America has long been known for its muscle cars, but when it comes to raw speed, U.S. automakers have built some of the fastest production cars ever made. It’s the land of the free and the Fast & Furious, after all.

From modern hypercars to classic powerhouses, these speed demons prove that American engineering isn’t just about brute force—it’s about breaking records. Here’s a look at the fastest American-made cars that have left their mark on automotive history.

Vector M12 – 190 Mph

The Vector motor company is one of the most obscure in history. It is most famous for the W3 and W8, but before the company disappeared, it did create the 190-mph M12. The M12 was the first and only car produced by Vector under its new Megatech ownership. A 5.7-liter V12 provided the power, making 492 hp and 425 lb-ft of torque. Between 1995 and 1999, Vector produced just 17 M12s.

While the car looks like something out of a noir graphic novel, it was considered a failure due to its underwhelming performance. I mean, it was fast and awesome, but some people just can’t be satisfied. It probably didn’t help that Vector already had haters from when it suddenly boosted the price of the W8 to $440,000 to make up for expenses.

Ford GT – 216 Mph

Looking at this thing, you’d never guess it was derived from a boxy American muscle car, but the Ford GT is one of the most iconic cars in automobile history. The original GT40 won the 24 Hours of Le Mans for four years, from 1966 to 1969. Ford revived the GT in 2005 before another iteration appeared in 2016 to celebrate its first Le Mans win in 1966.

The new Ford GT had a very impressive 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 under the hood, producing 660 hp, which was good enough for a top speed of 216 mph. Sadly, Ford has now discontinued production of the GT.

Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 – 184 Mph

The ZL1 is the most extreme version of the Chevrolet Camaro. That extreme upgrade shows thanks to the 650 hp, 6.2-liter V8 under the hood, which propels the muscle car to a top speed of 198 mph. Not too shabby for a car that’s nearly 3,900 pounds.

For those who want even more performance, you could get the 1LE Extreme Track Performance package to boost the ZL1 firmly into supercar territory.

Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing – 200 Mph

Cadillac’s CT5-V Blackwing has become one of the best sedans in North American automotive history — all while retaining the luxury you would expect from any Cadillac. The considerable 6.2-liter supercharged V8 under the hood is good enough for 668 hp and 658 lb-ft of torque in the Blackwing. This gives the CT5-V Blackwing a mighty top speed of 200 mph, putting it firmly in supercar territory.

Not to mention the 2025 CT5-V Blackwing comes with manual transmission. According to Motor 1, there are only about 30 cars being made with a manual option this year, a real shame for those who like to roll back while stopped on a hill and then tell their friends what they’re missing in their 10-speeds.

Dodge Charger Daytona – 200 Mph

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The classic Dodge Charger Daytona making this list shows how impressive it was in the late 1960s. The Charger Daytona and the Plymouth Superbird were NASCAR racers so fast that the series had to ban them to control how quickly the cars were going. That’s all thanks to the giant wing on the back. It’s not just goofy — it’s part of the Daytona’s aerodynamic design, which was born in a wind tunnel.

The Charger Daytona’s top speed was nearly 200 mph, thanks to the 7.0-liter Hemi V8, which produced 425 hp and 490 lb-ft of torque.

Chevrolet Corvette C8 Z06 – 195 Mph

Even though it’s not as untamed as older versions of the Corvette, the C8 Z06 is one of America’s best-ever sports cars. The 5.5-liter LT6 V8 is a marvel of engineering, producing 670 hp and allowing it to take on the best European supercars. A top speed of 195 mph is awe-inspiring, and it has an incredible 0-60 mph time of just 2.6 seconds.

The LT6 is the most powerful naturally aspirated engine in a Corvette. There’s plenty of debate over which is better — naturally aspirated versus turbocharged. But the result is more of the same: The car community has not come to a conclusion and is arguing to this day.

Glickenhaus SCG 007 LMH – 200 Mph+

Sticking with Glickenhaus, we will explore something a little different. This is the SCG 007 LMH, the hypercar built by the privateer team to race in the World Endurance Championships Le Mans Hypercar category. Power came from a 3.5-liter Glickenhaus by Pipo Moteurs P21 V8, producing 671 hp—more than enough to propel the SCG 007 to speeds well over 200 mph.

