Since the first car was invented by Karl Benz back in 1885 we have been dreaming of pushing the limits of what they can do. The fastest production car in the world is the Bugatti Veyron Super Sport, but that pales in comparison to those drivers who have striven to break the land speed record.
Here we have a look as some of these pioneering speed demons and the incredible cars that broke records.
1
La Jamais Contente - 65.792 mph
![GettyImages-179807036_master © Universal History Archive/UIG via Getty Images](https://c02.purpledshub.com/uploads/sites/41/2018/11/GettyImages-179807036_master-bd7547c.jpg?webp=1&w=1200)
Driver:Camille Jenatzy (Belgium)
Date:17 Jan 1899
2
Ford 999 Racer - 91.37 mph
![GettyImages-3224061_master GettyImages-3224061_master](https://c02.purpledshub.com/uploads/sites/41/2018/11/GettyImages-3224061_master-88f82f8.jpg?webp=1&w=1200)
Date:12 Jan 1904
Driver:Henry Ford (USA)
3
The Stanley Rocket - 127.66 mph
![GettyImages-157763279_master © ISC Images & Archives via Getty Images](https://c02.purpledshub.com/uploads/sites/41/2018/11/GettyImages-157763279_master-3a5f3d2.jpg?webp=1&w=1200)
Date:26 Jan 1906
Driver:Fred Marriot (USA)
4
The FIAT Mephistopheles - 145.89 mph
![GettyImages-3422219_master © Topical Press Agency/Getty Images](https://c02.purpledshub.com/uploads/sites/41/2018/11/GettyImages-3422219_master-2b908f7.jpg?webp=1&w=1200)
Date:12 Jul 1924
Driver:Ernest Eldridge (GBR)
5
Sunbeam 350HP - 150.87 mph
![GettyImages-3348177_master © MacGregor/Topical Press Agency/Getty Images](https://c02.purpledshub.com/uploads/sites/41/2018/11/GettyImages-3348177_master-4e99736.jpg?webp=1&w=1200)
Date:25 Sep 1924
Driver:Malcolm Campbell (GBR)
6
Babs - 170 mph
![GettyImages-80041225_master © E. Bacon/Topical Press Agency/Hulton Archive/Getty Images](https://c02.purpledshub.com/uploads/sites/41/2018/11/GettyImages-80041225_master-b4a708b.jpg?webp=1&w=1200)
Date:28 Apr 1926
Driver:Parry Thomas (GBR)
7
Blue Bird - 174.88 mph
![GettyImages-2643652_master © Topical Press Agency/Getty Images](https://c02.purpledshub.com/uploads/sites/41/2018/11/GettyImages-2643652_master-65df3e5.jpg?webp=1&w=1200)
Date:4 Feb 1927
Driver:Malcolm Campbell
8
The Mystery (aka Sunbeam 1000 hp) - 203.79 mph
![GettyImages-157766348_master © ISC Images & Archives via Getty Images](https://c02.purpledshub.com/uploads/sites/41/2018/11/GettyImages-157766348_master-8783d3e.jpg?webp=1&w=1200)
Date:29 Mar 1927
Driver:Henry Segrave (GBR)
9
The Golden Arrow - 231.446 mph
![GettyImages-167529859_master © Imagno/Getty Images](https://c02.purpledshub.com/uploads/sites/41/2018/11/GettyImages-167529859_master-758d5ea.jpg?webp=1&w=1200)
Date:11 Mar 1929
Driver:Henry Segrave (GBR)
10
Blue Bird - 253.97 mph
![GettyImages-3423411_master © Central Press/Getty Images](https://c02.purpledshub.com/uploads/sites/41/2018/11/GettyImages-3423411_master-1e5de40.jpg?webp=1&w=1200)
Date:24 Feb 1932
Driver:Malcolm Campbell (GBR)
11
Thunderbolt - 311.42 mph
![GettyImages-3373108_master © Davies/Topical Press Agency/Getty Images](https://c02.purpledshub.com/uploads/sites/41/2018/11/GettyImages-3373108_master-d013699.jpg?webp=1&w=1200)
Date:19 Nov 1937
Driver:George Eyston (GBR)
12
The Railton - 350.2 mph
![GettyImages-143111852_master © Imagno/Getty Images](https://c02.purpledshub.com/uploads/sites/41/2018/11/GettyImages-143111852_master-7e34415.jpg?webp=1&w=1200)
Date:15 Sep 1938
Driver:John Cobb (GBR)
13
The Spirit of America - 407.447 mph
![GettyImages-464486371_master © National Motor Museum/Heritage Images/Getty Images](https://c02.purpledshub.com/uploads/sites/41/2018/11/GettyImages-464486371_master-7ac027a.jpg?webp=1&w=1200)
Date:5 Aug 1963
Driver:Craig Breedlove (USA)
14
The Green Monster - 434.03 mph
![GettyImages-135374969_master © ISC Images & Archives via Getty Images](https://c02.purpledshub.com/uploads/sites/41/2018/11/GettyImages-135374969_master-40cea00.jpg?webp=1&w=1200)
Date:5 Oct 1964
Driver:Art Arfons (USA)
15
The Spirit of America - Sonic 1 - 555.485 mph
![GettyImages-564354239_master GettyImages-564354239_master](https://c02.purpledshub.com/uploads/sites/41/2018/11/GettyImages-564354239_master-49c71af.jpg?webp=1&w=1200)
Date:2 Nov 1965
Driver:Craig Breedlove (USA)
16
The Blue Flame - 630.478 mph
![GettyImages-464491677_master © Rolls Press/Popperfoto/Getty Images](https://c02.purpledshub.com/uploads/sites/41/2018/11/GettyImages-464491677_master-0792eb8.jpg?webp=1&w=1200)
Date:23 Oct 1970
Driver:Gary Gabelich (USA)
17
Thrust2 - 634.051 mph
![GettyImages-464481831_master © National Motor Museum/Heritage Images/Getty Images](https://c02.purpledshub.com/uploads/sites/41/2018/11/GettyImages-464481831_master-17f7a53.jpg?webp=1&w=1200)
Date:4 Oct 1983
Driver:Richard Noble (GBR)
18
Thrust SSC - 760.343 mph
![GettyImages-103221133_master © David Madison/Getty Images](https://c02.purpledshub.com/uploads/sites/41/2018/11/GettyImages-103221133_master-9c6f925.jpg?webp=1&w=1200)
Date:15 Oct 1997
Driver:Andy Green (GBR)
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