Among the many many automobiles that I lusted after as a younger automobile fanatic, the Viper ranked close to the highest of the record. The automotive trade had simply emerged from the 1980s – a interval by which lots of the commonest autos in manufacturing had been identified for being boxy and boring. The Viper’s attractive traces stole the eyes and hearts of many, and it has remained on the map as a fascinating collectible even in the present day.
The Choose of the Day is a low-mileage 1997 Dodge Viper GTS listed on the market on ClassicCars.com by a non-public vendor in Mechanicsville, Maryland. (Click on the hyperlink to view the itemizing)
“An actual head turner,” the itemizing begins. “This 1997 Viper GTS is full of upgrades together with the sought-after John Hennessey twin-turbo 850-horsepower improve bundle at over $55,000.” The vendor continues, “Simply two homeowners, garage-kept, and a low 3,921 unique miles make this automobile a collector’s dream.”
Wow – solely 3,900 miles on a virtually 27-year-old sports activities automobile! Somebody clearly exercised restraint with the urge to drive this beast. Apart from the efficiency modifications, its curb attraction has been enhanced by way of a set of staggered 19-inch (entrance) and 20-inch (rear) BBC wheels shod in Pirelli Z-rated tires.
The primary retail deliveries of the two-seat Viper sports activities automobile started going down in January 1992. It retailed for $52,000 on the time. Dubbed the “SR1,” the primary era was produced by way of 1995. At its core, it was designed as an all-out sports activities automobile, and facilities had been sparse: The primary automobiles had no exterior-mounted door handles, no air con, and a canvas roof with zip-in entry. The crowning achievement of this automobile was its powertrain, which centered round a 400-horsepower 8.0-liter V10. The one out there transmission on the time was a BorgWarner T56 six-speed guide.
The SRII model debuted in 1996 with a number of noteworthy adjustments. Certainly one of them needed to do with the routing of the exhaust: The earlier side-exit pipes had been relocated to a single-exit rear outlet. Energy was elevated to 415 horsepower (inventory, in fact) because of the lowered backpressure. New tools included aluminum suspension elements and an out there detachable hardtop.
At this time’s function automobile is a liftback fixed-roof coupe from 1997 without having for that additional hardtop. It’s completed in gorgeous “GTS Blue Pearl” with white accenting stripes. The vendor says, “Automobile has by no means touched moist pavement, and exterior paint is in immaculate situation.”
This performance-upgraded automobile is surely a “true iconic American sports activities automobile.”
The itemizing concludes with, “Wouldn’t it look nice in your storage?” There actually are only a few sub-5,000-mile Vipers nonetheless round as of late. The asking value for this nationwide treasure is $139,000.
To view this itemizing on ClassicCars.com, see Choose of the Day.