The news of Ken Block’s passing sent shockwaves through the motorsport and automotive world. Block was one of the most recognizable automotive figures in the world. He was a founder of DC Shoes, but shot to fame with his Gymkhana videos and his epic projects with the Hoonigan team. This of course included the mighty Hoonicorn and more recent cars like the Hoonipigasus and the Audi Hoonitron. Block was also an incredible human being, and one the world is much poorer without.
Out of all of Block’s cars over the years, from those with Subaru, to Ford and the Audi Hoonitron for Electrikhana, there are some that are no doubt personal favorites. But what many of us perhaps feel is that the Hoonicorn was the most badass, epic piece of machinery that Block ever drove during his life. The Hoonicorn came to be synonymous with Block, and it was very much his pride and joy. He has said in the past it was his favorite car. It made more than one Gymkhana appearance, including in Climbkhana, and featured on BBC Top Gear as Block and Matt LeBlanc tore up London. The Hoonicorn is the defining car of Block’s lifetime.
What Made The Hoonicorn Such A Special Car
The Hoonicorn would take two different forms over its lifetime, with V1 and V2. V1 was of course the original form that the Hoonicorn was in. It made its stunning debut back in 2014, and this 1965 Mustang certainly took the world by storm. Built based around NASCAR specs, Block threw the all-wheel drive monster around the streets of Los Angeles. This was one of the most memorable Gymkhana films of the lot.
The Hoonicorn was of course built by Block, Vaugh Gittin Jr and his RTR tuning company. It features a tubular chassis, with a roll cage and door bars and while it still looks like a Mustang on the outside, it's very different inside. Under the hood of the Hoonicorn V1 is a Rouse Yates 410 ci V8 engine. And this monster generated 845 hp in its initial form. It was the ultimate car for Hooning around in, and one that captivated audiences around the globe. Gymkhana 7 currently has over 58 million views on YouTube. However, Block was not going to leave the Hoonicorn there. Oh no.
The Hoonicorn V2 Makes Its Spectacular Debut
Block was of course determined to get even more out of the Hoonicorn. So to do that, he went ahead and fitted two massive Garrett superchargers to this iconic creation. Block unveiled Hoonicorn V2 back in 2016, and would claim it is “the most frightening thing I’ve ever driven. I’m not exaggerating. At all.” Those two turbos added to the 6.7-liter V8 saw the power of the Hoonicorn upped to a truly incredible 1,400 hp. Yes, 1,400 hp. And it was the 845 hp version that made LeBlanc giddy enough in that Top Gear London video!
It was Hoonicorn V2 that went up the stunning Pikes Peak hillclimb in that very first Climbkhana video, back in 2017. The sideways action Block was getting in this stunning machine was jaw dropping with some of the most iconic images from Block’s career coming from that video. Various cars have come and gone in Block’s career. The various rally cars from Ford, the Cossie, and the recent Audi Hoonitron. But the Hoonicorn always held a special place in his heart, the heart of the Hoonigan team and the fans. Its story may not be quite done yet either.
Lia Block Takes The Reins Of The Hoonicorn
In 2022, Block and the Hoonigan team trained his then 14 year old daughter, Lia, to take the reins of the Hoonicorn. She did so in “Hoonicorn vs The World 2” and boy it was spectacular. She smoked pretty much everyone that came her way, proving how good she is, and how good the car is. Lia looked right at home in her dads' car. Hopefully she can carry on both his and the car’s legacy and help Hoonigan with more features in this incredible car. No matter what, we are sure the Hoonicorn will be forever cherished.
The Perfect Car For A Motorsport Icon
The Hoonicorn very much came to define Block and his career, and was the car everyone thought of when they thought of Block. It is THE Gymkhana car, and THE Hoonigan car as well. It created so many iconic moments with Block, and will maybe do so in the future too. What it will certainly miss though is its incredible driver. Block was one of the most incredible individuals on this planet, and one of the most amazing drivers we’ve ever seen. We all miss him dearly, and will miss seeing him at the wheel of his beloved Hoonicorn.
Sources: Hoonigan