The one-off racing car known as Mephistofele was derived from the old Fiat SB4 chassis. It became notorious for the infernal noise emitted by its powerful aircraft 6-cylinder in-line engine, displacing over 20,000 cm³, with exhausts kept free of mufflers for maximum performance. On 12 July 1924 in Arpajon, driven by its pilot and designer Ernest Eldridge, the Mephistofele reached 146.01 miles per hour (over 230 km/h) and broke the World Land Speed Record. The car was characterised by its high-back bodywork housing the powerful Fiat A-12 liquid-cooled engine, and its structure was built specifically to achieve the speed record.