Not too long ago, American supercar manufacturer and legendary tuner Hennessey Performance teased a new car under the name Project Overlord. Well, we haven’t had to wait too long for its unveiling. Enter the new Hennessey Blackbird, a hypercar inspired by the iconic Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird spy plane.
This is the third car to come from the Texas-based tuners, following the Lotus-derived Venom GT and the bespoke Venom F5. This time, there is a very different philosophy to the new Blackbird, with Hennessey focusing on the “man-machine connection” between driver and hypercar.
The new car offers a more analogue experience compared to its rivals, such as the McLaren W1. But it’s also a homage and tribute to the Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird, the American spy aircraft that could fly at speeds over Mach 3.0. And Hennessey hasn’t just used the name as a link between the car and aircraft.
The car has taken inspiration from the design of the aircraft to influence its own looks and philosophy. So we can see some similarities between the jet and the hypercar. At the heart is a monstrous naturally-aspirated V8, and the driver controls its power with a six-speed manual transmission.
How the SR-71 Inspired Hennessey’s New Hypercar
The company is making no secret that this hypercar is a tribute to the famous Lockheed spy plane. But its influence goes well beyond just the name. The car has design elements straight from the jet, with it having influenced the aerodynamics of Hennessey’s new machine.
At the back, the rear stabilizers have been modelled on the SR-71’s tail fins. These tilt up to 71 degrees at speeds above 71 mph to maintain downforce. The creases alongside the sidepod are another direct link to the aircraft, and it is no coincidence that the number 71 crops up several times with the hypercar.
A look at the rear shows further aviation influences. The quad-exhaust layout is a nod to the rocket-powered Bell X-1, the first aircraft to officially break the speed of sound with Chuck Yeager flying it in 1947. Inside, exposed carbonfibre, visible pedal linkages and a suite of dials and clocks are also heavily influenced by aviation. They are a direct reference to a more analogue period, with this car far more analogue than one of its rivals, the fearsome McLaren W1.
Naturally-Aspirated Power Is at the Heart of the Hennessey Blackbird
A look under the hood shows just how serious Hennessey has been about making this as raw a machine as possible. Powering this new beast is a monster 6.2-liter naturally-aspirated V8 engine. That’s right, there is no turbocharging, supercharging, or electrical power here. The Blackbird makes all of its power just from that V8 engine.
The car can produce 800-850hp, and it is enough to give it a 0- 60 mph time of just under 3.0 seconds, and a top speed of 220mph. A six-speed manual transmission ensures that the car is an absolute dream for enthusiasts. It might not have the raw power of the Venom F5, but it will provide a more raw and natural driving experience. Hennessey is producing just 71 of these exceptional cars, with production set to begin in 2029. Each one will cost $2.5 million.