Can You Name These Record-Breaking Cars?

By: Dave Davis
Estimated Completion Time
5 min
Can You Name These Record-Breaking Cars?
Image: GottaBeMobile via YouTube

About This Quiz

Most of us believe our own cars and trucks deserve to be in the record book — "Most miles stuck in traffic," "Loudest kids in the back seat," "Most nails and screws picked up by tires in a month" and so on — but there are cars that truly belong in the elite class of the "biggest," "longest" and "fastest" vehicles on the planet. For this quiz, we'll be testing your knowledge, or your skills of deduction, when it comes to record-breaking vehicles. How do you think you'll measure up?

While some of these vehicles were designed from the ground up to set the records they'd go on to establish, some of the vehicles on this list wound up at the top of various categories just from flukes of engineering or trying to corner the market in a certain respect. While "Fastest car on the planet" is a title to shoot for, what about "Widest car on the planet"? How about "Smallest station wagon ever made"? These and many more consummate titles await you in this quiz!

Some of these vehicles you give your left arm for while others you wouldn't be caught dead in, but they all have the term "record-breaking" on their resumes. So, do you think you have what it takes to pick the best (smallest/biggest/fastest/what have you) vehicles from the description and the photos provided? Can you break your own record of "best score" on this record-breaking car quiz? We're about to find out!

1 - 2018 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon
Motor Authority via YouTube
Which of these production vehicles has the highest horsepower rating in the land?
2020 Jaguar XJ
2017 Luxgen M7
2018 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon
The 2018 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon is a car that was in wide enough production where you might be able to drive one — or just see one — on the streets of your town. The Demon somehow stuffed between 808 and 840 horses under the hood, depending on the octane of gas used, so use the good stuff!
2015 Lada Vesta

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2 - Benz Velo
Wiki Commons by Martin Dürrschnabel
In 1894, which of these cars set a speed record with a blistering 12 miles per hour?
Ford Model T
Benz Velo
It might not sound like much, but the Benz Velo ushered in the modern automotive age in 1894 when it became the first large-scale production car ever made. Its single cylinder produced 1.5 horsepower and, hey, it beat walking.
Ford Model A
Doble Model E

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3 - 2020 Lotus Evija
Autocar via YouTube
They say electric cars don't have the horses, but don't tell that to which of these high-powered vehicles?
2019 Audi e-tron
2012 BMW i3
2018 Bolloré Bluecar
2020 Lotus Evija
The 2020 Lotus Evija offers not one engine but four — one for each wheel — and the results speak for themselves. The Evija has a monstrous 1,970 horsepower rating, making it the world's most powerful electric vehicle. It will cost you in the neighborhood of $2 million, though!

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4 - Toyota Corolla
MaxMerc via YouTube
Which of these vehicles, to date, is the best-selling car of all time?
VW Beetle
Chevrolet Cavalier
Nissan Sentra
Toyota Corolla
In production since 1966, the Toyota Corolla is the world's best-selling vehicle of all time. It became the best-selling nameplate in the world in 1997 when it beat the VW Beetle. In 2016, the vehicle had sold more than 44 million units and is still going strong.

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5 - Koenigsegg Agera RS
LAOC Exotics via YouTube
What is OFFICIALLY considered the world's fastest production vehicle to date?
Koenigsegg Agera RS
Although a Bugatti Chiron hit 304 mph in 2019, purists called "foul" at that record because the vehicle was specially set up to take the record (consumers can't buy this vehicle, no matter how much money they have to throw at it). The official record is 277.87 mph, set in 2017 by a Koenigsegg Agera RS.
McLaren MP4-12C
Nissan Micra C+C
TagAZ Tager

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6 - 2015 LaFerrari
Wiki Commons by Axion23
It's important to change your oil, but which of these cars has the most oil to change of any on the road today?
2016 Infiniti JX
2018 Nissan Armada
2015 LaFerrari
The 2015 LaFerrari (which translates in several languages to "The Ferrari") has a mid-mounted 12-cylinder engine that, to keep happy, requires 12 quarts of oil. The coupe version of the hybrid sports car was built from 2013 to 2016, with just over 500 models released.
2020 GMC Terrain

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7 - 2015 Toyota Tundra
Jakeman21642 via YouTube
It might not get the best mileage on the road, but it'll get there. Which of these vehicles has the largest fuel tank?
2016 Chevrolet Silverado
2014 Ram 2500
2019 Jeep Gladiator
2015 Toyota Tundra
The 2015 Toyota Tundra really increased its trip capacity by including a gigantic 38-gallon fuel tank. Don't let the needle go all the way to "E" or that's what your wallet will feel like after a fill-up! There have also been complaints about the accuracy of the fuel gauge with the optional large tank.

