Supercar Blondie shares her favorite thing about the new Hennessey Blackbird hypercar that's based on the SR-71
Published on Aug 07, 2026 at 10:14 PM (UTC+4)
by Alessandro Renesis
Last updated on Aug 07, 2026 at 10:14 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Kate Bain
Hennessey just unveiled the Blackbird hypercar and the car world went crazy.
It’s easy to see why.
It looks great, it has an amazing name, and it’s super fast.
According to Alex Hirschi – aka Supercar Blondie – there’s also another reason everyone’s talking about it.
A hypercar worthy of its name
We did some research and were surprised to learn that in the entire history of cars, no major company has ever made a fully-fledged production vehicle called ‘Blackbird’ before.
A few have tried, but nothing ever stuck.
In the 1980s, Ford unveiled the Taurus Blackbird concept car, but it never made it to production.
Other than that, there have only been a couple of experimental vehicles.
Now, in 2026, Hennessey has unveiled the Blackbird, the first full-fledged production vehicle named after one of the world’s most iconic aircraft.
First introduced in 1966, the Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird was a recconnaissance aircraft that could fly at Mach 3.
But everyone remembers it due to its unmistakable black livery.
It really does look like a black bird.
As for the Hennessey Blackbird, due to its speed and design, we can’t think of a better name for it.
And, according to Alex Hirschi, there’s another thing that makes this supercar special.
The Blackbird is going in a new direction
Supercar Blondie mentioned two things that made this vehicle extra special.
“This 850-horsepower hypercar has no digital screens whatsoever. All analog. And it has a gated manual shifter,” she said.
She also said she believed this direction was ‘becoming a trend’ in the automotive industry.
And she’s not wrong.
The car world has probably become a bit saturated with giant screens everywhere, and the same goes for ultra-sophisticated transmissions.
That’s probably why collectors are turning to analog supercars.
Hennessey isn’t the only brand going in this direction.
Nilu27 and Gordon Murray Automotive have done the same thing.
Then there’s the curious case of Ferrari.
The Italian manufacturer recently unveiled a ‘manual’ 12Cilindri.
Mind you, some would argue that this shouldn’t count, because the 12Cilindri is actually equipped with an automatic and digital transmission that simulates a manual.
Alessandro is an automotive journalist with 10 years of experience covering supercars, automotive history, emerging vehicle technology, and luxury transportation. He wrote the first article published on SupercarBlondie.com when the website launched in 2022 and has since built a reputation for insightful reporting across the automotive and transportation industries. His expertise is grounded in hands-on experience. Alessandro has driven every Tesla model ever produced, from the original Roadster to the Cybertruck, and regularly covers the latest developments in electric vehicles and automotive innovation. His passion for transportation extends beyond cars, he has even flown a Boeing 787 Dreamliner simulator in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. His reporting spans everything from classic American muscle cars and rare automotive discoveries to luxury yachts, private aircraft, high-end watches, and cutting-edge vehicle technology. Known for his deep knowledge of automotive history and ability to uncover the stories behind iconic vehicles, Alessandro brings readers a blend of historical context, technical expertise, and first-hand experience.
