By now, the whole world knows that Americans are obsessed with speed. This has manifested itself over the years via the creation of NASCAR, drag strip quarter-mile times, and the annual salt lake speed records chasing.
Updated September 2021: If you're into American cars, or more specifically; fast American cars, you've come to the right place. We've updated this article with more incredible American machines that are capable of leaving European supercars in their dust.
Of course, this also means many automakers have tried to capitalize on this phenomenon, creating speed freaks who have left the world in awe, breaking world records and thereby leaving a huge mark in the automotive world. The following are the most commemorative American supercars to ever drive on our streets.
12 2019 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 - 212 Mph
These days, the Chevy Corvette is mid-engined, just like the best supercars from Italy. However, the previous C7-generation is still faster, at least in ZR1 guise.
The 2019 Corvette ZR1 has a front-mounted, supercharged 6.2-liter V8 under its hood. This beast of an engine produces a whopping 755 horsepower, that's enough power to accelerate from a standstill to 60 mph in a mere 2.85 seconds. In six seconds flat, the needle hits 100 mph, and it goes on to reach an official top speed of 212 mph, which puts it among the world's fastest rear-wheel-drive cars. However, the ZR1 actually managed a top speed of 214 mph at the Johnny Bohmer Proving Grounds, a high-speed testing facility in Merritt Island, Florida.
11 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon - 211 Mph
The Dodge Challenger SRT Demon might be developed to dominate drag strips, but given a long enough piece of tarmac, and the modern-day muscle car can achieve a pretty impressive top speed as well.
From the factory, the Dodge Challenger SRT has been capped at 168 mph, but once the contents from the optional Demon Crate has been installed, the limiter will be a thing of the past. When using the red key fob and filling up the tank with 100-octane fuel, 840 horsepower will be unleashed. All that power translates into some serious performance figures, such as 2.3 seconds from 0 to 60 mph and a top speed of 211 mph.
10 Ford GT - 217 Mph
Over the years, there have been automotive rivalries between major companies, creating the sickest rides on the market today. The original Ford GT20 was the result of such rivalry. Built to settle a score against Ferrari, the Ford GT40 awed the world by taking first, second, and third positions in the 24hrs of Le Mans, defeating all Ferrari cars.
In 2016, Ford decided to commemorate its achievement by competing for the 24hrs of Le Mans with a new car. This led to the sale of a street version powered by a twin-turbo 3.5L V6 churning out 647hp that could sprint to 60 in 2.7 seconds. This car is no slouch and could reach a top speed of 217mph.
9 Drako GTE - 206 Mph
The electric car revolution has brought about many startups, including the California-based Drako motors. Founded in 2013, they have been able to debut a limited-run sports sedan called the GTE. Based on the Fisker Karma platform, the GTE is the fastest sports sedan ever produced.
It’s powered by a quad motor setup churning out 1200hp and 6491 lb-ft of torque. It’s able to rocket itself to 60 in under 3 seconds and could reach a top speed of 206mph. Only 25 units of the GTE were built, each carrying a sticker price of over $1.2 million dollars.
8 Hennessy Venom F5 - 300+ Mph
Hennessey Performance doesn’t need an introduction. The Texas-based tuner has always chased speed records with their hypercars. They have taken several world records and don't show any sign of backing down.
Debuting their Venom F5 in 2020, Hennessy took the battle to another level. Powered by a 7.6L V8 nicknamed the ‘Fury’, it churns out 1,817 hp and 1,193 lb-ft of torque. It’s able to rocket itself to 60 in 2.6 seconds and will reach a top speed of over 300mph.
7 SSC Tuatara - 300+ Mph
During these hard times of the Coronavirus, SSC lightened up the mood by breaking the 300 mph mark easily. Though surrounded by the controversy of the run, there is no getting around the fact that the SSC Tuatara is a fast car.
Powered by a 5.9L twin-turbo V8, it churns out 1,750 hp and 1,280 lb-ft of torque. It could rocket itself to 60 in 2.5 seconds and reached a top speed of well over 300 mph. Moreover, it’s one of the best-looking cars that America has ever produced.
6 Dodge Viper ACR Extreme - 208 Mph
Dodge has always created some of the meanest sports cars in America, with the Viper being the coolest of their lineup. The Viper is one of the most iconic American sports cars of the 21st century, coupling good looks and performance in one package.
It was powered by an 8.4-liter V10 churning out 650 hp and 600 lb-ft of torque, enough to rocket the car from 0 to 60 mph in 3.3 seconds and reach a top speed of 208 mph. Even though it was discontinued, it left a huge mark in the hearts of the enthusiasts.
5 Saleen S7 - 240 Mph
Straight from tuning Mustangs, Steven Saleen turned his business into a hypercar factory. He debuted the S7 in 2003, refining it over the years. The S7 LM that debuted in 2017 is the most powerful and outrageous S7 ever built.
It is powered by a 7-liter twin-turbo V8 producing 1,000 hp and 850 lb-ft of torque. It could blaze itself to 60 in 2.7 seconds and reach a top speed of 240 mph. Moreover, Saleen is still refining this mill, with the latest LM churning out 1,500 hp, which translates into a very impressive 0 to 60 time of 2.2 seconds.
4 Hennessey Venom GT - 270 Mph
The Hennessey Venom GT was the Texan tuner's first attempt at a world record. It was basically a stretched Lotus Exige with a carbon-fiber body, powered by a 7-liter twin-turbo V8 churning out 1,244 hp and 1,155 lb-ft of torque.
It could rocket itself to 60 in 2.4 seconds and reach a top speed of 270 mph, making it the fastest production of that time, beating the Bugatti Veyron and setting the pace for Hennessy’s tuning endeavor.
3 SSC Ultimate Aero TT - 256 Mph
SSC definitely are not newcomers to the hypercar world. They have always caused waves in the automotive world, including the previously mentioned SSC Tuatara. Introduced in 2006, the SSC Ultimate Aero truly set America on the map.
Powered by a 6.2-liter V8 from a corvette, it was tuned to 800 hp which made this North American giant the fastest production car of the time, attaining a top speed of 256 mph.
2 Scuderia Cameron Glickenhaus SCG 004CS
The Glickenhaus brand is synonymous with track-proven toys, setting lap records and establishing its dominance in tracks. The sports cars were so successful that clients demanded a street-able version of these track toys.
The street version was built from pure carbon fiber. It is powered by a supercharged 5-liter V8 churning out 850 hp, meaning it's able to rocket itself to 60 in under 3 seconds. Like its counterpart, it's a proven track weapon, able to set lap records while being street legal.
1 Rossion Q1 - 195 Mph
Like the Glickenhaus, The Rossion Q1 is a road-legal car based on a track car. Sharing a platform and many components with the Noble M12, the Rossion Q1 is a proven street-able track car for the masses. Powered by a 3-liter twin-turbo V6 churning out 500 horsepower and 500 lb-ft of torque, it's able to blaze itself to 60 in 3seconds.
It can achieve a top speed of 195 mph and a relatively low curb weight, so it can rip down the drag strips and around tracks. Unlike the aforementioned cars, it's relatively attainable, with used examples costing less than $100,000.