SSC — The Washington State Maker of the Ultimate Aero and Tuatara
SSC is an American maker of hypercars from the Tri-Cities area of Washington State, founded in 1998 by the engineer Jerod Shelby as Shelby SuperCars. Its aim was an American supercar able to compete with European makers. The Ultimate Aero took the production-car speed record in 2007 with a two-way average of 412.28 km/h. After a settlement with Carroll Shelby's companies the firm was renamed SSC North America in 2012. Its Tuatara, built since 2020 in a series of 100 cars, averaged 455.3 km/h in January 2021 after a disputed record claim in 2020.
Key takeaways
- Founded in 1998 by Jerod Shelby as Shelby SuperCars in West Richland, Washington; now based in Richland.
- The Ultimate Aero TT averaged 412.28 km/h on 13 September 2007, a record confirmed by Guinness until the Bugatti Veyron Super Sport beat it in 2010.
- Renamed SSC North America in 2012 after a settlement with Carroll Shelby Licensing and Carroll Shelby International.
- The Tuatara has a 5.9-litre twin-turbo V8 of 1,000 kW on petrol and 1,300 kW on E85.
SSC at a glance
| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1998, West Richland, Washington, as Shelby SuperCars |
| Founder | Jerod Shelby |
| Current name | SSC North America (from 2012) |
| Base | Richland, Washington |
| Models | Aero, Ultimate Aero, Ultimate Aero XT, Tuatara, Striker, Aggressor |
| Records | 412.28 km/h (2007); 455.3 km/h two-way (2021) |
| Tuatara series | 100 cars |
| Tuatara drag coefficient | 0.279 |
Origins: Shelby SuperCars and the Aero
Jerod Shelby founded Shelby SuperCars in 1998 to build an American supercar that could compete with European makers. In 2004 the first Ultimate Aero prototype was completed at the company's headquarters in West Richland, Washington. It used a supercharged 6,188 cc V8 from the Corvette C5-R, rated at 583 kW (782 hp) at first and later 677 kW (908 hp). In 2006 the car set a record on the Road & Track slalom course, beating the mark of the Ferrari Enzo.
The 2007 speed record
The production Ultimate Aero TT used a 6.3-litre twin-turbocharged V8 based on GM's LS design, with 880 kW (1,180 hp) in 2007 and 960 kW (1,287 hp) after the 2009 update. Its dry weight was 1,250 kg. Only 24 Ultimate Aero TTs were built in 2006 and 2007. The first production car of 2007 sold on eBay for US$431,100, and later cars were expected to cost US$285,000.
On 13 September 2007, on a rural paved road in eastern Washington, the Ultimate Aero made two runs in opposite directions at 414.31 and 410.24 km/h. The average of 412.28 km/h was verified by Guinness World Records on 9 October 2007 as the speed record for a production car. The record stood until 4 July 2010, when the Bugatti Veyron Super Sport averaged 431.072 km/h at Ehra-Lessien in Germany. In August 2010 Jerod Shelby announced a next-generation car to take the title back.
Renaming and the Ultimate Aero XT
The company's name had been a source of conflict. In 2012 Shelby SuperCars became SSC North America as the result of a settlement with Carroll Shelby Licensing and Carroll Shelby International. The company says the change separated it from the unrelated firm of Carroll Shelby, whose cars are in the Shelby catalogue. It also wanted the new name to identify it as a North American supercar maker.
The last version of the old car was the Ultimate Aero XT. It was announced in 2012 or 2013, depending on the source, with SSC's own 6.9-litre all-aluminium twin-turbo V8 of 950 kW (1,300 hp) and a seven-speed paddle-shift gearbox. Five were planned, but only one was built. The last XT delivery in 2015 ended Ultimate Aero production. Earlier, in 2008, SSC had announced an electric Ultimate Aero EV, whose claimed 10-minute charge from a 240-volt socket was criticised as impossible.
The Tuatara
The next car was named the Tuatara on 17 July 2011, and a concept was shown at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance that year. SSC designed it with Jason Castriota, a former Pininfarina designer. The production Tuatara was shown at Pebble Beach in August 2018. The first customer car was delivered in Philadelphia in January 2020, and the series is limited to 100 cars built in Richland.
