The late Ken Block packed enough excitement into his petrol-marinated life to guarantee immortality on YouTube and wherever motorheads discuss crazy driving antics. Aside from its cab, this 1977 Ford F-150 Custom shares about as many parts with a 1977 Ford F-150 as the Popemobile, but even purists will agree the Ford’s sacrifice bore fruit in spades when Block piloted this insane drift truck in Climbkhana Two, an ascent of “China’s most dangerous road” on Tianmen Mountain. Do yourself a favor and go watch the movie. We’ll wait. You’re back? Right then; now you know why bidding could get crazy when this Hoonitruck comes to auction here at Barrett-Jackson in Scottsdale, Arizona January 18-26, 2025. According to TopGear, this 914 HP insane-o-saurus sold for $1.1 million in 2021, two years before its earthly master went to the big racetrack in the sky. Thanks to Mitchell G. for spotting this wild tire-ripper, and Barrett-Jackson auctions for pictures and details.
Despite the full race chassis, Block honored his relationship with Ford and the F-series pickup that endured his teenage horseplay with this uber-tweaked 3.5L Ford EcoBoost twin-turbo V6. This basic mill powers popular police Taurus and Explorer interceptors, impressing Law Enforcement Officers with about one third this truck’s power. The new owner may not replicate Block’s Ninja-like vehicle control skills, but let’s hope they show some respect by not wrapping it around an Arizona phone pole before February.
The obligatory non-ratcheting e-brake handle aids with tight turns and flicking the rear end out on command, and a rally-style shifter puts gear changes readily at hand.
A full tube chassis and fuel cell suggest the Hoonitruck would earn a fraction of a star in government crash testing, but combine baja racing trucks with all-wheel-drive rally cars and you might build something like this, but never exactly… this.
The trailer hitch seems like a comical rim shot, but 900+ HP could probably smoke most performance cars while pulling a boat to the lake. Nobody short of The Stig will hammer this Ford like Ken Block, but somewhere, right now, a young Hoonigan is explaining to police and parents how they turned traction control off and drifted into a yard or mailbox, and Block is smiling down on them from above. Has the late Ken Block’s Hoonitruck inspired you to commit Vehicular Shenanigans?
Amazing truck, amazing driver. 👏
I agree, Stan, if this doesn’t get you motivated, better dust off the BP monitor. Pickups seem to dot the racing scene, then fade away. There was a PS pickup NHRA class for a while with a similar type of vehicle, now gone, I think, and roundy-round pickup racing is always spectacular, for us “crash freaks” ( oh, don’t give me that, it’s why many watch that particular venue) there’s always a couple.
Isn’t it odd, this person blew a wad on this toy, cost no object, and to others all they have are the ( donated) clothes on their backs, and a pile of ash where their home was. Ain’t that America,,,
The NASCAR Craftsman Truck series is still alive and well. For around 30+ years.
Mitchell G.? Might that have been Mitchell Garrett ole Cleeter?
You want the honest answer or the answer imma tell you?
Watching Block’s Hoonigan video’s was indeed, breathtaking.
The one filmed in San Francisco was the best.
Not sure why this is so valuable, what are you going to do with it? Is it legal for any nostalgia race series? I don’t see any use for it other than sitting in a museum as a display or in a collection, I can’t see car shows would pay much in appearance money.
Steve R
And “values” (prices) in the collector car market reflect reality how?
Not a criticism, just an observation
Pikes Peak wasn’t too bad, either!
Isn’t that crazy film of early morning Paris from the 1970’s the spiritual ancestor of both Ken and Travis Pastrana? I remember thinking “how the hell….”.
Dave Peterson et. al. Enjoy! There is also the original if you search YT https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ldCbsza9Iw
LOVW I except for the tires a real American hot rod.
I was in college with Ken Block and did not really stand out much, just a regular guy. Then I saw his videos and rise to fame after selling DC shoes and his clothing line for a gazillion dollars and getting into racing. The times I met him, I thought he was just another local knucklehead like myself. That guy had skills and luck! RIP old classmate! Your a legend to a lot of us.