Top 15 Fastest Manual Cars Ever Made

The manual transmission has been an inseparable part since the inception of cars. Whether they are these top 15 fastest manual cars ever made or vintage cars, the legacy it has served is unbeatable. Beyond the concept of speed, manual cars give an edge to feeling the pulse of a vehicle.

Originally, most sports cars were equipped with manual transmissions. A manual transmission made the driving experience more engaging, and it also gave the driver complete control over the way the car would respond to and interact with the road.

Nowadays, there is no price bar for a manual car. One can get a manual car as cheaply as possible. However, a $100k price mark is something that brings some of the very fun and powerful manual cars.

In the video, the YouTube channel Cars with Miles lists some of the top manual cars under $100k while stating about their pricing, engines, and other features.

However, the advent of automatic transmissions improves a vehicle’s efficiency and performance in most cases, leading to the demise of manual transmissions. This is a dying breed, and let’s honor the machinery by taking a look at the fastest manual transmission cars that ever roamed the roads.

 15.  2014 Ariel Atom 3.5R

Here we go with the first car, the Ariel Atom 3.5R. The 2014 Ariel Atom 3.5R is an upgraded version of the Atom V8, and it does 0-62 mph in 2.6 seconds and records a top speed of 155 mph. The car used a supercharged 2.0-liter Honda engine that produces 350 hp and 243 lb-ft of torque.

Power was channeled to the rear wheels via a 6-speed Sadev manual sequential gearbox. This car was the fastest Atom of its time.

The Atom 3.5R weighed in at 1,210 lbs dry and had a very high power-to-weight ratio of 636 hp per tonne. An Atom 3.5R was also given to the Avon and Somerset Police Force in June 2014 to extend support to a local motorcycle safety event.

Ariel customized the car to include pursuit lights and police livery. In one single second, the car could perform five downshifts. 

 14. 2022 BMW M3

BMW cars have become synonymous with their out-of-this-world performance, so the 2022 BMW M3 is no different. This ferociously aggressive sedan does 0-60 in 4.2 seconds, and the M3 Competition xDrive version does it in 3.2 seconds.

The BMW M3's top speed is 156 mph. This great motivation comes from a 3.0L twin-turbocharged inline 6 that produces 473 HP and 406 LB-FT of torque. Paired with a 6-speed manual gearbox, the power is sent to the rear wheels.

Based on the seventh 3-series generation bought in 2019, the BMW M3 showcases an M Sport rear differential for enhanced traction strength. Furthermore, it also provides a carbon fiber roof that not only reduces the overall weight of the car but also presents a sports car-like personality.

Among the handful of optional packages, the execution package adds a head-up display that treats you with all the crucial information about the car right on the windshield.

13.  2008 Ariel Atom 500 V8

Despite a low top speed, this is the fastest accelerating manual car ever made, and it is the Ariel Atom 500 V8. This road-legal two-seater car sprinted from 0-62 mph in less than 2.3 seconds and has a top speed of 168 mph. The car used a John Hartley-designed naturally aspirated 3.0-liter V8 engine that made 500 hp and 284 lb-ft of torque.

This engine was paired with a 6-speed sequential gearbox and came with a rear-wheel-drive setup.

The Atom 500 V8 was limited to just 25 units, of which 20 were bought on a pre-order basis. The car has one of the highest power-to-weight ratios seen on legal road cars of all time, at 909 bhp per ton.

The engine itself weighed 90 kg, or 198 lbs, whereas the car had a weight of 1,213 lbs. The car has a gold finish for the chassis and features improved suspension settings as well.

 12.  2015 BAC Mono

Here comes the 2015 BAC Mono, the first car from the British manufacturer BAC. The Mono is a road-legal single-seater car that recorded a 0-60 mph time of 2.8 seconds and a top speed of around 170 mph.

The car is powered by a 2.5-liter Montune Racing Duratec inline-4, which makes 305 hp and 227 lb-ft of torque. The engine is paired with a 6-speed sequential transmission, and the power is sent to the rear wheels.

The Bac Mono weighs just 580 kg or 1,278 lbs. This, combined with the power output, gives the car a power-to-weight ratio of 525 bhp per ton. The car also boasts near-perfect weight distribution between the front and rear sections.

The Bac Mono is a one-of-a-kind car, as it offers bespoke personalization and is tailor-made for your fit. The car also uses a BAC-developed 4 into 2 into 1 exhaust system.

