Humans have a inherent, inescapable need for speed. This graphic shows our exploration of that need in the form of the fastest production cars for each year.
Over the course of the past 70 years the fastest production car has continued to get faster and faster. It’s a testament to human engineering and innovation. One would have thought that we would have hit some sort of speed ceiling, but even in recent years the fastest production cars top speed has continued to skyrocket.
Fastest Production Car in 1949
The Jaguar XK120 was the fastest production car in 1949 with a top speed of just 124.6 miles per hour. 12,000 were produced which is an extraordinarily high number for the fastest production car of the year.
The First Production Car to Top 200 MPH
In 1987 a car was finally produced that could top 200 miles per hour. The Ruf CTR clock in at 213 miles per hour with its twin-turbocharged engine.
The Fastest Production Car Ever?
Things have gotten crazy in recent years, when the SSC Tuatara topped out at an insane 316 miles per hour. While “production” might be in parenthesis since only 100 of these were built, it is still considered the fastest production car.
Other Notable Cars
- Lamborghini Miura P400 (1967) – This car marked the beginning of Lamborghini’s monopoly on speed. They would dominate the fastest production car list for the better part of the next 2 decades.
- Ferrari 365 GTB (1968) – Ferrari is one of the most respected an beloved car makers of all time, and this 1968 classic is one of the only cars on this list that was produced in relatively high volumes.
- Bugatti Veyron EB 16.4 (2005) – Bugatti burst onto the scene with this car that could go over 250 miles per hour. Bugatti has been a consistent producer of the worlds fastest cars ever since.