Sadly, Glickenhaus has pulled out of the WEC, but the car took two poles and two podiums in its time and should have won at Monza in 2022 before an engine failure.

There’s a street-legal version of the SCG 007, the SCC 007S. For $2.9 million, you can drive a race car on the roads — pre-order yours today. Glickenhaus needs 24 orders to start its two-year production process. For such a quick car, that’s a really slow process.

Mosler MT900S Photon – 201 Mph

A supercar that is all but forgotten, the Mosler MT900S Photon comes from the now-defunct Mosler company. The MT900S is an evolution of the earlier MT900, replacing the 5.7-liter LS1 V8 with the larger 7.0-liter LS7 V8 from the Corvette C6 Z06. The bigger engine boosted the power to 550 hp and 513 lb-ft of torque, producing a top speed of 201 mph.

The MT900S had almost double the power of its predecessor in a car weighing just 2,539 lbs. This is crazy when you remember that a new Ford Mustang GT is nearly 4,000 pounds with 486 hp… It’s no wonder the Photon breaks into the 200’s.

Lucid Air Sapphire – 205 Mph

Lucid Motors has already made a name for itself with its Air, and the Air Sapphire is the extraordinary, high-performance edition of the luxury electric sedan. Its three-motor powertrain produces 1,234 hp and 1,430 lb-ft of torque, which can launch the EV to a top speed of 205 mph.

More impressive is the ridiculous 0-60 mph time of just 1.89 seconds. But it’s electric… Does it really count? And if it does, do we care?

Dodge Viper ACR – 206 Mph

The Dodge Viper is a much-missed sports car, famous for its huge, screaming V10 engines. Of all Viper variants, the ACR is the zenith of the range. ACR stands for American Club Racing, and the package first appeared on the second-generation Viper in 1999. The final Viper ACR appeared in 2015, and under the hood of this monster was an 8.4-liter naturally-aspirated V10 with 645 hp and 600 lb-ft of torque.

But like its earlier brethren, the Dodge Viper ACR is best left to the more seasoned drivers. It’s not called the “widowmaker” for nothing.

Chevrolet Corvette C7 ZR1 – 212 Mph

While the latest C8 Corvette has stolen all the headlines, we must remember some of its predecessors. The ZR1 nameplate is always reserved for the ultimate version of the Corvette, and a supercharged 6.2-liter LT5 V8 is worthy of that name. This 755 hp engine propels the C7 ZR1 to a top speed of 212 mph, and its Pratt and Miller-developed aero package keeps the sports car hunched to the ground.

The 2025 ZR1 has already been tested on the track “in secret” aka while wearing camo. GM reports reaching 233 mph while testing it out. It’s crazy to think that this $174,000 muscle car can compete with supercars on the track.

Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170 – 215 Mph

Dodge created the incredible Challenger SRT Demon 170 to bid farewell to its iconic muscle car. This swansong muscle car packs a 6.2-liter supercharged Hemi V8 under the hood, which produces 1,025 hp and 945 lb-ft of torque. Highlighting the power further is the incredible 0-60 mph time, achieved in just 1.66 seconds.

This time has actually gotten the stock Demon banned from drag races by the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA). To compete, you’ll need to add a parachute and a roll cage.

Chevrolet Camaro Exorcist – 217 Mph

The final generation of the Chevrolet Camaro was closer to a sports car than a muscle car. The ZL-1, as we have already looked at, was an awe-inspiring version, but Chevrolet wanted more from its muscle car.

So they gave the ZL-1 to Hennessey Performance, and the legendary tuners created the Camaro Exorcist. This packed a leviathan 6.2-liter supercharged V8, producing 1,000 hp and 966 lb-ft of torque with a top speed of 217 mph.

Glickenhaus SCG 003S – 217 Mph

Scuderia Cameron Glickenhaus has provided only a handful of cars during its time. Its most impressive, however, is the SCG 003. This limited-run supercar first broke cover in 2015, and under the hood of the Stradale is a BMW-sourced 4.4-liter twin-turbocharged S63 V8 engine.