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8 - 1967 Lincoln Continental
Wiki Commons by Greg Gjerdingen
This car has some weight to it. What is the heaviest American production car to crack the asphalt?
1948 Dodge Magnum
1952 Ford Crestliner
1967 Lincoln Continental
Weighing in at a svelte 5,712 pounds, the 1967 Lincoln Continental is considered the biggest "land yacht" ever produced in North America. Most consider the Rolls-Royce Phantom VII the European champ when it comes to topping the scale, coming in at 5,644 lbs.
1937 Chevrolet Superior

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9 - 1954 Chrysler Crown Imperial
michaelop840 via YouTube
Wide load coming through! What vehicle holds the crown of being the widest production car ever made?
1952 Nash Rambler
1964 Chevrolet Corvair Monza 900
2016 Chevrolet Cruze
1954 Chrysler Crown Imperial
Coming in at 82.9 inches wide — that's just a touch under seven feet — the 1954 Chrysler Crown Imperial almost needed a smaller car to run ahead of it with a "wide load" sign to warn other travelers.

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10 - Peel P50
Wiki Commons by Philip (flip) Kromer
It wasn't fast or roomy, but it DID set a record. What's the smallest production car ever made?
Smart ForTwo
Honda Civic
Geo Metro
Peel P50
Advertised as being able to carry "one adult and one shopping bag," the Peel P50, made by the Peel Engineering Company on the Isle of Man from 1962 to 1965, was 52.8 inches long, had three wheels, 4.2 horsepower and a top speed of 38 miles per hour.

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Robocar
Wikimedia Commons CC BY 2.0
In 2019, which of these autonomous cars set a new world's record for speed?
Waymo Fairfield
Yandex Skolkovo
Tesla EX7
Roborace Robocar
A record for the fastest self-driving vehicle was set on March 21, 2019, when the Robocar, developed by the firm Roborace, hit 176.77 miles per hour on a track in Yorkshire, U.K. Driven by artificial intelligence, the vehicle's body was made of carbon fiber and each wheel had its own motor, combining for a 720 horsepower output.

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12 - 1929 Ford Model A
Wiki Commons by LibertyGroup25
Which of these is considered by most to be the first production station wagon?
1949 Plymouth Suburban
1929 Ford Model A
It was boxy (in fact, it was basically a wooden box with doors), but the 1929 Ford Model A was the first factory-built station wagon, beginning a line that would help frenzied parents move children, pets and groceries around before SUVs were ever thought of.
1946 Willys Station Wagon
1928 Chrysler Town & Country

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13 - 2007 Chevrolet Colorado
Wiki Commons by RL GNZLZ
It sounds odd, but which of these vehicles has the world's largest five-cylinder engine?
2007 Chevrolet Colorado
The five-cylinder engine is a rare find out in the wild, but it does have its uses. From 2007 to 2012, the Chevrolet Colorado offered a 3.7-liter inline five engine. Even stranger, the 1997 Volkswagen Passat had a 2.3-liter V5 engine.
2016 Hyundai Genesis G90L
2015 Lincoln Navigator L
2002 Infiniti QX80

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14 - 1966 Volvo 1800S
Wiki Commons by SG2012
There are cars that last, and then there's this car, which traveled more than 3 million miles. Which one?
1969 Cadillac Eldorado
1967 Jaguar XKE
1955 Ford Falcon
1966 Volvo 1800S
Because he had a 125-mile daily commute, Alaska resident Irv Gordon needed a dependable car. In 1966, he bought his Volvo 1800S and proceeded to drive it 3.2 million miles. He had to have the engine replaced in 2009, but Irv did all the oil and brake work himself.

