Hennessey, the most American car company on Earth, is celebrating the USA’s 250th birthday with a limited edition pickup truck. Because why would it do anything else?
The Texas-based manufacturer has modified a Ford F-250 Lariat into something that looks like something you can conquer a medium-sized country with. The “VelociRaptor 1200 F‑250” packs the optional and superior 6.7‑liter High Output V8 Turbo Diesel engine – which delivers a hefty 1,200 lb‑ft of torque. Being Hennessey, they’ve taken things a lot further than factory spec as well.
Off-road capability has been enhanced with an additional five‑inch off‑road lift and advanced shocks. 37‑inch off-road tires are covering the truck’s 18-inch rims. On the cosmetic side, you can expect a lot of carbon fiber, with the performance focused material forming the vented hood, fender vents, mirror caps, fender flares, and tailgate. The truck’s black is contrasted with a number of chrome components, such as the stainless‑steel front and rear bumpers, LED lights, power running boards, and VelociRaptor 1200 exterior graphics.
In the cab, the stock seating has made way for “Hennessey seats trimmed in premium black leather and Alcantara, finished with red accent stitching.” A plaque is also present, confirming the truck’s limited edition status, and production number. The occasional American flag also crops up on the vehicle, but Hennessey seems to have avoided the temptation to go full “Team America” with this one.
It’s a pretty limited run, and freedom isn’t free
The company, which was founded when John Hennessey decided the Dodge Viper just wasn’t powerful enough to be a proper deathtrap, has a long history of modifying popular vehicles. Previous examples include a Cadillac Escalade that will squirt mace into your eyeballs if you mess with it, and a suped up version of the F-150 Raptor. The company has also produced a number of iconic hypercars, including the Venom GT and Venom F5.
Speaking about the truck, Hennessey president Alex Roys says: “This year marks a truly historic milestone for the United States and we’re proud to commemorate 250 years of American independence with a celebration model worthy of the occasion. Our VelociRaptor 1200 F‑250 embodies the spirit of American engineering and craftsmanship, delivering extreme capability, bold design, and the unmistakable character our customers expect from Hennessey.”
As for the pricing, Hennessey is asking for $54,500 in addition to the base price of an F‑250 Lariat (which starts at a shade over $62,000). So in essence, it’s a $117,000 truck. It’s also pretty limited, with only 250 individually numbered trucks (see the theme yet?) being made. The vehicle made its in-person debut at the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) Show in Las Vegas.
Sadly the truck doesn’t come with a free flag, shotgun, and case of PBR. But if you’re on the list for one of these, you likely own all of those anyway.
