Photo: carwow
Racing the latest Toyota Supra or Corvette models down the quarter-mile isn't something to brush aside; quite the contrary. Hearing those engines roar while trying to hit 60 in under 5 seconds is spectacular, but seeing actual history unfold before our very eyes in 2023 is something dreams are made of. So, for a few short moments, let's not wake up from this melancholic slumber and dream away of days gone by.
Where to even start...? With the industry-shaking Bugatti EB110 that rose from its ashes, or the Ferarri F40, the last model ever presented by Enzo Ferrari himself, just a bit over a year before he passed away? For lack of a better methodology, let's go alphabetically.
The Bugatti EB 110 is an exotic technological marvel brought to life in the '90s by Romano Artioli's passion, determination, and vision. The vehicle bears Ettore Bugatti's namesake while celebrating his 110th birthday.
It was assembled using advanced carbon fiber technologies produced by a French helicopter manufacturer, Aerospatiale. The engineers made it AWD, and one of the EB's best features was the aerodynamic design, which opened and closed the air intakes while raising or lowering the rear wing.
Couple that with a 3.5-liter V12 quad-turbo engine that can output 552 hp (560 ps) with 450 lb-ft (610 Nm) of torque. This 6-speed manual piece of gorgeous machinery could have gone from 0-62 mph (100 kph) in 3.6 seconds with a top speed of 213 mph (343 kph). In 1994, this model cost roughly $355,000, but now it's worth more than $1,868,550. I guess you can really put a price on history.
The 1991 Ferrari F40 represents one of Enzo Ferarri's last wishes for his legacy, to be the best car in the world. It was crowned the first production car to punch through the 200 mph (321.8 kph) barrier. At the time, only the Porsche 959 posed a real threat.
This is a severe threat to the EB110. Under the red-blooded hood, it's packing a 2.9-liter twin-turbo V8 that can deliver up to 473 hp (480 ps) with 428 ft-lb or 580 Nm of torque. In its heyday, it could have hit 62 mph (100 kph) in 4.1 seconds, with a top speed of 201 mph or 323 kph. It has a 5-speed manual transmission system, but unfortunately, it's only RWD.
It was almost twice as cheap as the Bugatti at $204.3k, but now it's worth nearly $2.5 million, significantly more than the Bugatti EB110. All that's left to do now is to see what 4.3 million US dollars look like driving in a straight line for a standard 1/4-mile.
The first race was almost as spectacular as that price point, with the Bugatti dominating half the race, only to lose by half a car length at the finish line. Mat Watson from "carwow," driving the EB110, got so excited that his voicebox sounded like a 10-year-old schoolgirl anime character at the end of the race.
Sadly, they did not go for a second turn because the Bugatti started making weird noises as soon as the first race ended. At least we have the times! They both crossed the line with 13.8 seconds on the clock.
With the Ferrari F40 out of commission, they had to either give up or replace it. Luckily, a 1991 Dodge Viper was just laying about, and wouldn't you know it, it was race-ready, too! And this was no mere variant but a special pre-production prototype.
This RWD 6-speed manual red menace packs an 8.0-liter V10 engine that can deliver up to 394 hp (400 ps) with 465 lb-ft (630 Nm) of torque. That makes it less powerful than the Ferrari F40 and a bit heavier.
This should be predictable, shouldn't it...? Well, the Viper won by a landslide due to a very late start from the F40. Not only that, but the Dodge clocked in a much better time than the other two cars, at 12.2 seconds, compared to 13.8.
After two more roll races, the 1991 Dodge Viper was the absolute victor of the day, which was pretty amazing to witness after all the drama from this race.
The Bugatti EB 110 is an exotic technological marvel brought to life in the '90s by Romano Artioli's passion, determination, and vision. The vehicle bears Ettore Bugatti's namesake while celebrating his 110th birthday.
It was assembled using advanced carbon fiber technologies produced by a French helicopter manufacturer, Aerospatiale. The engineers made it AWD, and one of the EB's best features was the aerodynamic design, which opened and closed the air intakes while raising or lowering the rear wing.
Couple that with a 3.5-liter V12 quad-turbo engine that can output 552 hp (560 ps) with 450 lb-ft (610 Nm) of torque. This 6-speed manual piece of gorgeous machinery could have gone from 0-62 mph (100 kph) in 3.6 seconds with a top speed of 213 mph (343 kph). In 1994, this model cost roughly $355,000, but now it's worth more than $1,868,550. I guess you can really put a price on history.
The 1991 Ferrari F40 represents one of Enzo Ferarri's last wishes for his legacy, to be the best car in the world. It was crowned the first production car to punch through the 200 mph (321.8 kph) barrier. At the time, only the Porsche 959 posed a real threat.
This is a severe threat to the EB110. Under the red-blooded hood, it's packing a 2.9-liter twin-turbo V8 that can deliver up to 473 hp (480 ps) with 428 ft-lb or 580 Nm of torque. In its heyday, it could have hit 62 mph (100 kph) in 4.1 seconds, with a top speed of 201 mph or 323 kph. It has a 5-speed manual transmission system, but unfortunately, it's only RWD.
It was almost twice as cheap as the Bugatti at $204.3k, but now it's worth nearly $2.5 million, significantly more than the Bugatti EB110. All that's left to do now is to see what 4.3 million US dollars look like driving in a straight line for a standard 1/4-mile.
The first race was almost as spectacular as that price point, with the Bugatti dominating half the race, only to lose by half a car length at the finish line. Mat Watson from "carwow," driving the EB110, got so excited that his voicebox sounded like a 10-year-old schoolgirl anime character at the end of the race.
Sadly, they did not go for a second turn because the Bugatti started making weird noises as soon as the first race ended. At least we have the times! They both crossed the line with 13.8 seconds on the clock.
With the Ferrari F40 out of commission, they had to either give up or replace it. Luckily, a 1991 Dodge Viper was just laying about, and wouldn't you know it, it was race-ready, too! And this was no mere variant but a special pre-production prototype.
This RWD 6-speed manual red menace packs an 8.0-liter V10 engine that can deliver up to 394 hp (400 ps) with 465 lb-ft (630 Nm) of torque. That makes it less powerful than the Ferrari F40 and a bit heavier.
This should be predictable, shouldn't it...? Well, the Viper won by a landslide due to a very late start from the F40. Not only that, but the Dodge clocked in a much better time than the other two cars, at 12.2 seconds, compared to 13.8.
After two more roll races, the 1991 Dodge Viper was the absolute victor of the day, which was pretty amazing to witness after all the drama from this race.
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