1fer]

The Countach was eventually tested by Autocar and topped out at 164 IIRC.
Tiff Needell hit 205 in the Aventador on 5th Gear last week.

[LongLiveTazio]

Ferrari's efforts hit close to 190 in the '70s I think.

[chevronb37]

DJRC said:

Liquid Knight said:

The Cobra Le Mans is why we have a motorway speed limit because one was clocked at sill speed.

You mean the Daytona coupe and no it wasn't.

Im not sure what a genuine road going original Cobra Daytona was ever tested at.

I'm going to disagree here. The AC Le Mans Coupe (known as A98) is quite distinct from a Daytona Cobra. They both raced at Le Mans in 1964 against one another. In fact, I scribed an article about it here: http://www.racetechmag.com/blog/details.php?id=85

AC -



Shelby Daytona -

[MollyHouse]

Sledgehammer Corvette 257mph ish

[MollyHouse]

Vektor W8 was 242 something or other mph

[bean455]

Calloway Corvette was quick too..................

[MollyHouse]

Saleen S7 248.

That'll be enough american cars, the haters will be along any moment.

[AlexS]

DJRC said:

Liquid Knight said:

The Cobra Le Mans is why we have a motorway speed limit because one was clocked at sill speed.

You mean the Daytona coupe and no it wasn't.

Im not sure what a genuine road going original Cobra Daytona was ever tested at.

The Cobra Le Mans coupe and the Daytona Coupe are totally separate cars. The Le Mans coupe was restored a few years back and resides in Scotland.

[MollyHouse]

bean455 said:

Calloway Corvette was quick too..................

Yup, Sledgehammer was a Callaway creation.

[Welshbeef]

LotusOmega375D said:

Any suggestions for the fastest road car of the 1960's through to present day? It has to be a production road car of at least 5 units, so no road-registered race cars please. I am only interested in independently tested top speed, not acceleration.

Here's my quick list, but I am happy to be corrected:

1960's: Ferrari Daytona 174mph
1970's: Lamborghini Countach LP400 190mph (not sure if this was ever verified)
1980's: Ferrari F40 202mph
1990's: McLaren F1 243mph
2000's: Ultimate Aero TT 256mph
2010's: Bugatti Veyron Super Sport 268mph

Bugatti EB110 SS did 216mph back in the early 90's which the EB110 did 213mph
XJ220 reached 217mph

Brabus E class 7.3 v12 207mph 4 door!!

[MollyHouse]

Hennessey venom Gt hit 200mph in 20secs while the Veyron takes closer to 25secs. It went on to 260 or so.