Posted on 03/06/2014 1:17:21 PM PST by Doogle
The original Dodge Viper revealed in 1992 was a beast of a machine — an attempt by then-Chrysler exec Bob Lutz to revive the spirit of the Shelby Cobra and give Chrysler a world-class sports car. Powered by a massive V-10 with 400 hp, the early Viper's brute force overwhelmed many drivers.
Today, the power that made the Viper a legend appears to be at the heart of an order from Chrysler to dozens of trade schools, demanding the immediate destruction of some 93 early Vipers, including a preproduction model that could likely fetch a couple hundred thousand dollars at auction.
According to The Olympian, the staff of South Puget Sound Community College was told by a Chrysler official that their Viper had to be crushed within two weeks. It's common for automakers to donate cars to automotive shop classes, and in many cases the vehicles in such donations aren't saleable — meaning the company technically still owns the cars. School officials say Chrysler told them two of the 93 early Vipers given to schools had been involved in accidents by joyriding students, creating a major liability for Chrysler.
Of those 93, the Viper at SPSCC stands out. It was the fourth Viper ever built, with a prototype hard top years before Dodge offered a production version. With no emissions controls, and no speed limiter, the V-10 can make 600 hp, and school instructors say it could be worth $250,000 to a museum or private Viper fan.
(Excerpt) Read more at autos.yahoo.com ...
ping
i predict a fire at that auto shop that “destroys” that viper.
If I held title to the vehicle, I’d tell Chrysler to get stuffed.
Jay Leno has “Conservator-ship” of a Chrysler Turbine powered car. It technically belongs to Chrysler.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b2A5ijU3Ivs
School: Seems we took that Viper out in a boat and had this horrific boating accident..............
How do I go about becoming “conservator” of the SPCCC car? It sounds like it’d make a great track toy.
Vipers remain one of the hardest to drive cars ever built. They are not comfortable and in the hands of a novice, they are even dangerous. Early Vipers had no stability control and barely adequate brakes.
If all you wanted to do was go real fast in a real hurry, then yeah. Viper.
But if you wanted a true Sports Car or a fast performance car? Then Vipers were not up for discussion.
That said - It’s stupid to even think of destroying these cars.
“It sounds like it’d make a great track toy.”
Which is EXACTLY why Chrysler wants the cars crushed. One accident with a car that was never supposed to see the road has already cost them millions.
From their viewpoint, it just isn’t worth hundreds of millions in potential liability to keep these cars out there.
Welcome to the Litigious States of America, home of the Litigation Lottery.
Somehow this seems like it had an extremely high probability of happening. Can't imagine a better car for hooning than a Viper.
Gee, you donate 93 Vipers to high school auto shop classes, and they find that students are joyriding in them? Shocking.
Since Chrysler still owns them why not take possession of them and place them under their direct control, like in a museum. Crushing them is stupid.
I was responsible for a number of the Early Vipers, for a short time.
It was damn near impossible to keep the tires from spinning when accelerating. My nightmare was that one of my employees would spin one into a pole, before they were no longer my problem.
Loved the car, but I was glad to see them go, when the event they were in my possession for was over. Luckily, no one wrecked one, not even the VIP’s.
I’ve heard that the brute power combined with poor handling made the car difficult to drive.
If you held the title they wouldn’t be telling you to crush it. These are cars they still own.
I thought I had missed something...maybe not!
....just a bad decade for older cars...first we had Odungo’s assault on the “clunker”...then the Corvette collection...now the vipers...
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