The Guinness Book of Cars

Have you ever wondered what the world record for the longest car is? Perhaps you have mulled over how much the most expensive car sold for?

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Cars come in many different shapes and sizes. And while there’s more to a car than how big it is or how fast it can go, we think you’ll enjoy learning more about some of the world’s most exciting record-breaking vehicles.

Whether you’re interested in finding out what is the fastest car in the world or you want to know more about the world record for the smallest car, you’re in the right place.

Read on to discover some of Rivervale’s favourite Guinness World Record winning cars and find out about some of the most impressive automotive records.

Most expensive private car sale

This record is held by the 1963 Ferrari 250 GTO (4153 GT) which was sold in Germany for the staggering sum of £52,730,800. Just 36 of these highly desirable vehicles were ever made. Capable of accelerating from 0-60 in just over six seconds, the car boasts a top speed of around 175 mph. It was purchased in 2018 by David Macneil, CEO of Weathertech to complement his existing Ferrari collection.

Fastest car

Fitted with two Rolls Royce specification jet engines, the fastest car in the world is the Thrust Supersonic Car (SSC). Driver Andy Green reached the impressive land speed of 763 mph when he drove this car through the Black Rock Desert in Nevada, USA in 1997. As a result, the Thrust SSC was the first car to officially break the sound barrier.

Longest car

A limousine created by Jay Ohrberg in California holds the title for the world’s longest car. Made in 1986, it has a grand total of 26 wheels and is a whopping 30.5 metres long.

Designed to be used in movies and exhibitions, the car can be driven in either a straight-line configuration or with a bend in the middle. Take a look inside, and you’ll find a swimming pool with a diving board and a king-sized water bed!

Smallest roadworthy car

At just 68.5 cm high, 65.41 cm wide and 126.47 cm long, the record for the world’s smallest car is held by a vehicle with a number plate that ironically reads “IM BIG”. Built-in 2012 by Austin Coulson in Arizona, USA, this nippy motor can achieve a respectable top speed of 25 mph and has been approved for legalised use on the roads.

Lowest roadworthy car

The Mirai (which translates to “future” in Japanese) sits just 45.2 cm from the ground. Created in 2010, this vehicle is the brainchild of a group of teachers and pupils from Okayama Sanyo High School in Japan. This record-breaking, roadworthy car runs on six main batteries.

Fastest police car in service

With a top speed of 253 mph, this Bugatti Veyron is worth £1.6million. It was named as the world’s fastest police car in 2016. Driven by the police force in Dubai, this jaw-dropping vehicle can go from 0-60 in under three seconds, making it the ideal vehicle for tracking down and catching criminals.

First flying car

The Terrafugia Transition is an amazing two-seater flying machine. Its wings can be folded at the touch of a button, transforming it into a roadworthy car in just 15 seconds. It was invented in the UK in 2009 at a cost of approximately £132,000.

Coffee powered

Do you need a cuppa to get you going in the morning? Did you know cars can be powered by coffee too? The world’s fastest coffee powered car is affectionately known as The Co-operative Bean Machine. Made in Stockport, UK, by Martin Bacon in 2013, this car can manage an average speed of around 65 mph.

Oldest functioning car

This record is attributed to a four-seater steam-powered car which was made in 1884 by De Dion Bolton in France. La Marquise holds the title for the world’s first-ever automobile race where it zoomed along the 19-mile track at an average speed of 26 mph.

The car can achieve a top speed of 38 mph, which is pretty impressive when you consider that it is powered by wood, coal and paper! It was sold at auction in 2007 for more than £1.5million and is currently kept in California, USA.

Fastest car in space

In February 2018, SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy rocket was launched into space. This was a test flight, so there was no need to send any useful equipment. Instead, SpaceX owner and entrepreneur Elon Musk decided to pop in one of his Tesla Roadsters! The supercar is currently in an elliptical orbit around the sun, where it will probably remain for billions of years. A dummy astronaut sits in the driver’s seat, and rumour has it that David Bowie’s Life on Mars and Space Oddity are playing on repeat…

Cars of The Stars – Notable Celeb Cars of 2020

2020 has been a year of challenges and adaptation but it’s also been a year of growth, redesign and unveiling. Speaking of which, 2020 has seen the unveiling of pretty impressive cars being driven by some pretty impressive celebrities.

