JCB GT Officially Crowned the Fastest Digger on Earth

Guinness World Records confirmed JCB's one-off promotional machine is the fastest backhoe loader in the world with a top speed of 72.58 mph across 250 meters

Guinness World Records has confirmed that the JCB GT, a one-off promotional machine made by the UK backhoe manufacturer, is officially the fastest backhoe loader in the world, with a top speed of 72.58 mph across 250 meters.

“The JCB GT has always been regarded as the fastest backhoe around and now it’s official,” said Fab Carrettin, managing director of JCB Pacific (the GT made its official speed run at at Bathurst, Australia. “It’s fantastic to have achieved this record and underlines the world-class engineering, power and performance our customers demand from the JCB backhoe.”

The 1,000 hp JCB GT is a unique machine powered by a supercharged Chevrolet V8 big block engine, fueled by a pair of four-barreled Holley carburetors and exhaling via eight, 20-in. straight pipes. JCB claims top speeds of around 120 mph. The loader and backhoe ends are made completely out of aluminum. With a light weight steel chassis and JCB Fastrac tractor rear axle, the JCB GT was originally designed to do wheelies to thrill crowds at U.S. drag strips.

The JCB GT made its debut in 1988, and is normally based at JCB’s headquarters in Staffordshire, UK. It went to Australia to perform at car events, including the Deni Ute Muster in Deniliquin, NSW and the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 in Bathurst, NSW.

JCB says its backhoe has been the world’s biggest selling backhoe loader for 14 consecutive years. The company has made more than half a million backhoes since 1953.

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