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15 - Ford F-250:F-350
TheStraightPipes via YouTube
Sometimes the job calls for it! Which of these is the world's longest pickup truck?
Nissan Frontier
Ford F-250/F-350
In its "Super Duty" variant, the Ford F-250/F-350 crew cab with the long bed measures 263 inches, or just shy of 22 feet long. If you can't get the job done with this truck, maybe the consumer market isn't for you.
Chevrolet Colorado
Hyundai Santa Cruz

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Light Car Company Rocket
Wikimedia Commons by Tony Harrison
At a weight of only 850 pounds, which of these vehicles was one of the lightest automobiles ever produced?
Donkervoort D8 GTO
Light Car Company Rocket
The only car ever built by the Light Car Company, the Rocket tipped the scales at just 850 pounds but offered seats for two (as long as they didn't mind being seated in tandem). The engine wasn't huge — it had a 1.0-liter motor — but without all the weight, the Rocket could reach speeds of more than 140 miles per hour. There were 55 Rockets produced between 1991 and 1998.
AIL Storm
Ford Festiva

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17 - Ford Excursion
CABT Guthrie Oklahoma via YouTube
You might need a ladder to get in this, the tallest SUV on the market. Which of these is the top of the line?
Nissan Armada
Ford Excursion
Coming in at a height of 80.4 inches — or 6.7 feet — for the 4WD variant, the Ford Excursion holds the record for the tallest SUV ever made. It's also the longest SUV, with a length of 226.7 inches, or nearly 19 feet.
Bentley Mulsanne
Toyota Tacoma

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18 - Bugatti La Voiture Noire
Wiki Commons by Y.Leclercq©
If you have to ask, you can't afford — what is the most expensive production car ever made?
Bugatti La Voiture Noire
There was only one made for a "valued customer" (the rumors are that VW Chairman Ferdinand Piech was the customer in question), but the Bugatti La Voiture Noire — "The Black Car" in French — sold for about $18.9 million. The carbon-fiber machine has a W-16 engine that can put out 1,479 horsepower, so there's a lot of bang for the buck.
Lamborghini Miura
McLaren F1
Pininfarina Battista

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19 - 1948 Ferrari 166 Inter
Wiki Commons by Rahil Rupawala
This motor sounds monstrous, but which vehicle had the smallest engine with 12 cylinders?
1985 GMC Sierra
1953 Chery QQ3 EV
1948 Ferrari 166 Inter
Even though it had 12 cylinders, the Colombo V12 engine in the Ferrari 166 Inter was only a 2.0-liter motor. Built between 1948 and 1950, only 38 vehicles in this line were created.
1957 Plymouth Fury

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20 - Jaguar XK120
Wiki Commons by HSV
Which of these vehicles set a speed record of 124.6 mph in 1949?
SSC Ultimate Aero TT
Jaguar XK120
Although a prototype actually set a record of about 133 mph, the production model of the Jaguar XK120 was no slowpoke. The sports car — the first Jaguar had produced since 1940 — was made between 1948 and 1954, with just more than 12,000 produced.
Porsche 959
AC Cobra

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21 - 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO
Wiki Commons by Sfoskett
In 2018, which of these vehicles set a record for fetching the highest price at auction?
1962 Ferrari 250 GTO
A 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO sold for $48.4 million in an RM Sotheby's auction in 2018, beating the previous record: a different Ferrari 250 GTO that sold for $38 million in 2014. Only 36 copies of this model were ever made, which drives the price up for those who just HAVE to have one.
2016 LaFerrari
2015 McLaren P1
1957 Chevrolet Bel Air

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22 - 1912 Pierce-Arrow Model 6-66
Wiki Commons by Greg Gjerdingen
Which of these cars had a surprise under the hood: a record-setting 13.5-liter engine?
1957 Lada Classic
1912 Pierce-Arrow Model 6-66
Luxury vehicle manufacturer Pierce-Arrow wanted something special for its Model 66, and developed the largest engine ever seen in a passenger vehicle before — or since. The enormous inline-six-cylinder engine could produce 125 horsepower and cost $7,200 — just shy of $190,000 in today's dollars.
1978 Cadillac Coupe DeVille
1965 MW Luka EV

