Vehicle Description
Chassis No. SCCLHCXC1BHD11319
Venom GT Chassis No. 03
In 2007, Road & Track magazine organized a landmark showdown
between the world's fastest supercars in a zero-to-200 mph
challenge. The competition included Europe's supercar heavyweights
of the era: the Mercedes McLaren SLR, Lamborghini Murcielago, RUF
Porsche 911 Twin Turbo, and the 987-horsepower Bugatti Veyron 16.4.
Hennessey Performance entered their then-latest Venom 1000 Twin
Turbo Viper, and when all was said and done, it emerged victorious
by reaching 200 mph in an astonishing 20.3 seconds-nearly four
seconds ahead of the Veyron 16.4 in second place.
Following the test, John Hennessey recognized that, despite its
impressive result in the showdown, the front-engine,
rear-wheel-drive Viper layout simply couldn't harness more output
without excessive wheelspin. As he later explained, "I thought that
we could possibly add a bit more power but had concerns about being
able to put that power to the ground via the Viper front-engine
rear-wheel-drive platform. My next thought was to reduce weight...
try to lighten the Viper from 3,500 lbs to under 3,000 lbs. But
that would not be reality as the car could only shed about 200 lbs
while still being a true street car with a full interior, AC, etc.
One day I joked about putting the Venom 1000 Twin Turbo engine in
the back of a Lotus Exige. Then I thought, let's do a sketch and
see what that might look like. When I saw the sketch I stopped
laughing and really started to seriously think about this
idea."
The resulting Venom GT blended a bespoke carbon-fiber
monocoque-sourced from Lotus-with a supercharged 6.2-liter LS9 V8
delivering 725 horsepower through a six-speed Ricardo manual
transaxle. In its ultimate twin-turbo charged 7.0-liter guise, it
could produce 1,200 horsepower and sprint from zero to 60 mph in
approximately 2.7 seconds on its way to an unofficial production
car record top speed of 270.49 mph. Carbon-ceramic Brembo brakes,
fully independent suspension and adjustable aero elements ensured
stability at these extreme speeds, while an Alcantara-trimmed
interior, comprehensive instrumentation, and factory-fitted
air-conditioning-likely having to do with the Venom's Texas
origins-demonstrate that creature comforts were not overlooked.
This ultra-rare American hypercar is chassis number 03 of just 13
Venom GTs, including the prototype, completed between 2011 and
2014. Finished in Venom Red complemented by an exposed carbon fiber
front splitter and rear diffuser, it rides on 20-inch wheels
mounted with Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S tires. The focused cabin is
neatly trimmed in black leather and Alcantara with white contrast
stitching. It is one of two cars specified with a supercharged LS9
engine; all other examples were twin turbocharged according to
research.
Assembled at Hennessey's facility near Silverstone, England, this
particular Venom GT was reportedly previously registered in the
U.K., Bulgaria, and Germany before importation to the U.S. under
current ownership. During a test drive earlier in its life, it is
believed the car suffered cosmetic damage during a service test
drive. The driver reportedly lost control, suffering a spin and
subsequent damage to the rear end. The rear spoiler, diffuser,
taillights and bumper were replaced as a result. Maintenance under
previous ownership is said to have included a service in August
2022 at 2,150 kilometers, which saw the replacement of the
injectors, ignition coils, lambda sensors, fuel pump, catalytic
converter, spark plugs, shift cables, and an FIA-specification
racing tank.
A limited-production hypercar with just a handful produced, this
investment-grade Hennessey Venom GT is offered with fewer than
2,300 kilometers from new at the time of cataloging. To acquire
this Venom GT is to claim a defining hypercar of the 21st
century-one that broke speed records and continued the timeless
Anglo-American tradition of marrying raw American power with
sophisticated British chassis architecture.
Please note this vehicle is titled as a Lotus
