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The story of the Dodge Viper

98512 Views 173 Replies 5 Participants Last post by  rickaren
There's nothing practical about the 2008 Dodge Viper SRT10.

Nope, not a thing.

It's too expensive, too powerful and too beautiful to be mistaken for anything other than a gorgeous machine crushing practicality faster than a lightening bug on its windshield.

Designed and tested by Chrysler LLC's Street and Racing Technology team -- a group of gearheads who sit around racetracks and dream up ways to make race cars street-legal -- the Viper SRT10 lives up to its scaly reputation of brute force racer and midlife crisis antidote.





LINK:
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Welcome to Lightning Lap 2016


Published on Sep 13, 2016

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Auto Reviews, Car Comparisons and Best Cars - CARandDRIVER...
Dodge Viper 645bhp


Published on Sep 22, 2016

Here it is, folks: America’s idea of making the fastest road-legal track car imaginable. Welcome to the Dodge Viper ACR.
Dodge closes Viper orders

Dodge closes Viper orders to assess how many are left

Oct 11, 2016


The 2017 model year marks the final run of the Dodge Viper.

Its 25-year run is coming to an end, and that end might be happening right now as Dodge has just halted the ordering process for the American high-performance machine. According to The Detroit News, Dodge is examining just how many cars are left to be produced.

A North Carolina dealership ordered a large batch of 135 cars before Dodge discontinued Viper production. Now the team that builds the car has to see what it has in store in order to fulfill the demand for the final run. If there's more to be made after all orders are accounted for, the ordering process will reopen. If the current orders will utilize the remaining parts needed, then that's going to be all she wrote for the Viper.

If you want one, you may be able to find a Viper in stock in your local dealership. If you can't, then perhaps you should hop on a plane and get to North Carolina to pick one up from the Gerry Wood Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram store in Salisbury. That dealer currently has 128 examples listed for sale on its website, and the dealer is not adding markups.

It's been a fun 25 years with the Viper, and the car is better than it's ever been. In this case, it seems, the good really do die young.

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a raw V10 sound!


Published on Oct 30, 2016

This video features a gorgeous customized metallic red Dodge Viper GTS-R starting up, revving and accelerating a few times, producing a raw V10 sound!
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Dodge Shakes up SEMA With Durango Shaker Concept
Nov 01, 2016

While we all wait impatiently for official word on the Hellcat-powered Jeep Trackhawk, the folks at Mopar have teased us with yet another musclebound SUV — and it looks wicked.

Unveiled at SEMA 2016, the Dodge Durango Shaker concept combines the looks of the Charger SRT 392 with the shaker hood from the Challenger for a sport utility worthy of all the attention it’s receiving at the show.

The exterior is finished in beautiful B5 Blue with matte black graphics, and the crosshair grille has been replaced with an open design like the one found on the Charger SRT.

Inside, it gets three rows of seats pulled from the Dodge Viper, a console shifter like the one in Dodge’s muscle cars, a flat-bottom steering wheel, and interior accents finished in blue to match the outside.

But it’s not all show and no go, and it’s basically a Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT underneath its Dodge body, with the Durango Shaker getting power from a 6.4-liter Hemi that breathes through a Mopar cold-air intake and custom cat-back exhaust system. It also features SRT six-piston brakes that are cooled by functional air ducts up front, and a custom suspension kit that drops the Durango by three inches to give it an aggressive stance.

This thing combines everything we love about the Challenger and Charger with the sensibility of an SUV. Leaving only one question: Where do we sign up?








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Dodge is reopening order books

Dodge is reopening order books for the 2017 Viper before it dies

After 25 years, the Dodge Viper is going to die, for good. Fiat Chrysler Automobiles [NYSE:FCAU] confirmed this fact back in June as it announced final editon models that sold out pretty much instantly.

A weird thing happens when you say you're killing off an icon: sales spike.

The uptick in sales caused Dodge to close the order books for the final run of Vipers as the company was suddenly concerned as to how many it could deliver. Why would Dodge be concerned? We hear it's because it wasn't sure enough parts would be available, especially for the ridiculous--in the best possible way--ACR model.

We reached out to a Dodge spokesperson today, who confirmed that order books for the final model year of the Viper will reopen before the end of the 2016 calendar year. For those counting, that would mean within the next four weeks.


Of course, this news might not be so great for a the dealership that bought what it thought was the last 135 Vipers ever to be made. That was likely an attempt for a cash grab but Gerry Wood Dodge swears it has no intention of marking up the cars over MSRP. Despite the promise, those 135 cars probably just became a whole lot less special.

Want to get a 2017 Dodge Viper before it dies? Seems you just got lucky, but you better start counting those pennies or writing to Santa now, because once those order books open you can bet another flood of deposits will be put down. Who knows how many more Vipers Dodge can actually build.

