Most modern cars go faster than you're ever allowed to on public roads, but that doesn't mean you don't want your car to be the fastest. Jalopnik readers found the ten street-legal cars in the US of A that are the quickest of all.
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Photo Credit: Bugatti
10.) SSC Aero
Suggested By: westford86
Why it's so fast: The SSC Aero has a supercharged V8 making over 1,000 horsepower in a highly aerodynamic body. Top speed is a Guinness-certified 267.81 mph. The SSC is also not weighed down by steel or even aluminum (it's made out of carbon fiber and titanium) or frivolous safety aids such as ABS and traction control.
Quarter mile time: 9.9s
Photo Credit: RGT3 Pics
9.) Hennessey Venom GT
Suggested By: KillerRaccoon - Group J's Sébastien Loeb
Why it's so fast: The big engine/small car idea is taken to extremes by Hennessey. Start with one of the lightest sports cars on sale today (Lotus Exige) and then stuff in the de facto tuner engine (Corvette V8). Modify said engine (you'll need, oh, 1,200 horsepower) and the result is this Frankenstein of a car. Still, it's a Frankenstein that'll tie a Bugatti Veyron SS in the standing quarter.
Quarter mile time: 9.9s
Photo Credit: Supermac1961
8.) Bugatti Veyron SS
Suggested By: SennaMP4
Why it's so fast: Bugatti's quad-turbocharged W16 puts out 1,200 horsepower, which most people would find sufficient. Not so for the trophy-polishers at Bugatti, because when the SSC Aero came and stole their top speed crown, they decided to add a Volkswagen GTI's worth of power to the Veyron. The result is the Super Sport, which is limited to 258 mph so that it doesn't destroy its own tires. Set if free and it'll be knocking at 270's door.
Quarter mile time: 9.9s
Photo Credit: Bugatti
7.) Koenigsegg Agera R
Suggested By: Superkiwizorro
Why it's so fast: Many of the companies on this list choose to use highly modified Corvette V8 engines in their supercars. Koenigsegg builds their own. Why? So that they can make a 5.0 liter twin-turbocharged V8 that produces 1,100 horsepower on ethanol. The results are a car that'll let you pass a Veyron SS and pull up in style to your Green Peace meeting.
Quarter mile time: 9.3s
Photo Credit: Koenigsegg
6.) Switzer Ultimate GT-R
Suggested By: Loping Camshaft
Why it's so fast: Switzer has nearly doubled the power of the standard GT-R, and in doing so created a "daily driver" (it runs on regular gas and has plenty of extra cooling to maintain reliability) that'll absolutely thrash any Ferrari you meet at the stoplights. We know; we've driven one.
Quarter mile time: 9.05s
Photo Credit: Switzer
5.) Mosler MT900 GTR XX Twin Turbo Landshark
Suggested By: Joe_Limon
Why it's so fast: The car has two X's and Landshark in its name. They should have just added a third X and quit the false modesty, because this modified Mosler has 2,500 horsepower and weighs less than most economy cars.
Quarter mile time: 9.0s
Photo Credit: Intense Automotive Design
4.) AMS Alpha 12 GT-R
Suggested By: TheB1ackAdderr
Why it's so fast: If the Switzer GT-R delights with 1,000 horsepower, then the AMS Alpha 12 terrifies with 1,500. AMS boasts that the Alpha will run 60-130 mph in 3.31 seconds. To put that in perspective, the Veyron does it in 5.6 and the Enzo in 7.3. This is the kind of thrust that puts larger planes in the air and will almost kill you at 233 mph.
Quarter mile time: 8.82s
Photo Credit: AMS Performance
3.) "Big Red" Camaro
Suggested By: McMIke
Why it's so fast: "Big Red" is actually the same size as all other Camaros of the same vintage. What's big about it is it's 9.8 liter engine that can't fit under the stock hood, and the balls it takes to drive it. This thing has been hitting 230 mph since the '90s, and is reliable enough to drive itself to its own events.
Quarter mile time: 8.0s
Photo Credit: Big Red Camaro
2.) Rod Saboury's 1963 Corvette
Suggested By: thedarkestofallcodes
Why it's so fast: When the split window was first built in 1963, 2,400 horsepower in a car was basically unthinkable. It'll get itself to 60 in 1 second and finish the quarter doing 210 mph. Not bad for something based on a car built when computers still filled an entire room.
Quarter mile time: 6.95s
1.) Larry Larson's '66 Nova
Suggested By: Demon-Xanth
Why it's so fast: The "light car, big engine" philosophy was apparently lost on Larry Larson, whose '66 Nova weighs in at about 3,500 pounds. No matter, because it'll still beat everything else on the drag strip and the Las Vegas strip, which is where Mr. Larson has driven it after sub-7 second runs.
Why? Because he can. He's got a reliable old car that just happens to be the quickest thing you can drive down any Main Street in America.
Quarter mile time: 6.95s