The Jeep With a Ferrari Engine: The Crazy Story of the Jerrari

Buckle up for a wild ride into the world of one seriously mind-blowing Jeep—it's got a Ferrari heart beating under its hood. Yep, you heard that right. Imagine a Jeep that could zip past sports cars on the highway. Sounds nuts, but it's totally true, and here’s the scoop on this beast.

Back in the day, SUVs were all about practicality. But now? They’re everything from luxury cruisers to speed demons. Ferrari, famous for its super fast cars, always said "nope" to making an SUV. That was until they surprised us in 2022 with a V12-powered monster. But let me take you back a bit—this wasn’t Ferrari's first rodeo with an SUV.

This crazy journey started with a guy named Bill Harrah. Imagine having so much cash that when you can't find the perfect car, you just build it yourself. That's exactly what Bill did. He created the “Jerrari,” a 1977 Jeep Wagoneer that looks ordinary until you hear it roar. Under the hood? A Ferrari 365's 4.4-liter V12 engine, kicking out a sweet 320 horsepower, paired with a five-speed manual from the Ferrari too.

Bill had a need for speed but also for practicality. He wanted a fast and reliable way to whisk his guests from the Reno airport to his hotel in Tahoe, no matter the weather. This Jeep was no regular ride; it boasted a Ferrari steering wheel, an old-school radar detector, and even headlight wipers.

But get this—there was an earlier Jerrari! Before this 1977 model, Bill built the first one using a 1969 Jeep Wagoneer with a Ferrari engine and the front end of a Ferrari 365. Talk about a unique ride! Bill didn’t just make these cars to look at them; he drove every single one, ensuring they stayed in perfect nick.

When Bill passed away in 1978, his massive collection of over 1,500 cars went to Holiday Inn for a whopping $100 million. This collection wasn’t just valuable—it was a piece of automotive history, including rides like two Bugatti Type 41s and, of course, those wild Jerrari Wagoneers.

And because the folks in Reno didn’t want to lose the legacy of their local legend, Holiday Inn donated 175 of these incredible vehicles to the National Auto Museum, including that badass Ferrari-powered SUV.

So next time you see an old Jeep Wagoneer, take a second look—it might just be cooler than you think. Who wouldn’t want to cruise around in a classic SUV with the spirit of a Ferrari?