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Gerry Wood Dodge Viper Track Day Video


Published on Dec 5, 2016

Gerry Wood Dodge is one of the largest Viper dealers in the country, with three exclusive and bespoke numbered editions of the 2017 Dodge Viper. This video brings our love for this amazing piece of American Automotive history to the screen.
The Dodge Viper Is Officially Sold Out

The Dodge Viper Is Officially Sold Out

Feb 9, 2017

Last year Fiat Chrysler revealed that 2017 would be the final model year for its legendary Dodge Viper sportscar. Not surprisingly, this sparked an influx of orders from both dealerships and consumers looking to get their hands on the final Viper examples to leave the Conner Avenue Assembly Plant in Detroit, but the order books have now closed.

According to Road & Track, FCA has sold out of Vipers for the 2017 model year. That doesn’t mean you can’t get one as there’s plenty of 2017 Vipers sitting on Dodge lots across the country, but if you wanted to build your own unique Viper using Dodge’s 1 of 1 program then you’ve sadly missed your chance.

Dodge last year unveiled five special edition Vipers based on the 2017 model year of the sportscar. Those models sold out in time periods ranging from just 40 minutes to five days, prompting Dodge to add a sixth special edition Viper, the Snakeskin Edition GTC, which is also now sold out. Don’t bank on the high last-minute demand inspiring FCA to go back on its word, either, as FCA has ruled that out. The Viper as we know it is dead, Mopar fans.

Read more: The Dodge Viper Is Officially Sold Out
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The Last Viper from Pennzoil (Official)


Published on Apr 12, 2017
We pushed every ounce of the Dodge Viper ACR’s 645 horsepower into a farewell performance for the ages. Watch Pennzoil say goodbye to an iconic American sports car in The Last Viper.
Viper ACR To Attempt ‘Ring Record Thanks To Crowdfunding Effort

Jun 07, 2017



When Dodge first introduced the 2016 Viper ACR, it revealed the car had broken the lap record at 13 different road courses across America. While that feat is telling of the car’s performance, there’s really only one racetrack where a lap record is truly appreciated: the Nurburgring.

Dodge never put the current ACR around the ‘Ring, so the Viper Club of America started a crowdfunding effort to allocate the funds needed to do it themselves. They started the campaign four months ago with the goal of raising $159,000 to rent out the track and ship two Viper ACRs to Germany and recently surpassed their target by raising $165,000.

With the funds allocated, the Viper ACR ‘Ring attempt is officially a go. Tomball, a Texas-based Viper dealer is supplying two Viper ACRs equipped with the Extreme Aero package and will also lend the services of two experienced Viper racing drivers. Kumho, the official OEM tire supplier for the Viper ACR, has signed on to provide tires for the attempt while a company called Prefix is helping with spare parts.

The ACR may be fairly old-school when compared with the current ‘Ring lap time chart toppers such as the Nio EP9 and and Lamborghini Huracan Performante, but it’s not to be underestimated. The previous Viper ACR lapped the ‘Green Hell’ in 7:12.13, and this version has more downforce, stickier tires, and 40 extra horsepower. The same man that set the previous Viper ACR lap record, Dominik Farnbacher, is also going to be behind the wheel this time.

The lap record attempt is scheduled to take place sometime in July.


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Jul 12, 2017




Fiat Chrysler Automobiles is abandoning its Conner Avenue Assembly in Detroit, Michigan.

The plant produced Dodge Vipers sporadically for over two decades, but low sales volume eventually led to FCA’s decision to remove the high-performing model from its lineup. In 2016, Dodge only sold 630 Vipers. A final, limited-edition 2017 run sold out in less than a week.

The two-seater doesn’t meet upcoming safety regulations due to its absence of side-curtain airbags. Rather than undergo a costly redesign, FCA chose to let nature take its course and placed the model in hospice care back in 2015. However, the future of the assembly plant and its employees were uncertain at the time.

Conner Assembly houses 87 employees responsible for the Viper and the model’s V10 engine. According to WDIV 4 Detroit, the entirety of the staff will be offered positions at other FCA locations, but the plant will be closed indefinitely. Formerly home to Champion spark plugs, Dodge gained ownership of the factory in 1995 and designated it specifically for Viper production. That lasted until 2010, with the vehicle reentering assembly in 2012.

The plant also built the retro-styled Plymouth Prowler for the duration of its brief, 11,700-unit lifespan.

Viper production is scheduled to end in August (before the safety regulations take hold in September), at which point the plant will be closed. While the snake could return someday, keeping it as a bespoke low-volume model was never in the cards for FCA’s long-term product strategy. Struggling to reach 700 North American deliveries in the very best of years, Viper volume was perpetually eclipsed by its mainstay domestic rival, the Chevrolet Corvette.

