I've reached 140mph. The car was still pulling at about 5500rpm, but I decided to back off. Felt pretty solid at that speed, but my windows were down and the roof was open, which made it a loud run.

 

And btw swampguy.. I'd love to see you and your chevy going down Mt.Everest, at whatever speed that might be.

 

In a basically stock, no-spoiler Carrera 3.2, about 140 w/ good revs left. I was pleasantly surprised (relieved!?) about the stability.

Is this topic a ruse by our insurance companies?

 

Somewhere in the 130-140 range as reported by my co-pilot. I was too busy watching the road and the tach to pay attention to the speedo.

 

I went this speed going on I-310 crossing the swamp from Kenner, La to Donaldsonville, La. It's a brand new white concrete interstate about 15 miles over water (swamp lands). I don't hold these high speeds just a quick buzz and back down to 75mph.


<a href="http://pws.prserv.net/4play/911chevy/index.html" target="_blank">SWAMP MONSTER</a>

 

Well, I've only driven my '72 once (I got screwed on the deal, the car was not in the condition I thought it was... Maybe a lesson on getting a PPI?) and I got it up to 63mph before the Webers started going POP POP POP POP.
&lt;mutter mutter mutter&gt;
-Jon
'94 968 - redline in 5th at Road America, probably about 135?
'87 928S4 - Only had it up to 100 once with revs still left in THIRD
'84 928S - 110 once.. Really it was only the SOUND of the motor that kept me pushing it!
'72 911T - Piece of crap... I can't believe I paid money for this hunk of junk.

 

James, I was under the impression that the top speed in our cars was 149. Chances are, this is not going to come into play any time soon for me, but I thought I'd ask. I'll go take another look in the tranny charts.

Thanks -- Now I can **** off my friend with the 99 mustang even more! (185 HP, 3900 lbs)

 

JGordon, The time I hit redine in 5th it wasn't done, but I was so I can believe James' claim. I think that last 5 mph will depend on the weather and the tires and rims. One Euro magazine in the '80's claimed 157, but no one else has been able to repeat that one. Otherwise Paul Frere says he's been able to hit 152-3 in his book Porsche 911 Story.

Man I was hoping for some crazy numbers from some of those turbo guys.

 

I pushed my 911 RS amercia to 133 mph once. Very solid but to fast for I-465 in INDY.

I passed a boxster , he switched lanes to get out of the WAY!

jpc

 

Once I learned that I could fix the absolute top speed potential of a car via calculation using the gearing charts, max revs, tire rolling radius & growth ("a gear w/o teeth"), I became less enamoured w/ performing real-world trials...
... however, testing an aquaintance's supercharged, NOx Inj. 911 (w/o rev limiter plus a numerically low final drive) to approx. 175 was a responsibility I couldn't overlook.

 

Had my C2 up to an indicated 160 mph once, on a deserted (Indian reservation) road somewhere between Death Valley and Vegas. Still had some pedal left ... so, considering Porsche rates the car's top speed at 162 mph, believe I was actually doing a little less??

The car's stability didn't worry me--my lack of eagle-eye (albeit, corrected 20-20) vision did! The real estate coming up so fast gives one a real appreciation of why fighter pilots must have such good vision.

 

Personally, I can only vouch for 115 (Summit Point) and 120 (VIR) but, according to the owner's manual (traditionally pessimistic) and R&T/C&D road test data, my bone stock, 180hp, unspoilered 1980 SC has a top speed of at least 135mph. Using the crude "aerodynamic drag increases as the square of velocity" rule, 155mph would require 237hp - consistent with Thom's claim. This, of course assumes:

No fender flares or rear wing - remember the
RUF Yellow Bird.

The gearing is such that peak hp coincides
with top speed. In the early days of the
911s, a friend of mine had one with what the
factory called "airport gears". As I recall,
it redlined at about 110mph.

 

I have gone 172 mph (timed) with the 3.3 Turbo in Germany.
my 951 cup was timed over 185mph (not with me, though).
GeorgeK

 

One of the items on my 'wish list' is a hand-held GPS, specifically for validating things like this.

BTW, it's 235 RWHP - use whatever conversion method feels good to you to get flywheel HP.

 

I have a Garmin GPS-III which has been used extensively for all sorts of thing like: 1)speed validation on boats, cars & planes 2) Finding my way, 3) confirming distances, 4) returning to good fishing spots, 5) hiking.

After owning a handheld GPS for the last 3 years, I wouldn't be without it. I even check my speed on skis and bikes.