4 Fastest Naturally Aspirated Production Cars Ever Made

Quick note

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Unless you live under a rock that’s been stuck in prehistory, or a non car guy, then you have heard about Koenigsegg achieving an average top speed of 277.9 miles per hour, making it the fastest production car in the world. However, while that is fine (good for them, too), every hypercar that has gone for the top speed record has been turbo’d (after the original Veyron). To think that we’ve come to an age now where to go fast you need what is essentially a hair dryer attached to the engine is strange. So today I’ve come up with a list of the 4 fastest production cars that don’t believe in that sort of wizardry. Without further ado, let’s get into it starting with number four

Number four: Jaguar XK120

Even though it’s the slowest car on this list, back in the late 40s and early 50s, it was a rocketship. Using a carbureted 3.4 twin cam straight six making 180 HP and 203 LB-FT. Combine that with an aluminum body and a light chassis and it could send the XK all the way to 132 mph (212 km/h) which back in 1950 made it the fastest production car in the world…

Number three: Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing

…Until 1955 when the Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing snatched that record from the Brits with a top speed of 135 mph (217 km/h). Using a 3.0L single cam straight six, the Gullwing made 212 hp and 203 LB-FT, an increase of 32. A record Mercedes would keep for a while. Right up until the moment that it was taken away.

Number two: Aston Martin DB5

By the Brits once again. This time using the Aston Marin DB5, hitting a top speed of 142.6 miles per hour (230 km/h). Using a 4.0L twin cam straight six, this car made 282 hp and 288 lb-ft. To put that into some perspective, the Corvette of the time (C1) was only making 150 HP from it’s straight six. That’s mega power for a sports car, let alone one from the 60s. It would be a record to be held for quite some time.

Number one: McLaren F1

Although there were plenty of cars to go faster than the DB5, the current victor for the highest top speed with no forced induction is (and probably forever will be) the McLaren F1. Developed by Gordon Murray and BMW (and of course, McLaren, specifically Ron Dennis, if I’m a little off, please don’t shout at me in the comments, I’m not entirely good with this.) Using a BMW-sourced 6.1L V12, the F1 made 618 HP and 480 LB-FT. All that power was sent through a six speed manual transaxle going to the rear wheels. Hitting a top speed of 231 and 240 mph with and without the limiter, the F1 will most likely forever be the world’s fastest naturally aspirated production car, despite being a quarter of a century old.

In conclusion
While turbocharging is great because of their efficiency, “it’s a cheating device to make more power”-Motor Trend. Using natural aspiration to not only power the car, but to go for a top speed record takes some serious effort, engineering, and heart to make it work. So I hope for the next manufacturer who decides to go for McLaren’s record, and hopefully the world will hold a new record holder for the fastest non-forced induced production car. That’s all for this one, if you enjoyed let me know in the comments and make sure to vote for the next list and write and tell me what you voted for. Whoever votes for the winning topic will get a shout out in the article.