There was once a time when the term “hybrid” referred to a European car that boasted an American V8 engine.
Examples of such cars include the De Tomaso Pantera, which was powered by a Ford engine, and the Jensen Interceptor, equipped with a Chrysler powerplant.
However, the unique “Jerrari” that recently made an appearance on “Jay Leno’s Garage” is a reverse take on this idea: it’s an American car outfitted with a European engine. And not just any European engine—this unusual vehicle houses a Ferrari V12.
Phil McDougall, president of the National Automobile Museum in Reno, Nevada, sheds light on this automotive oddity’s backstory.
Hotel and casino mogul Bill Harrah needed a fast, efficient way to transport entertainers between his establishments in Lake Tahoe and Reno, and so he commissioned the Jerrari—a blend of a Jeep Wagoneer and a Ferrari V12.
In fact, Harrah commissioned two such vehicles. The model McDougall brings to show Jay Leno is the second one: a 1977 Jeep Wagoneer featuring the 4.4-liter V12 from a Ferrari 365 under its hood.
Installing this engine required extending the front end by 2.5 inches, but the team behind the build managed to connect the Italian powerhouse to the Jeep’s Quadra-Trac four-wheel-drive system.
They also added some extras, including headlight wipers and a radar detector—a wise choice, considering Harrah reportedly took this vehicle up to 140 mph, blazing past anyone on the road.
Though Hellcat-swapped Jeeps are certainly impressive, there are a few out there, making them less unique.
None of them, however, can match the rarity and cool factor of the Jerrari. And as Harrah might have said himself, “you can bet on that.”