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23 - 1961 Morris Mini Traveller
Wiki Commons by DeFacto
You could fit maybe one kid and a bag in it — which of these is the world's smallest station wagon?
1961 Morris Mini Traveller
It's a two-door station wagon with a "barn-style" rear door built on a Morris Mini chassis and, at 84 inches long, it's as huge as it sounds. Built for eight years, about 20,000 of these little wagons hit the road.
1947 Willys Station Wagon
1996 Buick Roadmaster
1954 Plymouth Savoy

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24 - 2019 Bugatti Chiron Sport
Gold Pony via YouTube
Not everyone can tame this many horses — which of these limited production gas-powered cars set a record for horsepower?
2020 Rimac C Two
2019 Bugatti Chiron Sport
Limited to a production run of 20, the 2019 Bugatti Chiron Sport set a record by putting 1,479 horses under the hood using a quad-turbocharged W16 engine. With the Super Sport 300+ set to come out, however, this record might not stand for long.
2019 Ford Mustang
2017 Porsche 918 Spyder

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25 - AC Cobra 1965
Wiki Commons by Sicnag
This mutt could run! In what year did the AC Cobra set a new production car speed record?
1965
The AC Cobra Mk III 427 — an AC Cars body with a Ford 7.0-liter V8 engine married together by legend Carroll Shelby — set the speed record in 1965 by hitting 165 miles per hour.
1956
1974
1998

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26 - 2008 Conquest Knight XV  - only found 2015
CBC News
For those times when you want to take it all with you, which of these is the heaviest SUV ever made?
2016 Acura CDW
2014 Dodge Durango
2008 Conquest Knight XV
Tipping the scales at a massive 13,000 pounds, the 2008 Conquest Knight XV is made for those who prize both comfort and security. The XV (which stands for "extreme vehicle") offers a built-in oxygen survival kit, ballistic steel armor and other security features.
FAW Besturn X40

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27 - Rolls-Royce Phantom EWB
John D. Williams via YouTube
Step up! Which of these is currently the tallest production car being made?
Toyota Sequoia
Nissan Titan
Volkswagen Amarok
Rolls-Royce Phantom EWB
The Rolls-Royce Phantom EWB (extended wheelbase) measures 64.6 inches tall — just under 5.5 feet — so most drivers barely have to duck to enter the vehicle. Luxury and convenience, indeed!

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28 - Smart Fortwo
TheStraightPipes via YouTube
You might have to exhale to get in it — which of these is the shortest production car currently made?
Tata Hexa
SsangYong Rexton
Smart Fortwo
With its 1.0-liter inline-three engine and wheelbase of only 106.1 inches (8.8 feet), the Smart Fortwo is the very definition of a city car, because a cross-country trip would be rather grueling. For many, however, it's the right tool for the job.
Renault Koleos

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29 - 1970 Cadillac Eldorado
Wiki Commons by H. Zell
The car was luxurious and the engine was big — really big. Which of these cars has the biggest V8 motor?
1970 Cadillac Eldorado
The Eldorado had a long production life — 12 generations from 1952 through 2002, to be exact — and from the 1971 through 1976 model years, it also had the biggest V8 engine created for a production vehicle: A 500 cu. in 8.2-liter beast lurked under its hood.
1998 Rolls-Royce Cullinan
2005 Troller T4
AM General BRV-O

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30 - Lamborghini Miura
Wiki Commons by Herranderssvensson
In 1970, which of these vehicles set a new speed record of 179.3 mph?
Lamborghini Miura
The 1969 Lamborghini Miura P400S put its 370-horsepower V12 engine to the test in 1970, setting a record speed of 179.3 mph. A 1967 Lambo Miura P400 previously held a record of 171 mph.
Nissan GT-R
Porsche Macan
McLaren 650S

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31 - 1967 Suzuki Fronte
Wiki Commons by Mytho88
It was tiny but got (most) jobs done. What car had the smallest three-cylinder engine ever made?
1970 Mazda RX-1
1948 Willys Aero
1967 Suzuki Fronte
Almost all automotive internal combustion engines have a four-stroke process for generating power. The 1967 Suzuki Fronte's inline-three-cylinder engine only had two. The 356 cc engine powered the tiny city vehicle.
1951 Volkswagen Beetle

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32 - 1970 Toronado AQC Jetway
Jason Crawford via YouTube
Station wagons are long vehicles by nature, but which of these was the longest of them all?
1935 Chevrolet Suburban
1947 Crosley CC Four
1953 Buick Super Estate
1970 Toronado AQC Jetway
When you had to fit the kids, the dogs, the groceries and several other families in the station wagon, the 1970 Toronado AQC Jetway was the vehicle for you. Measuring 27 feet long and based on Oldsmobile Toronado chassis, if you couldn't get it in the Jetway, you shouldn't leave home.