This engine produced 800 hp and 627 lb-ft of torque in the 003S, good enough for a top speed of 217 mph.

Vector W8 – 242 Mph

The Vector W8 is probably the most well-known of the small manufacturer’s supercars. It was the company’s final product under founder Gerald Weigert’s ownership, and powering it was a 6.0-liter Rodeck twin-turbocharged V8. This engine was good enough for 625 hp and 649 lb-ft of torque. Vector claimed the car could produce 1,200 hp by upping boost pressure, giving a claimed top speed of 242 mph.

The creator of Vector, Gerald Alden “Jerry” Wieger, loved suing people — and his many lawsuits kept the company afloat. At one point, Wegert locked himself in a Vector office in California when investors sued and demanded he leave the company. Seems like such a fun and well-adjusted guy to work with.

Saleen S7 – 248 Mph

Another monster supercar is the Saleen S7. This was America’s answer to the all-conquering McLaren F1, and it came from the Saleen firm best known for tuning Ford Mustangs. In the early 2000s, it decided to try its hand at supercar production, which was when the S7 was born.

Under the hood was a 7.0-liter twin-turbo V7 with 750 hp and 700 lb-ft of torque, good enough for a top speed of 248 mph. On the outside are the most panels on a car you’ll ever see, making the Saleen resemble a deep sea creature that accidentally floated its way to the surface.

SSC Ultimate Aero – 257 Mph

SSC has certainly caused headlines over the years, and the SSC Aero is one of their cars that has done just that. It set the benchmark for supercar top speeds for a while, cracking 257 mph thanks to its 6.4-liter twin-turbocharged SSC V8 engine. It’s good enough for 1,183 hp and 1,094 lb-ft of torque and a 0-60 mph time of just 2.7 seconds.

Oh, and this one is street-legal as well. You know, for those times when you need to go 257 mph to get to work or an improv show that night.

Hennessey Venom GT – 270.49 Mph

The Venom GT was the brainchild of John Hennessey and his Hennessey Performance company. Based on the Lotus Elise, the supercar brake cover in 2012 at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, its purpose was to take on the Bugatti Veyron. And when they say based… I basically thought I was looking at a rounder Exige when I scrolled by this picture.

Hennessey gave the Venom GT a 1,244 hp 7.0-liter twin-turbo V8 engine to do this, giving the car a top speed of 270.49 mph.

SSC Tuatara – 282 Mph

The SSC Tuatara is one of the very best all-American performance cars. It is the successor to the Ultimate Aero and has a 5.9-liter twin-turbocharged V8 under the hood—an engine good enough for 1,750 hp and 1,341 lb-ft of torque. The supercar has a mind-bending top speed of 282 mph in a car that weighs just 2,749 lbs. This means that the Tuatara is fast in a straight line and is no slouch in the corners.

Sadly, SSC falsely claimed that they had reached 331 mph and then later admitted they were lying.

Hennessey Venom F5 – 311 Mph

The Venom F5 is Hennessey’s first genuinely bespoke hypercar, following the Lotus Elise-based Venom GT. Built in collaboration with Delta Motorsports at Silverstone, England, it has become one of the finest products in American automobile history. A massive 6.6-liter twin-turbocharged V8 engine produces 1,817 hp and 1,193 lb-ft of torque and propels the Venom F5 to a top speed of 311 mph.

And the best part (or worst part, depending on how you look at it) is that it’s street-legal! If you’re scared for your safety, don’t worry: Most people don’t have millions to shell out on this car.

Dodge Charger Hellcat Redeye Widebody – 203 Mph

Even without over 1,000 hp, Dodge’s muscle cars are high-speed. One of the finest has to be the Charger Hellcat Redeye Widebody. This four-door has enough seating for five people and a spacious trunk, creating a very different type of muscle car.

Thanks to its 6.2-liter V8, which produces 797 hp and 707 lb-ft of torque, it is no slouch at 203 mph.