SSC Ultimate Aero Crushed at Monster Truck Event
From Bugatti-killing to being eaten alive in under 20 years. An SSC Ultimate Aero got crushed at a monster truck event, then fed to a robotic dinosaur.
The early 2000s were a magical time for the wars of the world’s fastest production car. The McLaren F1 maintained its reign as the world’s fastest production car since 1992, and many companies aimed to take it away. That is, unless you count the Dauer 962 Le Mans. That’s a topic for a different day, though. While the first companies that come to mind are Bugatti and Koenigsegg, Shelby Supercars and the Hennessey Venom GT were also names commonly thrown around at the time. Eventually, Bugatti did take the record with the Veyron EB 16.4 in 2005. Just two short years later, though, Shelby Supercars (now known as SSC) took that record. The SSC Ultimate Aero achieved 256.14 mph, cementing itself as the fastest production car in the world.
Oh, how the mighty have fallen. Freddy Hernandez, also known as “Tavarish,” recently posted pictures of a mangled Ultimate Aero on Facebook. At the time of the post, it was unbelievable. The post states that the owner was dissatisfied with SSC and decided to donate the car to be crushed at a monster truck rally. No further info on the specifics of the customer’s complaints are available at the time of writing. However, ultimately, the destruction of this car is very real.
Crushed, Eaten & Set Ablaze
The Tavarish Facebook post seems to imply that this isn’t just any Ultimate Aero, either. This may have been the very car that broke the world record. In total, 24 Ultimate Aero models were made, which caused a bit of a stir when the vehicle took the record. The low production numbers and use of a GM LS engine brought a lot of “kit car” allegations and opinions to the table. Ultimately, though, it was within the rules, and Guinness World Records verified the record. Moreover, the price tag doesn’t scream kit car. One is currently listed for sale for a cool $819,000.
At any rate, after Tavarish’s Facebook post went viral, photos and videos from the Thunder at The Mountain monster truck event started to emerge to verify that this was indeed the real deal. The pre-crush photos show the car sitting quite low. So, we’re assuming the drivetrain and suspension were removed. Ultimately, though, the value of the carbon fiber bodywork and the chassis itself is, without doubt, no small number. That begs the question: Who did this, and what made them so dissatisfied with SSC?
Why Did This SSC Ultimate Aero Die?
There are no details about why the owner was upset enough to do this to the car. Perhaps there was a problem with the car, and SSC refused to correct it? Perhaps the owner was not comfortable with the moral implications of the SSC Tuatara’s top speed controversy. After all, we are in a bit of a return to the early 2000s with production cars seeking the elusive 300 mph mark. We may never know. Maybe, though, the owner will come forward and explain it all.
No matter where you stand on the status of the Ultimate Aero as a legit production car, the Tuatara’s record controversy, or anything else, this car is a piece of automotive history. It’s a bit sad to see it go. On some level, though, you have to respect this dedication to pettiness. Either way, you can check out the video of the Megasaurus eating this six-figure hypercar below. A YouTube channel called John’s Cabinets and Millwork caught the action, from which we got the screenshots.
Photos: Tavarish/Facebook
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