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The late Ken Block’s 1977 Ford F-150 – featuring a Le Mans-based powertrain – is due to sell at auction this month.
Late American stunt driver Ken Block built a one-off 1977 Ford F-150 drift truck – dubbed ‘Hoonitruck’ – in 2018, and now it's up for auction later this month.
Ken Block created the custom 1977 Ford F-150 pick-up as a tribute to his late father, who taught him to drive in one when he was 15.
This Ford F-150 is powered by the twin-turbocharged 3.5-litre Ecoboost V6 engine used in Ford’s GT Le Mans program. It was specially built for Block’s ‘Gymkhana’ cinematic series, in which he performed extreme driving stunts and tyre-smoking skids for viewers’ enjoyment.
Not only does the Hoonitruck’s race-spec engine output 682kW and 951Nm, but the wild powertrain is enveloped in a rebuilt tube frame, aluminium body panels, and is underpinned by a special all-wheel-drive system. It was built in the United States by the North Carolina-based workshop Detroit Speed, which even developed a 3D-printed custom intake manifold that’s visible through a hole in the bonnet.
Though it’s not even remotely street legal, the unique Ford F-150 features modern Ford technology such as a functional reverse camera, tow hitch setup, and a FordPass remote start system.
The car was the star of Block’s Gymkhana TEN video, published on YouTube in 2018, and Climbkhana TWO, in 2019.
No reserve is listed alongside the late Ken Block’s prized possession, though the last time the vehicle was for sale in 2021 through a Michigan-based dealership it was priced at $US1.1 million ($AU1.76 million).
Considering the vehicle’s legendary pilot (and designer) Block is now deceased, it’s likely the car will have appreciated above that price point when it hits the auction stage at Barrett-Jackson’s Scottsdale Auction in late January.
Tom started out in the automotive industry by exploiting his photographic skills but quickly learned journalists got the better end of the deal. With tenures at CarAdvice, Wheels Media, and now Drive, Tom's breadth of experience and industry knowledge informs a strong opinion on all things automotive. At Drive, Tom covers automotive news, car reviews, advice, and holds a special interest in long-form feature stories.
