The obsession with automobile speed is not new though modern cars like the Koenigsegg Agera RS and Bugatti Chiron have taken that concept to a whole new level. As the automobile industry evolved through the years, carmakers have always pushed against existing boundaries, experimenting with whatever technology was at their disposal to create vehicles that were capable of insane speeds on the tarmac.

Let's not forget, the '80 were the first time supercars became mainstream, and they produced the Ferrari F40 – the first production car to breach the 200mph barrier. The Italian supercar was not alone, though, as legends such as the Lamborghini Countach and Ferrari Testarossa also count themselves among early supercars capable of insane speeds when let loose.

10 Ferrari F40 – 201MPH

Ferrari-F40
via livecarmodel

The legendary F40 was Mr. Enzo Ferrari’s swansong; the last Ferrari project directly supervised by him before he passed away. He could not have left a better parting shot. The supercar sent shockwaves rippling through the car community when it debuted in 1987. Until the F40, there had never been a series production car that exceeded the 200mph mark.

Ferrari-F40
via evo.co.uk

It was also the most powerful Ferrari at the time with a power output of 471hp generated by its twin-turbo V8 engine. There is nothing subtle about the way it achieves that top speed too, with the engine screaming away behind the driver’s head as the car rockets past 60mph in just 4.2 seconds.

9 Porsche 959 – 197MPH

Porsche-959
via uncrate

It was the F40 that knocked the Porsche 959 off its perch as the speed king. However, motoring journalists generally agreed that the 959 was a better all-round car. Porsche had created a masterpiece that was well ahead of rivals as far as its technology was concerned.

Porsche-959
via motor1

For instance, at a time when some cars had no onboard computers, the Porsche 959 was equipped with seven! It also featured an electronically controlled four-wheel-drive and sequential turbocharging to reduce turbo lag. The F40 might have dethroned it but the 959 remained Porsche’s fastest car for almost 3 decades until a certain 918 Spyder crawled into the room.

8 1984 Ferrari 288 GTO – 189MPH

Ferrari-288-GTO
via artebellum

For Ferrari, the ‘GTO’ badge is only reserved for very special vehicles. The first car to wear it was the 250 GTO in the ‘60s and it would be over 20 years before they came up with another halo car worthy of that honor. That car was the 1984 Ferrari 288 GTO. Ferrari did not hold back with this one.

Ferrari-288-GTO
via pinterest

The lightweight body was made from a combination of Kevlar, fiberglass and aluminum. As a result, the car only weighed in at 1,156kg. That mass combined well with the 400hp power output and the 288 GTO needed only 5 seconds to sprint to 60mph and then on to a top speed just shy of 190mph.

Related: Fastest V8-Powered Cars On The Market Today

7 1986 Aston Martin V8 Vantage Zagato – 186.4MPH

1986-aston-martin-v8-vantage-zagato
via carpixel

With a price tag of about $170,000, this sports car did not come cheap. Less than 100 units of the car were built during a 4-year production run so that price bought you a very exclusive piece of fine British automobile engineering. You also got a road rocket that needed a scant 4.8 seconds to get to 60mph.

1986-aston-martin-v8-vantage-zagato
via Bring A Trailer

It could hit a top speed in excess of 180mph too, without sacrificing too much in the way of comfort. The Vantage Zagato had a V8 engine that generated 432bhp and 395 pound-feet of torque, more than enough to take care of business on an open highway stretch.

6 Lamborghini Countach LP5000 QV – 182.3MPH

Lamborghini-Countach-LP5000QV
via automobilemagazine

The Lamborghini Countach was first unveiled to the public as a prototype in 1971 but the LP5000 QV, launched in 1985, was one of the most potent variants. It was powered by a raucous 5.2-liter V12 engine that managed 455hp at 7,000rpm.

Lamborghini-Countach-LP5000QV
via mecum

That engine had been tweaked and now had 4 valves per cylinder, up from 2 valves in the previous models. This, and some other improvements, made the Countach LP5000 QV, the fastest Lamborghini car at the time. The car accelerated to 60mph in less than 5 seconds and top speed runs of 180mph were not unusual.

5 1989 Chevrolet Corvette ZR-1 – 180MPH

1989-Chevrolet-Corvette
via conceptcarz

This American sports car was known as ‘King of the Hill’ and for good reason too. For one, it was the most powerful American car at the time and that 180mph top speed meant that the car only had a few rivals in the speed business.

1989-Chevrolet-Corvette
via motor1

The sleek front-engine car was propelled by a 5.7-liter LT5 V8 engine that generated up to 405hp and 385 pound-feet of torque. That power made for a sizzling 4.9-second dash to 60mph before hitting the quarter-mile marker 8.2 seconds later at 112mph.

Related: The Sickest Corvette Race Cars From Motorsports History

4 1984 Ferrari Testarossa – 180MPH

Ferrari-Testarossa
via hemmings

The Ferrari Testarossa is one of Ferrari’s most successful models till date, having sold almost 10,000 units over a 12-year production run. They were not exactly cheap and their popularity stemmed from the car’s styling and impressive performance stats.

Ferrari-Testarossa
via automobilemagazine

You could not help but notice those prominent side rakes and extra wide rear profile. Power was supplied by an eager 4.9-liter V12 engine that produced 385hp. That power was fed to the rear wheels via a 5-speed manual transmission.

3 De Tomaso Pantera GT5-S – 174MPH

De-Tomaso
via mecum

The De Tommaso Pantera GT5 was an Italian car but one that had an American heart in the form of a Ford 351 Cleveland V-8 drivetrain. The chassis, body shell and interior were all made in Italy but the rest of the assembly work, including engine installation was done in America. That Ford V8 made about 350hp.

De-Tomaso
via carandclassic

It was enough to get the car to a top speed of 174mph. A brissk 60mph dash was over in 5.5 seconds. The Pantera GT5-S was a bargain supercar but it attracted few customers and only about 300 units were built in total.

Related: These Are The Fastest Cars Money Can Buy In 2020

2 Porsche 928 GT – 171MPH

Porsche-928
via classicdriver

Porsche originally planned the 928 as a replacement for the iconic 911. However, they ended up producing both as separate models, with the Porsche 928 classified as a luxury grand tourer. The 928 was not as popular as its sibling but it still had enough great features that made it stand out.

Porsche-928
via borderreviers

The GT model was introduced in 1988 and packed more performance than the earlier variants. The naturally aspirated V8 engine produced 326bhp and 317 pound-feet of torque, more than enough for satisfy the driver’s need for speed.

1 Ford RS200 Evolution – 169MPH

Ford-RS200
via jalopnik

The RS200 has been described as the wildest car ever produced by Ford and that statement may not be too far off the mark, if at all. Ford developed this car for racing purposes but then had to build 200 road-spec cars to satisfy homologation requirements.

Ford-RS200
via supercars.net

The RS200 has a turbocharged Cosworth engine that produced anything from 380hp to a hair-raising 450hp. It was a lot of grunt for such a small car and could propel the car to a top speed of 169mph.

Next: Ranking The 10 Greatest Rally Cars Of All Time