| Many things go into making a car a sports car, | | | | noted source, only around 100 McLaren F1's were |
| but chief among the factors that separate | | | | ever produced-and only 65 were designed for |
| standard autos from sports cars is speed. Speed | | | | road use, making it not only the fastest sports |
| is not the sole measurement by which a sports | | | | car ever, but one of the most rare, as well. It is |
| car can or should be judged, but great | | | | considered among the most exotic of all exotic |
| acceleration and top end speed are factors that | | | | sports cars. |
| are always considered by sports car enthusiasts. | | | | The 100 F1's in existence are sure to fetch more |
| While there are cars that can reach 60 mph | | | | than their original price tag if offered for sale |
| quicker, the overall fastest production sports car | | | | today. That is of particular interest because the |
| in the world is the McLaren F1. | | | | McLaren F1 was not cheap to begin with. The |
| The McLaren holds all known records for speed | | | | limited production sports car listed at one million |
| among publicly available, street legal sports cars. | | | | dollars new. The car's seats were custom molded |
| Its 6.1liter V12 engine (which was designed by | | | | to fit their owner's physique perfectly and every |
| BMW) provides an awesome 627 bhp. To put | | | | purchaser was given a custom made Tag Hueur |
| that number in perspective, 627 bhp is more than | | | | watch engraved with the F1's chassis number. |
| double the power output of the engine found in | | | | Purchasers were also rewarded with a gold-plated |
| one of the world's most famous sports cars, the | | | | titanium tool kit. As of the late 1990s, there were |
| Astin Martin DB5. | | | | only seven F1's in the United States, two of which |
| Various sources have tested the McLaren F1. All | | | | were maintained in Ralph Lauren's private |
| have been able to push the vehicle to speeds in | | | | collection. |
| excess of 230 miles per hour. Some have | | | | The McLaren F1 is a notable sports car for a |
| reached speeds over 240 miles per hour in the F1. | | | | variety of reasons. It's rare nature, high cost, |
| The world's fastest sports car is quick off the | | | | unique story, construction innovations and |
| line, too. It can go from a standstill to 60 miles | | | | gorgeous design alone would make it a |
| per hour in only 3.1 seconds, an amazing clip. It | | | | noteworthy piece of automotive history. When |
| took only slightly more than 6 seconds for the | | | | one also considers the massive power supplied by |
| car to achieve 100 mile per hour rates from a | | | | the V12 power plant and the resulting acceleration |
| dead stop. The McLaren F1's body was | | | | and speed, the McLaren F1 is elevated to the |
| constructed from carbon fibers; an automotive | | | | status of legend. |
| innovation and it boasted gull-wings similar to the | | | | In a world that values speed almost above all |
| Lamborghini Countach and Delorean DMC12. | | | | else, the McLaren F1 was, and remains, the |
| The F1 was originally offered in 1993. Production | | | | fastest. |
| seems to have stopped in 1998. According to one | | | | |