Menu
John Hennessey is an American automotive visionary, entrepreneur, and lifelong performance enthusiast whose name has become synonymous with high-horsepower innovation. As the founder and CEO of Hennessey Performance Engineering, Hennessey Special Vehicles, and Tuner School, John has dedicated nearly four decades to pushing the boundaries of speed, engineering, and automotive excitement.
His journey began in the early 1990s, racing a modified Mitsubishi 3000GT in events like the Pikes Peak Hill Climb, Silver State Classic, and the Bonneville Salt Flats, where he set a world record in his class. Fueled by a passion for performance and the thrill of competition, John turned his personal obsession with speed into a growing business—starting out in his garage in 1991 modifying import cars.
That humble beginning quickly evolved. By the mid-1990s, John was building twin-turbo Dodge Vipers with 1,000+ horsepower, capturing global attention from outlets like MotorTrendtop , Car and Driver, Top Gear, and Road & Track. These high-octane builds helped establish Hennessey as a leader in the world of extreme automotive performance.
John Hennessey is an American automotive visionary, entrepreneur, and lifelong performance enthusiast whose name has become synonymous with high-horsepower innovation. As the founder and CEO of Hennessey Performance Engineering, Hennessey Special Vehicles, and Tuner School, John has dedicated nearly four decades to pushing the boundaries of speed, engineering, and automotive excitement.
His journey began in the early 1990s, racing a modified Mitsubishi 3000GT in events like the Pikes Peak Hill Climb, Silver State Classic, and the Bonneville Salt Flats, where he set a world record in his class. Fueled by a passion for performance and the thrill of competition, John turned his personal obsession with speed into a growing business—starting out in his garage in 1991 modifying import cars.
That humble beginning quickly evolved. By the mid-1990s, John was building twin-turbo Dodge Vipers with 1,000+ horsepower, capturing global attention from outlets like MotorTrendtop , Car and Driver, Top Gear, and Road & Track. These high-octane builds helped establish Hennessey as a leader in the world of extreme automotive performance.
Today, Hennessey Performance is one of the largest performance car manufacturers in the world, having delivered over 15,000 high-performance vehicles to customers across the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and South America. From mid-engine hypercars to six-wheeled super trucks and modern American muscle cars, every Hennessey creation is engineered with a singular mission: to deliver unmatched power, performance, and excitement.
In 2017, John founded Hennessey Special Vehicles to bring his dream of building a world-class hypercar from the ground up to life. That vision became reality with the debut of the Venom F5, a bespoke American hypercar engineered to exceed 300 mph—marking Hennessey’s entry into the elite world of hypercar manufacturing and setting a new benchmark for speed.
The company’s Sealy, Texas headquarters includes a state-of-the-art production facility, R&D center, and private test track, where Hennessey vehicles are validated at speeds exceeding 150 mph. In addition to producing limited-edition vehicles like the Venom F5 and VelociRaptoR 1000, the company upgrades over 750 vehicles per year, ranging from supercharged trucks and SUVs to 1,200+ horsepower muscle cars.
In addition to building world-class vehicles, John is committed to cultivating the next generation of automotive talent. He founded Tuner School, a one-of-a-kind educational program that offers hands-on training in performance vehicle engineering and modification—equipping students with the real-world skills needed to thrive in the high-performance industry.
Respected globally as a pioneer of modern American horsepower, John Hennessey is widely regarded as an icon of speed and the open road. He continues to lead his brands with a commitment to performance, innovation, and excellence.
John lives in Houston, Texas, with his wife Hope and their five children.
Today, Hennessey Performance is one of the largest performance car manufacturers in the world, having delivered over 15,000 high-performance vehicles to customers across the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and South America. From mid-engine hypercars to six-wheeled super trucks and modern American muscle cars, every Hennessey creation is engineered with a singular mission: to deliver unmatched power, performance, and excitement.
In 2017, John founded Hennessey Special Vehicles to bring his dream of building a world-class hypercar from the ground up to life. That vision became reality with the debut of the Venom F5, a bespoke American hypercar engineered to exceed 300 mph—marking Hennessey’s entry into the elite world of hypercar manufacturing and setting a new benchmark for speed.
The company’s Sealy, Texas headquarters includes a state-of-the-art production facility, R&D center, and private test track, where Hennessey vehicles are validated at speeds exceeding 150 mph. In addition to producing limited-edition vehicles like the Venom F5 and VelociRaptoR 1000, the company upgrades over 750 vehicles per year, ranging from supercharged trucks and SUVs to 1,200+ horsepower muscle cars.
In addition to building world-class vehicles, John is committed to cultivating the next generation of automotive talent. He founded Tuner School, a one-of-a-kind educational program that offers hands-on training in performance vehicle engineering and modification—equipping students with the real-world skills needed to thrive in the high-performance industry.
Respected globally as a pioneer of modern American horsepower, John Hennessey is widely regarded as an icon of speed and the open road. He continues to lead his brands with a commitment to performance, innovation, and excellence.
John lives in Houston, Texas, with his wife Hope and their five children.
9281 SW I-10 Frontage Rd
Sealy, Texas 77474
Call Us:
Email Us:
sales@hennesseyperformance.com
Office Hours:
M-F: 8am – 7pm CST
Sat.: 10am – 4pm CST (Calls Only)
© 2025 Hennessey Performance | Terms | Privacy Policy | Cookie Policy
Venom 1000 Mustang GT500 Assets
22 Photos
VelociRaptor 400 Bronco Assets
18 Photos
