SSC Tuatara car carrier crash another setback for record attempt

Beleaguered hypercar manufacturer Shelby Super Cars has hit yet another speed bump in its attempt to set a production car top speed record.

Footage from The Drive shows a beaten-up Tuatara which suffered extensive damage after the car carrier transporting it flipped over during high winds. According to The Drive, the car was on its way from Utah to Florida in preparation for another top speed attempt when high winds caused the enclosed carrier to flip over.

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There were no fatal injuries from the crash, however the driver and a passenger were hospitalised. Extrication of the Tuatara proved difficult after the carrier was totalled, damaging the internal lift system.

Even from the photos, you can tell that the US$1.9 million (AU$2.4 million) hypercar was left in a very sorry state in need of major repairs.

Though, according to SSC owner Jerod Shelby, this particular Tuatara (car #001) can be repaired for its owner Larry Caplin. He insisted that damage was mostly cosmetic and the SSC team has already begun the process of repairing it.

Unfortunately for SSC, there is not another car ready to take its place for the record attempt. This car will have to be repaired before another attempt can be made.

Between allegations of cheating and now this crash, SSC has been through a rough patch in its attempt to snatch the world record. Controversy erupted in late 2020 after analysis suggested its attempt was not genuine.

Online super sleuths noticed discrepancies in the video documenting the 331-mph attempt (532km/h), prompting the American outfit concede that it was not a genuine attempt and to reschedule for another go in January 2021. It could only manage 282.9 mph the second time around, and its run was only recorded in one direction. An average of two directions must be recorded for a record to stand.

SSC plans to sell 100 units of the 1300kW Tuatara and still plans to set the new top speed benchmark after repairing this particular Tuatara.