Whether old, new or somewhere in between, we’ve scoured the dizzying heights of the celebrity driving playground and found our top 5 cars being driven around in style in 2020.

Starting with…

Who: David Beckham

What: Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe

Why: When it comes to luxury car ownership, footballer David Beckham has built up quite the collection. From hummers to Porsches and Ferraris to, most notably and recently, the purchase of the super sophisticated Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe. But just what makes this car superstar so special?

Boasting a huge and impressive V12 engine, this unique car, which actually possesses qualities more similar to a yacht, can reach 60mph in just under 6 seconds. For a car that weighs in excess of 3 tons? That’s pretty magnificent. Complete with its own decking, this luxury grand tourer is loud, proud and looks every bit as intimidatingly luxurious on the road as you’d expect. The perfect companion to a superstar celeb.

Who: Lady Gaga

What: Lamborghini Huracán Evo RWD

Why: Okay, so this may not be one of Lady Gaga’s personal purchases but this ultra-loud, flashy, and impressive supercar features in her recent 911 music video.

It’s aimed at those who seek to gain pure pleasure and excitement from their ride. And boy, does it excite. With a sleek nose, sharp angles and body work that says “don’t mess with the best”, the only way to drive this supercharged supercar is to pull the top down, hit the open road, and feel the exhilarating wind in your hair.

Fancy being one step closer to owning this spine-tingling coupe? Fans of Lady Gaga can enter a competition to become the proud owner of a Huracán. Supporting the Born This Way Foundation, a gift for Lady Gaga is a gift for her fans.

Who: Jim Carey

What: Mercedes-AMG SL 63

Why: As a celebrity with a big personality, it’s only right that Jim Carey owns an equally impressive car. Enter the glamorous 2-door SL63 roadster. Picking up this hot ride after ending a relationship in his personal life, Jim Carey is frequently spotted out and about town in this flashy motor.

And it’s not hard to see why. As one of two powerful AMG versions of Mercedes’ two-seat open-top S, this particular Mercedes has a powerful 6.2 Litre V8 engine with a show-stopping 518 horsepower. It’s incredibly agile out on the open road and comes with spectacular acceleration – it’s able to go from 0 to 60 in just 3.9 seconds. The SL 63 is a pretty impressive vehicle and one that fits right in on the celebrity circuit.

Who: Ludacris

What: Mercedes-Maybach GLS 600

Why: Due to an increase in demand for luxury SUVs, Mercedes-Maybach felt the need to keep up and design their own version. And they didn’t hold back. With a pretty eye-watering starting price of £150,000, this stunning car is not for the faint-hearted but it is dripping in extravagance. That’s what makes it the choice of car for Rapper, Ludacris.

It may be a thing of beauty to look at but it also provides a serious amount of comfort for its drivers and passengers alike. Possessing light-alloy wheels, an eye-catching grille and sophisticated chrome detailing throughout, it even offers an active air ride for entering and exiting the vehicle. It’s clear to see why Ludacris showcased his personal blue and silver trimmed Mercedes-Maybach GLS 600 on Instagram. Go and take a luxurious look for yourselves.

Who: Kim Kardashian

What: Cadillac Escalade

Why: Unveiled as direct competition to the Mercedes-Benz ML-Class and Lexus LX, The Cadillac Escalade is a bigger than average SUV. As their fifth SUV in their collection of luxury cars, Kim and Kanye recently picked up their Cadillac Escalade with the imminent arrival of baby number 3, Chicago West.

Focused on providing its passengers family sized comfort, it’s a true symbol of celebrity culture. Expensive? Absolutely, the 2020 model starts at £82,515 for the base trim. But it’s also fuel-efficient and has unbeatable towing capacity. And it’s not just Kim getting involved. In fact, between them, the Kardashian clan owns more than 4 Cadillac Escalades. If that doesn’t indicate status, we don’t know what does.