Land speed record: the 18 fastest cars in the world and their drivers
Since we first strapped wheels to an engine we have been dreaming of going faster and faster - here are the drivers and cars that broke the world land speed record.
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
Driver: Camille Jenatzy (Belgium)
Date: 17 Jan 1899
2
Ford 999 Racer – 91.37 mph
Date: 12 Jan 1904
Driver: Henry Ford (USA)
3
The Stanley Rocket – 127.66 mph
Date: 26 Jan 1906
Driver: Fred Marriot (USA)
4
The FIAT Mephistopheles – 145.89 mph
Date: 12 Jul 1924
Driver: Ernest Eldridge (GBR)
5
Sunbeam 350HP – 150.87 mph
Date: 25 Sep 1924
Driver: Malcolm Campbell (GBR)
6
Babs – 170 mph
Date: 28 Apr 1926
Driver: Parry Thomas (GBR)
7
Blue Bird – 174.88 mph
Date: 4 Feb 1927
Driver: Malcolm Campbell
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8
The Mystery (aka Sunbeam 1000 hp) – 203.79 mph
Date: 29 Mar 1927
Driver: Henry Segrave (GBR)
9
The Golden Arrow – 231.446 mph
Date: 11 Mar 1929
Driver: Henry Segrave (GBR)
10
Blue Bird – 253.97 mph
Date: 24 Feb 1932
Driver: Malcolm Campbell (GBR)
11
Thunderbolt – 311.42 mph
Date: 19 Nov 1937
Driver: George Eyston (GBR)
12
The Railton – 350.2 mph
Date: 15 Sep 1938
Driver: John Cobb (GBR)
13
The Spirit of America – 407.447 mph
Date: 5 Aug 1963
Driver: Craig Breedlove (USA)
14
The Green Monster – 434.03 mph
Date: 5 Oct 1964
Driver: Art Arfons (USA)
15
The Spirit of America – Sonic 1 – 555.485 mph
Date: 2 Nov 1965
Driver: Craig Breedlove (USA)
16
The Blue Flame – 630.478 mph
Date: 23 Oct 1970
Driver: Gary Gabelich (USA)
17
Thrust2 – 634.051 mph
Date: 4 Oct 1983
Driver: Richard Noble (GBR)
18
Thrust SSC – 760.343 mph
Date: 15 Oct 1997
Driver: Andy Green (GBR)
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Authors
Alexander is the Online Editor at BBC Science Focus and is the one that keeps sciencefocus.com looking shipshape and Bristol fashion. He has been toying around with news, technology and science on internet for well over a decade, and sports a very fetching beard.
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