11.  2 018 Lotus Exige Sport 410

The 2018 Lotus Exige Sport 410 is another tuned-up version of the Exige sports car and brings a 0-60 mph time of 3.3 seconds and a top speed of 174 mph. The car is powered by a supercharged 3.5-liter V6 engine that makes 410 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque. The engine is paired with a 6-speed manual transmission that transfers the power to the rear wheel.

The sport in the 410’s name stands for performance cars from Lotus that would spend most of their time on the streets. The 410 was made to close the gap in the Exige lineup between the Cup 430 and the Sport 350.

For reference, ‘Cup’ is added to the name when it's a track-focused car. Recently, with Lotus planning to go all-electric soon, the production of the Exige came to an end after 21 years.

 10. 2020 Ford Mustang Shelby GT350R

We all know muscle cars by the name of Ford. However, the Mustang Shelby took the aspirations of a car freak to another level. The 2020 Ford Mustang Shelby GT350 R with scalpel-shaped handling did 0-60 in 3.9 seconds.

This punishing attitude and roar come from a naturally aspirated 5.2L V8 engine that makes 526 HP and 429 LB-FT of torque. It pairs with a 6-speed manual transmission; sorry, the Supercharged Mustang Shelby GT500 has an automatic gearbox. The rear wheels deliver all the power.

The year 2020 was the last time we witnessed the GT350R muscle car; however, the GT500 was still in contact until the year 2022. Enriched with an extreme racing heritage, the Ford Mustang Shelby GT350R was a true race car that went extinct.

9.  2016 Chevrolet Corvette Z06

Corvettes are known to bring glamour at a cheaper rate. The 2016 Corvette Z06 is one of the fastest Corvettes ever made, with a 0-60 mph time of 3.2 seconds, a quarter-mile time of 11.2 seconds, and a top speed of 196 mph when equipped with the 7-speed manual. This makes it one of the fastest Corvettes ever made.

With the optional eight-speed automatic transmission, the 0-60 mph time was reduced to 2.95 seconds, and the car sprinted to a quarter-mile in 10.95 seconds.

The 2016 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 was powered by an LT4 supercharged 6.2-liter V8 engine that outputs 650 hp and a torque output of 650 lb-ft.

In 2016, it released the C7.R edition, which came standard with the Z07 package with the optional carbon-ceramic Brembo brakes and Michelin PS Cup 2 tires for improved performance, along with many visual upgrades.

8.  2010 Porsche 911 Turbo

The list is incomplete without a Porsche. The 2010 Porsche 911 Turbo Coupe goes from 0-60 mph in 3.2 seconds and records a top speed of around 193 mph, and yes, it gave these performance numbers with a 6-speed manual. For 2010, the Turbo’s completely new twin-turbocharged 3.8-liter flat-6 engine was much more powerful than its predecessor, making 500 hp and 480 lb-ft of torque.

The 2010 Turbo is considered one of the best Turbo models ever made. For 2010, one of the biggest changes was to the engine: it now had the same construction seen on the base 911 engine, which helped with a weight reduction of 22 lbs.

The car was also offered with a 7-speed automatic transmission tuned to the extreme performance of this Turbo’s engine. However, for what it offered, this was one of the most expensive Porsches on the market back then.

 7. 2022 Porsche 911 GT3

Here comes the second Porsche on the list, and the fun fact is that it is also a 911 sports car. The 2022 Porsche 911 GT3 is a perfectly made manual sports car. Being one of the fastest manual Porsches, it does 0-60 in 3.3 seconds while having a top speed of 199 mph.

The telepathic handling and bullet train-like acceleration come from a 4.0L flat-6 engine that churns out 502 HP and 346 LB-FT of torque. Bolted with a 6-speed manual or a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, the GT3 sports car has power at its rear wheels.

Despite its tremendous performance, the Porsche GT3 is still very comfortable to drive on a daily basis. With ultra-high-performance tires, it also fetches race-inspired controlled-art front suspension, track-specific suspension adjustments, and a bunch of other stuff if you carry extra cash to install them.

 6. 2020 Aston Martin Vantage AMR

Some supercars are great to drive but fail to impress in style, but Aston Martin cars are built differently. The 2020 Aston Martin Vantage AMR Coupe, with its show-topping appearance, meets both criteria. It does 0-60 in 3.8 seconds, making it one of the fastest grand tourers on the market.

The Vantage has a top speed of 200 mph. All thanks to the 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8 engine that provoked 503 HP and 461 LB-FT of torque. The newly launched vehicle was equipped with a 7-speed manual transmission, giving all energy to the rear portion.

