SUVs were originally built for practicality and utility, but today, SUVs can now serve as multipurpose vehicles, from luxury family cruisers capable of keeping up with most sports cars. While most brands have adapted to this strategy, Ferrari had said it would never make an SUV, but in 2022 we received a V12-powered Ferrari SUV. But this wasn’t the first time this has been done.
When you have a lot of money and a serious passion for cars and no one makes a car that you want, you build it yourself. This was how businessman Bill Harrah built himself the first V-12-powered Ferrari SUV aka “Jerrari”.
A Jeep Powered By A Ferrari
This was one of the unique creations of its time, as this was probably the first SUV to be powered by a Ferrari. This is a 1977 Jeep Wagoneer that looks fairly normal until it speeds past you on the highway. Under the hood is a 4.4-liter naturally aspirated V-12 from a Ferrari 365 that made 320 horsepower, and the five-speed manual from the Ferrari. But for utility’s sake, it had all-wheel drive so that it could be driven fast and in almost any condition.
The reason Harrah built this car was quite fascinating. He wanted to transport guests back and forth from Reno airport to Tahoe hotel fast, no matter the conditions. This combines a fast car and a practical SUV in one, which is perfect for the job. It even featured some unique details like the Ferrari steering wheel, an old-school radar detector, and headlight wipers.
This Was Not The First Jerrari
This was not the first time Bill Harrah had built such a car. The original car was a 1969 Jeep Wagoneer with the Ferrari engine with the front end of the Ferrari 365 which was probably an odd mashup. But Bill had this version built later on to look stock until it flew past you at 140 mph, which they said he did regularly.
This car was part of a huge collection of over 1,500 cars Bill had acquired until his death in 1978 at the age of 66. But the amazing thing was, he drove every one of them, even if it was just a mile each year, to keep them going. When he did, some of his assets along with the collection were acquired by the Holiday Inn, and it included some very special cars like two Bugatti Type 41s, the Phantom Corsair, two Ferraris, and a pair of Jerrari Wagoneers.
This acquisition was said to have cost $100 million, but some cars acquired were priceless and one-of-a-kind and easily brought huge profits later on. But the people of Reno didn’t want Harrah’s legacy to disappear, so the Holiday Inn donated 175 vehicles that now make up the National Auto Museum, which includes this special Ferrari-powered SUV.
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