Steven Tyler to Auction Hennessey Venom GT
Aerosmith Frontman and Barrett-Jackson Are Teaming Up to Donate Sales Proceeds of Ultra-Rare Venom GT to ‘Janie’s Fund’
Next month, the Barrett-Jackson Auction Company will visit Scottsdale, Arizona, with its annual collector car sale. Among the star-studded catalog is this American legend: a Hennessey Venom GT. Most noteworthy, Steven Tyler‘s Hennessey Venom GT.
This extremely rare and one-of-a-kind Hennessey Venom GT Spyder comes from a very special personal collection. Not only is Steven Tyler a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, and four-time Grammy winner, the Aerosmith frontman is also a serious gear head. The history of the Hennessey Venom GT dates back to 2007, when founder John Hennessey set a 0-200 mph acceleration world record with a 1000 Twin Turbo Viper. Not content with a time of 20.3 seconds, he want back to the drawing board. Thus the Venom GT was born.
“One day I joked about putting the Venom 1000 Twin Turbo engine in the back of a Lotus Exige,” he said. “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.”
Steven Tyler, collector of many one-off vehicles rang Hennessey during a stop in Houston, Texas, and asked for a brief test drive. A few hours later, Tyler had placed an order, but wanted one a bit special. “He asked if we could build his Venom as a convertible,” said Hennessey. A few months later, the first Venom GT convertible was deliver to Steven Tyler, and the rest is history. Since then, only 12 samples have been built.
The mid-engined car and rear-wheel drive machine has a carbon-fiber body, and a composite/aluminum monocoque-space frame. In addition, the 7.0 liter V8 engine produces 1,244 horsepower, which propels the 2,743 pound convertible from 0-60 mph in 2.7 seconds. Furthermore, it can reach 200 mph in only 14.5 seconds. That’s 5.8 seconds faster than the 1000 Twin Turbo Viper. That’s blisteringly quick.
When this supercar goes under the block in Scottsdale on Friday, January 20, 100% of the hammer amount will be donated to Tyler’s own “Janie’s Fund” charity. This fund was set up to support girls who have been abused and neglected. It gives them the resources they need to heal and interact with society. As Tyler puts it, “the tools they need to get on in this crazy world that we’ve got.”
The 46th Annual Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale auction runs from January 14 through the 22, and you can register to bid here if so you desire. Or should I say, if you can afford to…
Rock on, Steven Tyler!
Chime in with your thoughts on the forum. >>
