Back to Galleries

SSC Ultimate Aero: the grudge match

This is supercar maker SSC’s latest weapon in an ongoing speed war. It wants to reclaim the world record from the Veyron SS…

Posted: 02 Nov 2011

Before you ask, it's nothing like a Veyron. It's more visceral and more basic and, yes, more brutally fast. By some way. Shelby himself took a car to the Middle East where some local potentates arrived with two Veyrons and commanded the road be closed. It duly was, they duly did a TG-style drag race, and the SSC duly won. Two men ordered SSCs on the spot. The next day they paid. Using cash, pulled out of a Louis Vuitton holdall.

So it's a must-have in parts of the Middle East. Yet Shelby notes a reticence among American buyers. Which strikes me as odd given the usual American patriotism - and their liking for big numbers. Numbers come no bigger than these.

Now share it

More

What do you think?

This service is provided by Disqus and is subject to their privacy policy and terms of use. Please read Top Gear's code of conduct (link below) before posting.