Shelby SuperCar Ultimate Aero Sets New Speed Record

Frank Williams
by Frank Williams

You slowpokes in your Koenigsegg CCR's and Bugatti Veyrons, pull over! There's a new king of the hill. According to BusinessWeek, the Shelby SuperCar Ultimate Aero claimed the title of the world's fastest production car on September 13 last year. The [non-Saab or English candy bar] Aero averaged 256.18 mph during a Guinness-certified run. And if that ain't scary enough for your heated, air conditioned and climate-controlled garage, the wind tunnel tests at NASA show that the $600k 1,183-hp rear-wheel-drive car (with no traction control and 1,094 ft-lbs of torque) vehicle would be stable up to 273 mph.Virginia-based Shelby (no relation or association with 'Ole Shel) says it's building "just" 50 of these not-so-daily drivers. They built and delivered five Aeros in 2007; they have eight orders for 2008. What's next on the company's agenda? A four-door luxury sedan that'll do 220 mph, of course.

Frank Williams
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  • 1981.911.SC 1981.911.SC on Jan 23, 2008

    So, what is the basis for their engine and transmission? Small Block Chevy? Great Big Ford?

  • Virtual Insanity Virtual Insanity on Jan 23, 2008

    All I can garner from the site is that its a 387cuin V8, twin turbo'd.

  • Dean Dean on Jan 23, 2008

    I think the Veyron is beautiful, and it definitely looks like nothing else on the road. This car looks good, too, but without being told what it was I would have trouble identifying it from several other supercars. (It's been a couple decades since I slobbered over the exotics in the buff books and could identify all of them immediately.)

  • Jazbo123 Jazbo123 on Jan 23, 2008

    Hmm. Over 1000 ft.lb of torque? You sure could do some serious smoky burnouts in that thing. At about 100 MPH.

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