What is the top speed of the Spirit of America?
The top speed officially recorded for Spirit of America is 407.447 mph (656.0 km/h), achieved at the Bonneville Salt Flats in 1964 by driver Craig Breedlove. This milestone marked the first time a wheel-driven car surpassed 400 mph on land.
To understand the question fully, it helps to place Spirit of America in the broader history of land-speed attempts: a 1960s era pursuit that merged jet propulsion with wheel-driven traction on the salt flats, producing a defining moment in American automotive daring and setting the stage for later speed quests.
Context: The Bonneville quest for speed
During the postwar era, engineers and drivers pushed to shatter speed barriers on the dry lakebeds of Bonneville, Utah. Spirit of America was among the early projects that paired jet propulsion with a wheel-driven drivetrain to deliver traction at extreme velocity, symbolizing a bold chapter in speed history.
About Spirit of America
The Spirit of America was a wheel-driven land-speed car developed in the early 1960s by racer and entrepreneur Craig Breedlove and his team. It used a jet engine to produce thrust while a conventional drive system delivered power to the rear wheels. The project became a touchstone of American ingenuity and a landmark achievement in the annals of speed.
Design and propulsion
While chemistry and engineering details evolved in its iterations, the vehicle is widely described as a jet-powered wheel-driven car capable of sustained speeds well into the 400 mph range on Bonneville’s salt.
Record details
In 1964, at the Bonneville Salt Flats, Spirit of America achieved 407.447 mph, establishing a new standard for wheel-driven land-speed records. The run drew global attention and solidified the Spirit of America as a defining symbol of speed in the era.
Aftermath and legacy
The 1964 accomplishment spurred further development within Breedlove’s team and inspired other designers to pursue even higher speeds. The Spirit of America name would recur in later record attempts, contributing to the enduring mythology of Bonneville’s golden age of speed.
Current status and significance
Summary
The top speed of the Spirit of America is 407.447 mph (656.0 km/h), achieved on the Bonneville Salt Flats in 1964. This milestone marked the first time a wheel-driven car exceeded 400 mph and helped define the era’s pioneering spirit in land-speed record history.