The engine was reduced from 6.9 to 5.9 litres to allow a redline of 8,800 rpm. Built by Nelson Racing Engines, the twin-turbo V8 produces 1,000 kW (1,350 hp) on 91-octane petrol and 1,300 kW (1,750 hp) on E85. The Tuatara weighs 1,247 kg dry, so on E85 it has a little over 1,000 W per kg. The power-to-weight calculator can set that against any other car. SSC claims its drag coefficient of 0.279 is the lowest in its class. The SSC Tuatara article covers its specifications.
Records, disputes and the Striker
On 10 October 2020, on State Route 160 near Pahrump, Nevada, SSC claimed a two-way average of 316.11 mph (508.73 km/h) and a one-way top speed of 331.15 mph with Oliver Webb driving. Analysts disputed the claim. Jerod Shelby later admitted mistakes and promised more transparent testing, and on 21 July 2021 SSC stated that the attempt had not exceeded 300 mph.
A new attempt was made on 17 January 2021 at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The owner, Larry Caplin, a non-professional driver, averaged 282.9 mph (455.3 km/h), with 279.7 mph northbound and 286.1 mph southbound, verified by Racelogic. SSC calls this its production-car record. On 14 May 2022 the same car reached 295 mph (475 km/h) in one direction.
The range has since grown. The road-legal Tuatara Striker adds aerodynamic parts for about 500 kg of downforce. The Aggressor, based on the Striker body and planned in 10 cars, is not road-legal and offers an optional engine of 1,650 kW (2,200 hp). SSC models are listed in the SSC catalogue, and other cars of this class are in the supercars section.
SSC timeline
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1998 | Jerod Shelby founds Shelby SuperCars |
| 2004 | First Ultimate Aero prototype |
| 2007 | Ultimate Aero TT averages 412.28 km/h (13 September) |
| 2010 | Bugatti Veyron Super Sport takes the record (4 July) |
| 2011 | Tuatara name and concept |
| 2012 | Renamed SSC North America |
| 2015 | Last Ultimate Aero XT delivered |
| 2018 | Production Tuatara shown at Pebble Beach |
| 2020 | First Tuatara delivered (January); disputed run in Nevada (October) |
| 2021 | 455.3 km/h two-way average in Florida (17 January) |
| 2022 | 475 km/h one-way run (14 May) |
Landmark SSC models
| Model | Years | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Ultimate Aero prototype | 2004 | First SSC car, Corvette C5-R-based V8 |
| Ultimate Aero TT | 2006–2007 | 412.28 km/h production-car record, 24 built |
| Ultimate Aero XT | 2013–2015 | Own 6.9-litre V8, one car built |
| Tuatara | 2020 onwards | 1,300 kW on E85, 455.3 km/h average |
| Tuatara Striker | 2020s | Road-legal version with extra downforce |
| Tuatara Aggressor | 2020s | Track car with up to 1,650 kW |
Photo gallery
FAQ
Is SSC related to Carroll Shelby?
No relation is stated. SSC was founded as Shelby SuperCars by Jerod Shelby and took the name SSC North America in 2012 after a settlement with Carroll Shelby's companies.
How fast is the SSC Tuatara?
It averaged 455.3 km/h in two directions on 17 January 2021 and reached 475 km/h one way on 14 May 2022.
What happened with the 2020 Tuatara record?
SSC first claimed an average of 508.73 km/h in October 2020. After the figures were disputed, it stated in July 2021 that the car had not exceeded 300 mph.
Did the SSC Ultimate Aero hold a world record?
Yes. Guinness recognised its 412.28 km/h average of 13 September 2007 as the production-car record, until the Bugatti Veyron Super Sport beat it in 2010.
Where is SSC based?
In Richland, Washington, near West Richland, where the company started.
Sources
- Wikipedia — SSC North America (accessed 24 Oct 2026)
- Wikipedia — SSC Ultimate Aero TT (accessed 24 Oct 2026)
- Wikipedia — SSC Tuatara (accessed 24 Oct 2026)
- Wikipedia — Bugatti Veyron (accessed 24 Oct 2026)
- Sscnorthamerica (accessed 24 Oct 2026)
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