What were the fastest road cars of the 60s, 70s and 80s?

I think Lambo Miura (released 1966) was fastest at the time (170MPH/ 273KPH) and maintained top spot for quite some time...

 

60's Miaura
70's Countach
80's The F40, Porsche 959 and a whole heard of other cars that were made in lesser numbers. There were many undriveable supercars in the decade of greed.

 

68 - 74 Ferrari Daytona 174/280 kph
later 70's 365/512 Boxer 170

 

60s, probably a Muscle car for outright speed though the Miura is probably the best

70s, by far the Porsche 930 3.3 liter takes the cake being heads and shoulders above everyone else in the 70s when it came to pure acceleration. Top speed it suffered a bit but it also, well, its a 930. It handled like mad and would take your head off.

80s, 959, F40 and more

 

in 1970 the Z28 was the fastest car off the showroom floor 0 to 100mph for a long time. the LT1 could turn 8000 rpm, had 360 HP (conservatively rated) and with the 4 speed it was a BRUTE . i miss mine. and my 73 455 Super Duty 455 trans am.

 

Early 60's, probably Jaguar E-Type
http://www.histomobile.com/histomob/internet/18/histo02.htm

Studebaker Avanti had ad's trumpeting World's fastest production car (Avanti was produced in 63-64) - likely just after Jaguar and before AC Cobra, because
http://www.theavanti.com/FastestCarAd.html

Throughout mid-60's, 427 AC Cobra was listed in Guinness Book of World Records as being Fastest Production Car in the World.
Scroll down to 1964
http://www.speedace.info/a_c.htm

Right now, Most Powerful Production Car is listed as Koenigsegg CCR
http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/content_pages/record.asp?recordid=43463

I haven't picked up a Guinness Book since early 70's - does an E-Type still hold record for longest skid mark? (Something like 350 feet or so...)

 

As for the 80's, I remember reading that the Testarossa actually had the higher top speed than the 288GTO, either because of the gearing or aerodynamics or both. I also don't believe that the Countach was that fast, top speedwise. It was due to the aerodynamics as well, the rear wing provide much better stability but at the same time slows it down greatly. The F40 did not come out until 1987 and the 959 in 1986, thus makes Testarossa the fastest from 1984-85 overall. As for non-limited production, I don't think the Testarossa was beaten until the release of the Diablo in 1990. I will have to go and dig up that issue of R&T.....will post what I find later.

 

IN 1960 I WOULD SAY THE FASTEST CAR WOULD HAVE BEEN THE COBRA.

IN 1970 I WOULD SAY THE PANTERA AND FERRARI 512 BB

IN 1980 I WOULD SAY FERRARI TESTAROSSA AND CORVETTE SLEDGEHAMMER TOP SPEED WAS 254.76 MPH...

JOHN

 

60's probably L88 Vette
70's probably daytona/512bb
80's TR/288, 959, F40,
90's Diablo, EB110, F1 ect
Erik

 

What do you mean by "fastest"? Do you mean highest top speed, best lap times, fastest 0-60 (or 1/4 mile) time, or what?

 

Acceleration is a different issue.

The 903 Turbo had the record, the AM vantage had it as well (for 1 year).
Thing is, on stock config/tires, US cars tend to have to few traction to be any really good.

 

I have seen several times the fastest 0-60 in the sixties was the Pontiac 2+2, which was 3.9 sec. It came with a 421 tri-power, 4 speed. Hard to believe if you ever see one of these land barges.

 

The Pontiac was not your average street car. And it was prepared by Royal Pontiac, and had racing slicks. Put racing slicks on a stock 60's Cobra or L88 Vette, and those cars would have some impressive acceleration times as well....

 

Does the Ruf Yellowbird count for the 80s? - 215 mph

 

A buddy of mine had an LS6 Riviera that would do 1/4 mile burnouts!

My Z28 ran 11.90's

 

that was the catalina 2 plus 2 as tested by car and driver in the 60's.

i remember seeing the article and how depressed i was to find that the quickest was not italian or german.

 

I know you didn't ask about the 50's but I find it interesting that the Maserati 5000GT was the fastest (top speed) production car when it was new.

I believe it was around 165 to 170 mph.

 

The Porsche 928s was the "worlds fastest production car" record holder in 1986. And was faster than the Lambo's and Ferraries of its time. But only by a couple of MPH

 

I read somewhere that the 928 had the longest timing belt of a production car.