Limited to just 200 production models, the 2020 Aston Martin Vantage AMR was a fresh start that came out of the box with a manual transmission. To further nourish the performance, Aston Martin sent it with carbon-ceramic brake rotors, which were an optional thing on the usual Vantage.

5. 2022 Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing

Next comes an American luxury carmaker, the Cadillac. Its 2022 CT5-V Blackwing sedan is one of the fastest sedans in the world, with 0-60 in 3.6 seconds and a top speed of 205 mph. The insane throttle comes from a recently updated 6.2L supercharged V8 engine that derives a stupendous figure of 668 HP and 659 LB-FT of torque. With a 6-speed manual gearbox, the power is sent to the rear wheels.

Giving tough competition to the legendary M5 sedan, the Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing weighs more. It has Brembo brakes with slotted rotors, adaptive suspension dampers, and a cabin made with a good amount of leather upholstery. 

 4.  2013 Dodge SRT Viper GTS

The 2013 Dodge Viper GTS coupe model was refreshed and returned after a 3-year gap, and this brought performance upgrades and kept the 6-speed manual. Being a sports car, it had a 0-60 mph time of 3.4 seconds and a top speed of 206 mph. The Viper used the same large, naturally aspirated 8.4-liter V10 engine seen on the fourth-generation model but made 640 hp and 600 lb-ft of torque.

For 2013, the Dodge Viper added a few extra pounds, a better interior, more power, and a redesigned exterior as well. The 2013 model started the fifth generation of the Viper, which lasted until 2017, when the Fiat Chrysler group announced that the Viper’s production would cease owing to poor sales numbers.

Also, this resulted in the closure of the Conner Assembly Plant, where the Viper was produced.

3.  2010 Pagani Zonda R

If there is a car that can stand neck-by-neck with a Bugatti, we would say it is a Pagani. The Pagani Zonda R featured a 6-speed sequential manual transmission, did 0-60 mph in 2.6 seconds, and had a top speed of around 230 mph, as claimed by Pagani.

The car is powered by a 6.0-liter V12 Mercedes-Benz M120 engine, the same setup seen in the Mercedes CLK-GTR; however, in the Zonda R, the engine produces a higher 740 hp and pumps out 524 lb-ft of torque.

The Zonda R is similar in shape to the Zonda F but shares only 10% of the F’s components. For better performance, the Zonda R used a carbon chassis with updated suspension and lighter mechanicals. The Zonda R was limited to 15 units, with one prototype model and five Zonda Revolucion cars.

This performance car was limited to track use only, and Pagani launched the Zonda Cinque, which was meant to be a road-legal version of the R.

 2.  2006 Koenigsegg CCR

There you go, greeting the second hypercar on the list back-to-back. Koenigsegg’s CCR, limited to just 14 units, had a 0-60 mph time of 3.2 seconds and registered a top speed of 245 mph. This performance was derived from the CCR’s highly aerodynamic body and the twin-supercharged 4.7-liter V8 engine, which had an output of 806 hp and 678 lb-ft of torque.

The car used a 6-speed manual gearbox developed by Cima and transferred the horses to the rear wheel.

This CCR was a successor to the CC8S. This mid-engine car was the most powerful version in the CC car range at the time it was launched. There were also two special edition models made: the CCR Revo and the EDO Competition CCR Evo.

Koenigsegg also claimed that the CCR was the fastest production car on sale back then, with a top speed of around 245 mph, which was proved at the Nardo Ring in Italy. It was later beaten by the Bugatti Veyron's 250-mph top speed.

1.  2016 Hennessey Venom GT Spyder

Some hypercar makers do not get enough attention, and Hennessey is among them. At last on our list is the 2016 Hennessey Venom GT Spyder—the fastest manual car ever made. It features a 6-speed Ricardo-sourced manual gearbox, could do 0-60 mph in 2.4 seconds, and recorded a top speed of 265.6 mph.

The Venom GT Spyder is powered by a twin-turbocharged 7.0L V8 engine that produces 1,451 hp and 1,287 lb-ft of torque, and all that power goes to the rear wheels.

The Venom GT is 0.1 seconds behind the Spyder. Hennessey built the Venom GT based on a Lotus Elise. Most of its chassis is made of the same material, with carbon additions to reduce overall weight.

A total of six GT Spyder units were built by Hennessey. The last model, called the Final Edition, was sold for $1.2 million and was 9 pounds lighter than the standard GT Spyder.