If you were hoping to snag one of the 71 Blackbird manual-transmission hypercars Hennessey Special Vehicles is planning to build, we hate to disappoint you.
Every single one of the 71 Blackbirds has been sold in markets around the world, despite the eye-watering price of $2.5 million before taxes. According to Hennessey, 60 units had already been spoken for before the Blackbird’s global public debut at Monterey Car Week’s The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering.
Hennessey Received Deposits for All 71 Blackbird Build Slots
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That means only 11 Hennessey Blackbird hypercars were up for grabs at the event, all of which found buyers just four hours after the reveal. As a result, Hennessey said that all of the 71 Blackbirds are now contracted and backed by a deposit.
Not only has Hennessey Special Vehicles sold all 71 Blackbird hypercars available but it also has a growing wait list formed of prospective buyers hoping to secure a build slot in case someone drops out. That’s a remarkable achievement given the Blackbird’s price, and it proves there’s strong demand in the ultra-high-end vehicle market for manual-transmission models.
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The Hennessey Blackbird puts the driver at the center of it all. It has a naturally aspirated 6.2-liter V8 engine expected to rev past 9,000 rpm, a six-speed gated manual transmission, and a completely screen-free, driver-focused cabin featuring analog controls and a large central tachometer. Oh, and did we mention the design inspired by the legendary Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird spy plane?
Developed with Ilmor Engineering, the mid-mounted engine is projected to deliver between 800 and 850 horsepower to the rear wheels, which should be enough to enable a 0-60 MPH time of 2.5 seconds—with a manual gearbox!—and a top speed of 220 MPH.
Credit for the blistering performance also goes to weight-saving measures including the full-carbon tub and carbon-fiber bodywork, which contribute to a targeted curb weight of less than 3,000 pounds.
Supercar Collectors Are Sending a Strong Message to the Market
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The third hypercar from Hennessey Special Vehicles following the Venom GT and Venom F5, the Blackbird is by far the most popular so far judging by how quickly it sold out.
This remarkable success proves that Hennessey was right to bet on a hypercar powered by a naturally aspirated V8 linked to a manual gearbox at a time when most of the world’s fastest cars feature highly sophisticated technology for cutting-edge performance.
“With buyers tired of overly complex, hybridized cars filled with screens, and lacking emotion, we knew that Blackbird fitted the brief for the car today’s buyers want. However, none of us expected such an overwhelmingly positive response. Selling out so fast is testament to the stunning design and our team’s appreciation of what makes hypercar ownership special.”
Hennessey
The Hennessey Blackbird puts driver engagement first, and collectors were quick to react to that. Perhaps it’s not by chance that McLaren has also unveiled a manual-transmission supercar powered by a mid-mounted V8 engine—the McL 6GT. While it’s only a concept vehicle for now, it previews a production model expected to debut in 2028.