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33 - BMW M3 E30 2012
SuperElectrobiker via YouTube
Which record did Mate Rimac beat in his modified BMW M3 E30 in 2012?
Fastest endurance race
Fastest quarter-mile in an electric vehicle
Croatian Mate Rimac took his modified BMW M3 E30 and made the fastest quarter-mile run in an electric car, clicking it off in 11.850 seconds, which was an impressive feat for 2012.
LeMans track speed record
Most consecutive rally race wins

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34 - Nissan GT-R
Wiki Commons by Thesupermat
Keep both hands on the wheel! Which of these vehicles set a record for fastest drift in 2016?
Nissan GT-R
Driver Masato Kawabata of Japan pushed his Nissan GT-R to its limit when, in 2016, he drifted the car at 189.49 mph. The car, which was rated at 1,380 braking horsepower, blew away the previous record of 135.44 mph.
Peugeot 206 CC
Ford Fusion
Aptima eCobra

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35 - 1963 Honda T360
Wiki Commons by baku13
It's not what you have but how you use it. Which of these production vehicles had the smallest four-cylinder engine?
1968 Toyota 86
1998 SmartCar
1970 Ford Pinto
1963 Honda T360
Produced between 1963 and 1967, the Honda T360 was a "city truck," allowing it to do light duty in metropolitan surroundings. Its 356 cc inline-four engine wouldn't carry a lot, but it was designed to meet the needs of those who had to move things around the city.

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36 - 1934 Cadillac V-16
Wiki Commons by Tony Hisgett
This vehicle didn't carry a lot of "roof weight." What is generally considered the world heaviest production convertible?
1998 Opel Tigra TwinTop
1977 Spyker C8
1934 Cadillac V-16
With some models coming in at 6,000 pounds — or 3 TONS — the 1934 Cadillac V-16 offered a 7.4-liter V16 engine to move its impressive bulk around. Cadillac didn't so very well with this Depression-era vehicular statement; The company estimated that it lost money on every V-16 it sold.
Chevrolet SSR

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37 - Ford F-150
Wiki Commons by Bull-Doser
It's the best-selling pickup truck in North America and has been for some time. Can you name it?
Ford F-150
Not only is the Ford F-150 currently the best-selling pickup truck, but it has been since 1977, as well as the best-selling vehicle of all since 1986. The production of the F-series started in 1947 and isn't going to stop any time soon.
Chevrolet Silverado
Nissan Frontier
GMC Sierra

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38 - McLaren F1
Wiki Commons by naeem mayet
With its racecar pedigree, which of these cars set a new speed record in 1993?
Mazda MX-5
McLaren F1
Created by McLaren Cars, a company known for speed on the track, the McLaren F1 set a new production car speed record in 1993 when it topped out at 221 mph (and could have gone faster save for its rev-limiter). There were 106 F1s made between 1992 and 1998.
Audi TT
Porsche 718

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39 - 1957 BMW 600
Wiki Commons by Greg Gjerdingen
Make sure you only invite friends along for the ride — which of these is the world's smallest four-seater?
1975 Subaru Ascent
1968 Renault QM5
1957 BMW 600
The first post-war production car from BMW, the 600 had a unique way of entering the front seats: The front of the car opened! At a length of 114 inches and a width of 55 inches, the 600 could carry four adults. Not comfortably, mind you, but it was possible.
1937 Tata Aria

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40 - Aston Martin DB4
Wiki Commons by Vauxford
Not only did this car go on to inspire a celebrated series, but it broke the speed record in 1961. Can you name it?
Lincoln Continental Mark III
Ford GT
Aston Martin DB4
The Aston Martin DB4 would go on to be the building block for the British automaker's celebrated DB line, and it proved its mettle on the track in 1961 when it used its inline-six-cylinder, 302 horsepower engine to hit 152 mph, setting a new record for the time.
Mach I Mustang

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GottaBeMobile via YouTube