Once, the idea of a sports car without a stick shift seemed sacrilegious. And, before the rise of supercars, the manual transmission was the norm in every vehicle that hoped to call itself a driver's car.
The advances in technology meant many sports cars became so automated that the driver barely has to do anything besides concentrate on the road. That may be beneficial for some drivers, but there are plenty of drivers who want to know what their car is doing and be involved in the process of revving the engine and shifting into desired gears. Thankfully, there are still some insanely fast cars out there that offer traditional manual transmissions.
While manual cars tend to be slower than automatics, some can boast incredible speeds and great acceleration times. In fact, many manual cars put automatic versions to shame in terms of how fast they can get to 60 mph. Here are how ten of the quickest manual transmission sports cars ever made rank to prove old-school is still the best school.
11 2012 BAC Mono: 2.7 Seconds
The idea of an F1-style car being road legal is impressive, and few live up to it like the 2012 BAC Mono. This Briggs may only seat one, but it's an amazing ride. The 2.3L Cosworth Duratec I4 engine is good for 285 horsepower and a top speed of 170 mph.
What helps is the stripped-down style, which aids the acceleration, making it feel much faster than it truly is. The six-speed transmission is easy to use, and a few boosts make the Mono the closet you can get to F1 racing without joining the organization.
10 2017 Rezvani Beast: 2.7 Seconds
Talk about living up to its name. The 2017 Rezvani Beast roars on the road with its 2.4-liter supercharged I4 with a dual overhead camshaft and intercooler power plant combined with 6-speed manual transmission.
This results in a "basic" 500 hp, but some boosters can push it to nearly 700 for a top speed of 175-190 mph. That's without mentioning its fantastic exteriors with the aerodynamic style and powerful build making this a real Beast among manual transmission cars.
9 2007 SSC Ultimate Aero TT: 2.7 seconds
The Ultimate Aero TT has been going the automated transmission route for years, but the 2007 SSC is still a fine manual car. The twin-turbo V-8 produces a staggering 1183 bhp and an earth-shaking 1094 lbs./ft of torque while also looking impressive and touches like the swinging doors.
It broke a world speed record in 2007 with 255 mph, and that's still great by today's standards. It's been a bit forgotten thanks to so many flashier cars today, but the Aero TT is a manual masterpiece
8 2006 Ultima GTR 720: 2.6 Seconds
Coming in under the radar, the 2006 Ultima GTR 720 somehow doesn't get the press it should. It seems obvious a car with a 6.4L V8 capable of 710 bhp with 407 lb-ft of torque should be setting things on fire.
It also looks quite striking with its unique British design mixing a race car with a low build, which aids it on the road as it doesn't drag as much. The five-speed manual may seem lower, but folks should buzz about it when the car can hit 231 mph.
7 2010 Pagani Zonda R: 2.6 Seconds
The only downside to the 2010 Pagani Zonda R is that there's only fifteen of them in the world and a bare minimum of a million dollars to buy. But they're worth every penny. The V12 AMG engine delivers 750 hp at 8000 rpm and 524 lb. ft. of torque.
That combines with a six-speed gearbox and brand new alloys that eschew the usually fancy materials for something sleeker that helps it reach a top speed of 220 mph. A rare ride but oh so worth it.
6 2007 Caparo T1: 2.5 Seconds
On paper, the first road car to reach 1000 hp per ton should be ranked much higher. The 2007 Caparo T1 was intended to bring F1 racing to a regular consumer and boasted impressive specs. The 3.5-liter Caparo V8 engine produced 575 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque, married to a terrific style.
Sadly, the car was soon prone to breakdowns, with tests going horribly wrong. It seemed the engine was too strong for the manual transmission, so the car never was fully put into sales production. It still ranks as one of the fastest cars around, just never living up to its potential.
5 2015 Ariel Atom 3.5R: 2.5 Seconds
It oddly doesn't match the 2012 model's acceleration, but the 2015 Ariel Atom 3.5R still offers a serious upgrade in speed and style. The turbocharged 2.4-liter i-VTEC delivers 365 horsepower at 7500 rpm and 310 pound-feet of torque at 4400 rpm.
That means a top speed of 168 mph, just a bit ahead of the 2012 version, along with upgrades in its style and the manual transmission is easier to handle. It's only ranked lower as it doesn't accelerate so fast yet proves the Atom is a powerhouse.
4 2019 SSC Tuatara: 2.5 Seconds
The acceleration may seem slower, but the top speed is what makes the 2019 SSC Tuatara one of the best manual transmission cars around. After years as a cool concept, the Tuatara finally hit and lived up to its potential. The 5.9 L twin-turbocharged V8 power plant can produce 1350 hp on octane or 1750 hp on flex-fuel.
Combined with its seven-speed computerized manual transmission, the Tuatara could hit over 300 mph, which makes it tops among almost any sports car around. Plus, it lets you enjoy it in comfortable interiors for a luxurious fast ride.
Sources: jalopnik.com, topspeed.com, zerotosixtytimes.com, caranddriver.com
3 2016 Hennessey Venom GT Spyder: 2.4 Seconds
The only downside to having the fastest convertible on the planet is that it's harder to enjoy the top down at 265 mph. But the twin-turbo 7.0L V8 engine producing 1,451 bhp with 7,200 rpm and 1,287 lb-ft of torque makes the Venom an incredible machine.
It can still outrace almost anything Hennessy has made in the last several years adds to it as the Spyder's 6-speed transmission aids it's great performance and makes this a car with plenty of bite to it.
2 2012 Ariel Atom 500 (V8): 2.3 Seconds
A standard Ariel Atom possesses a stunning 2.4-liter Honda I4 engine that's capable of hitting 0-60 mph in just 2.9 seconds. Amazingly, this version is even better with a 2.0-liter Ecotec I4 engine with Wiseco pistons leading to 700 hp with just a 1450 pound weight.
This allows a fantastic speed that makes it the fastest-accelerating manual transmission car imaginable. Granted, some may be wary of the lack of comfort for what amounts to a race car but that fantastic acceleration makes the Atom a scientific marvel.
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