The Hennessey Blackbird hypercar has completely sold out, with all 71 planned manual-transmission cars now contracted and backed by deposits despite a starting price of $2.5 million before taxes.
All 71 Hennessey Blackbirds Have Buyers
Hennessey Special Vehicles had already secured buyers for 60 Blackbirds before the hypercar made its global public debut at Monterey Car Week’s The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering.
That left just 11 build slots available when the Blackbird was revealed. Hennessey said all 11 were sold within four hours of the debut, bringing the total to all 71 vehicles planned for production.
The company also has a growing wait list of prospective buyers hoping to obtain a build slot if one becomes available after a customer drops out.
A Manual Hypercar Focused on the Driver
The Hennessey Blackbird is built around a driver-focused approach. It features a naturally aspirated 6.2-liter V8 engine expected to rev beyond 9,000 rpm, a six-speed gated manual transmission and a screen-free cabin with analog controls and a large central tachometer.
Its design is inspired by the Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird spy plane.
Developed with Ilmor Engineering, the mid-mounted V8 is projected to produce between 800 and 850 horsepower, sending power to the rear wheels. Hennessey expects the Blackbird to accelerate from 0-60 MPH in 2.5 seconds and reach a top speed of 220 MPH.
Weight-saving measures are also central to the hypercar’s performance targets. The Blackbird uses a full-carbon tub and carbon-fiber bodywork, helping produce a targeted curb weight of less than 3,000 pounds.
Blackbird Becomes Hennessey’s Most Popular Hypercar
The Blackbird is the third hypercar from Hennessey Special Vehicles, following the Venom GT and Venom F5. Based on how quickly it sold out, it has become the company’s most popular hypercar so far.
Hennessey said the response demonstrates strong interest in a hypercar combining a naturally aspirated V8 with a manual gearbox, even as many of the world’s fastest cars rely on highly sophisticated technology for 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,” Hennessey said. “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.”
Manual Supercars Draw Attention
The Blackbird’s focus on driver engagement comes as McLaren has also unveiled a manual-transmission supercar powered by a mid-mounted V8 engine, the McL 6GT.
The McL 6GT remains a concept vehicle for now, but it previews a production model expected to debut in 2028.
For Hennessey Special Vehicles, the rapid sellout means all 71 Blackbird build slots are now taken, while prospective buyers continue to join the wait list for an opportunity to secure one if a slot becomes available.
