This is a history of the world's fastest mass produced, street-legal cars (as opposed to concept cars or modified cars).

The first automobile ever produced was the Benz Patent Motorwagen, built in 1886 by Karl Benz. Unique and consequently the fastest, it established a record speed of 16 km/h (10 mph). More than a century later, in September 2007, the SSC Ultimate Aero TT registered the latest record, for a production car, of 412 km/h (256.18 mph).

It is of note that the base model of many of the vehicles listed is vastly lower in maximum speed than limited edition or very rare production models, which may or may not in themselves not fall into the category of 'production car'.

See also

• List of fastest cars by acceleration
• History of the automobile
• Land speed record

Further reading

• Wood, Jonathan (2005), The Ultimate History of Fast Cars Parragon Publishing, ISBN 1-4054-5467-9
• Brown, Langworth, and Auto Editors of Consumer Guide (1998). Great Cars of The 20th Century, Publications International, ISBN 0-7853-2523-9