Manual transmissions, though cherished by ardent car nuts, are a dying breed across the entire automotive industry. Every gearhead out there laments the shift stick’s slow decline, looking back to the days when it was still widely available with a deep sense of nostalgia. Regardless of whether we’re talking about nondescript family haulers or high-end supercars, it’s getting increasingly difficult to find something that keeps you in control of your gearbox. The enthusiast niche is fairly small compared to the total number of car buyers, so it simply doesn’t make much sense for manufacturers to keep producing manual options that serve such a tiny fraction of their clientele.Low demand aside, DCTs and automatics have long been superior to their human-operated counterparts from a technical standpoint. They offer faster and more precise shifting, do a better job at handling hefty power outputs, and are easier to integrate with electronic controls and hybrid setups. All these points are perfectly reasonable, of course, but true aficionados care far more about driver engagement than any of that. Sadly, though, they will forever remain underserved by the looks of it, with fewer and fewer options for them to choose from as time goes by. The 1,800-HP Manual Hypercar (Yes, It's Real) HennesseyFor instance, there’s only one pickup truck still being sold with a stick in the U.S. at this time, and the last manual muscle car left standing is the Ford Mustang GT. Things aren’t much better for the shift knob in the hypercar segment, which is the one we’ll be focusing on today. Dual-clutch transmissions reign supreme here, providing many of the benefits associated with automatics while also permitting manual override via paddle shifters. They strive to combine the best of both worlds, thus becoming the go-to option for engineering marvels such as the McLaren P1, Ferrari SF90 and Bugatti Chiron.Hennessey On the other hand, the Koenigsegg Jesko uses the unique Light Speed Transmission (LST) setup developed in-house, while Pagani’s mighty Huayra and Utopia come with single-clutch automated manuals. But how about an American machine with just over 1,800 horsepower on tap and a gated six-speed manual gearbox? Only 12 units have been produced, with each of them priced at a cool $2.65 million. Enter the Hennessey Venom F5-M Roadster — the most powerful manual production car ever made and a name that will appear in the history books as one of the shift knob’s last hurrahs. It’s an incredible piece of machinery on just about every level, powered by a 6.6-liter twin-turbo V8 aptly named the “Fury.”The engine is capable of generating up to 1,817 horsepower and 1,193 pound-feet of crushing torque, all sent to the rear wheels through that sweet six-speed gated manual. Hennessey says the Venom F5 was engineered to exceed 300 mph, though its top speed is yet to be officially confirmed. Double wishbone suspension with fully-adjustable Penske dampers, carbon ceramic brakes, and a carbon fiber monocoque construction weighing just 190 lbs — this thing is an absolute beast! Compared to the standard Venom F5, the F5-M Roadster features a roof scoop and a 55-inch dorsal fin for additional stability. Why Hennessey Built The Venom F5-M Roadster With A Shift Knob HennesseyAccording to company founder and CEO John Hennessey, the Venom F5-M Roadster aims to deliver a visceral driving experience unlike any other. Its open-top design plays a key role in achieving that immersion, as the driver gets to enjoy enhanced sensory feedback while putting that twin-turbo Fury V8 to good use. But the heavy lifting in that regard is done by something else entirely, and we are, of course, referring to the F5-M’s manual gearbox. As Hennessey sought to form a deep connection between man and machine, allowing drivers to shift gears themselves seemed like the way to go.Via: Hennessey Special Vehicles The car’s interior was redesigned to accommodate the shift knob, itself constructed from a mixture of aluminum and carbon fiber. Additionally, that six-speed gate is made of billet aluminum, and a physical connection to the gearbox ensures a nice tactile feel when shifting. It's all done for the sake of pure driver satisfaction, favoring analog technology over heavy electronic involvement. One can only imagine how much work was required to develop a manual capable of handling 1,817 horses, but it was just another day at work for Hennessey's engineering team led by Brian Jones. The company has never been afraid to push the envelope, and this is yet another great example of its specialists doing just that. A Thunderous Swansong Of The Manual Era HennesseyWith the stick heading for extinction everywhere you look, the Hennessey Venom F5-M Roadster represents the epitome of manual driving taken to the extreme. Normally, you'd think a shift knob has no business being in a car with 1,817 horsepower on tap, but the folks at Hennessey are full of wonderful surprises that challenge existing standards. And developing a manual variant of the F5 showcases an important part of the company’s core philosophy, one that puts great emphasis on the driver and interactivity. The sad thing about all this is that we probably won’t be seeing something like the F5-M ever again, and it’s truly heartbreaking even if we could never afford one in the first place.Hennessey The 12 manual Venoms are part of only 30 Roadster variants to ever be produced, with each of them getting a unique color scheme to further enhance their exclusivity. It should come as no surprise that every F5-M has already been sold, hopefully to enthusiasts who will use them as intended instead of simply keeping them parked in their garage. We reckon that’s wishful thinking, but perhaps we will at least learn what it’s capable of in terms of reaching 60 mph from a standstill and running the quarter-mile. You’re likely curious to find that out, as well, so we’ll have to wait and see if any information will surface in the future.As a little side note to end on, it’s worth giving a shout-out to the Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat. Produced until 2023 with 717 horsepower at its disposal, it was the world's most powerful manual car actually produced in significant numbers. It’s nowhere near the league of the F5-M, but you could at least get your hands on one without giving up an arm and both legs. That being said, Hennessey is likely to always hold the title for the most horsepower in a stick-shift car, as we doubt that any other marque will go through the trouble of making something better.Source: Hennessey