Jay Leno gets an exclusive first look at the 2029 Hennessey Blackbird hypercar packing 850 HP based on the iconic SR-71
Published on Oct 23, 2026 at 9:05 AM (UTC-4)
by Ben Thompson
Last updated on Oct 23, 2026 at 9:05 AM (UTC-4)
Edited by
Mason Jones
Jay Leno has taken a look at the 2029 Hennessey Blackbird hypercar, which is inspired by the iconic SR-71 aircraft.
Leno actually met John Hennessey back in 1993, way before he’d built the Venom F5.
Now, all these years later, he was taking a closer look at another Hennessey creation – the Blackbird, capable of between 800 and 850hp.
It’s a truly phenomenal car, but the beauty of the Blackbird runs deeper than its visual looks.
How did Jay Leno become such a fixture in the car scene?
Many people will remember Jay Leno from his days as a late-night host.
So his second career as a car aficionado on his show Jay Leno’s Garage might come as a surprise – but this is hardly a huge left turn for the comedian.
He’s been a huge car buff for a while now, having one of the most Googled celebrity car collections.
To him, cars are serious business, as demonstrated by the law in his name that passed in California.
So it’s no wonder then that Leno is often at the helm of some of the coolest cars on the scene.
Case in point – the new 2029 Hennessey Blackbird.
What is it about the Hennessey Blackbird that sets it apart?
Inspired by Lockheed’s SR-71 spy plane, the Hennessey Blackbird appeared on Jay Leno’s show as a stationary concept car.
Nathan Malik, Hennessey’s VP of Design, was on hand to talk to Leno about the car’s design.
The car’s side-pod inlet is the car’s only hard crease, and is taken directly from the SR-71’s chine line that runs around the aircraft’s body.
But it’s not just in looks that the car is intended to take notes from the plane.
“It was meant to go long distances over a high rate of speed. And that’s really what the point of this car is, too,” Malik explained.
“Take it on a long getaway spirit of driving.”
Even the interior contains nods towards aviation, with the center carrying a ‘Whiskey compass’.
That’s a compass damped with oil resembling whiskey.
Leno, who has sat inside the cockpit of an SR-71, recalled why the plane kept a mechanical oil gauge among its digital displays.
“I said, ‘Why do you have that?’ Because you know, electronics fail. Oil pressure gauge does not fail. They never had one fail,” he recalled.
Why isn’t the Blackbird black?
To look at the car, you’d be well within your rights to question why it’s not called the Bluebird.
Well, Malik had an explanation that made a lot of sense.
Black simply didn’t show the lines as well as blue did.
“A lot of customers are speccing this black, black carbon – but it just wouldn’t show the lines,” he said.
“You can’t have your launch car be black.”
Only 71 Blackbirds will be built.
Despite its supercar status, perhaps the most surprising thing about the Blackbird is how practical it is.
You can actually fit stuff into this car, including two full-size carry-on bags in the front, with plenty more space behind the seats and in the quarter panels.
When can we expect them to enter production?
Well, experimental prototypes are expected to start running next year, but Leno’s own drive is still a while off yet.
The comedian hoped he’d be the first person to drive one.
Watch this space.
Ben joined Supercar Blondie in February 2025 after being published by international organizations including LADbible, The Sun, the New York Post, and the Daily Mail. He covers supercars, rare and collectible vehicles, aviation, luxury assets, and the fascinating people behind them. His reporting has explored everything from seven-figure supercars and historic Ferrari collections to unusual aircraft adventures and extraordinary automotive discoveries from around the world. Ben has also gained first-hand insight into vehicle craftsmanship and customization, including visiting specialist workshops to see bespoke vehicles up close.