General Motors has annually sold 30,000 or more Vettes in the U.S. since 2014.


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Dodge Won't Return to NASCAR

07/15/2017

It was ostensibly a press conference for Ferrari's 2016 Finali Mondiali at Daytona International Speedway last December 4, but perhaps the biggest revelation to come out of that presser concerned NASCAR, with Sergio Marchionne, chief executive officer of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, saying he was interested in getting Chrysler, most likely Dodge, back into NASCAR.

This came as a surprise to Dodge employees at the highest level. But given Marchionne's revelation, the company did its due diligence, researching what a return to NASCAR would involve. Company executives met with NASCAR officials more than once, including a meeting at this year's North American International Auto Show.


After all, it was Marchionne who in 2012 made the decision to pull the plug on NASCAR, leaving the Sprint Cup series with just three manufacturers: Chevrolet, Ford, and Toyota. He said during that press conference that, at the time, he was trying to balance the books at Chrysler and NASCAR was an expense he could not justify. That said, Dodge had only a two-car team with Roger Penske, and won the season championship with Brad Keselowski.

Dodge had a deal with Andretti Autosport to take over Dodge in 2013, but that stalled with Marchionne's final decision.

Marchionne said at the Ferrari press conference that the books are balanced, and it may be time to come back.

"I had dinner with Jim France last night," Marchionne said, referring to the executive vice president of NASCAR, "and we discussed the possibility."

Unfortunately for Dodge loyalists, the analysis regarding a return to the sport showed that it would be too complex and, more importantly, too expensive. Part of the problem would be finding a team with top-tier engine-building capability-and there just aren't many choices now that the NASCAR Monster Energy Cup series has consolidated engine-building among a handful of teams (Or in Toyota's case, the company itself.) Dodge would prefer to supply the engine specifications and have the engines built by the team, like they were at Penske. But there are minimal options.

Also, re-creating the infrastructure to race at NASCAR's highest level-which Dodge did gradually starting with the NASCAR Camping World truck series before entering the Cup series in 2001 with the help of then-flush Dodge dealers-would be prohibitively expensive. The bottom line: perhaps the company could afford to return to NASCAR, as Marchionne suggested, but that doesn't mean it would make financial sense.

Dodge left NASCAR on top, as they did when they dropped the Dodge Viper program from the American Le Mans Series immediately after winning a season championship. The company has now reallocated its motorsports support to the National Hot Rod Association, where Dodge- and Mopar-backed teams are doing well in Funny Car and Top Fuel.

Like he did in 2012, Marchionne could conceivably overrule the recommendation that Dodge not return to NASCAR, but that seems unlikely. Nor is Volkswagen, which came very close to fielding a Cup car based on the Passat, likely to reconsider its decision to not join the series. And for those holding out hope that Honda/Acura might race in NASCAR-always a very abstract possibility-that became more of a long shot this week when Roger Penske and Acura announced they would race in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship series, the NASCAR-affiliated sports car - sanctioning body.

So unless a manufacturer comes out of left field with the money and dedication to make a NASCAR program work, it appears that NASCAR will have to make do with Ford, Chevrolet, and Toyota. As one Dodge employee suggested: "We don't want to come back and embarrass ourselves."
SOURCE
2017 Dodge Viper ACR Sets Blazing Unofficial Nurburgring Time

Jul 27, 2017



A crowdfunded effort to set a record Nurburgring lap time with a Dodge Viper has resulted in an initial time of 7:03.45.

With the Dodge Viper soon to be discontinued, a group of enthusiasts wanted to do what Dodge officially hasn’t: set a Nurburgring lap time. The crowdfunded effort features professional driver Dominik Farnbacher behind the wheel, the same person who set a record in 2011 with the older Dodge Viper ACR recording a 7:12.13 lap time.

The attempts are being made in stock 2017 Viper ACRs featuring the Commemorative GTS-R livery and have been funded largely by private donations from Viper enthusiasts. The cars came straight from Texas dealership Viper Exchange and the attempts are the first at a Nurburgring lap record for the fifth-generation Viper.


Road & Track was invited to witness the Viper’s Nurburgring lap attempts and reports heavy rains messed up the original plans of attempting a lap time on Monday, July 24. A brief window of track time did become available recently and that’s when the 7:03.45 lap was done. The team is planning to do another attempt later this week.

Even if they left Germany with the 7:03.45 lap time, that would unofficially put the 2017 Dodge Viper ACR towards the top of the Nurburgring production lap times, ahead of the Nissan GT-R NISMO (7:08.679), but still a bit away from a sub-seven-minute run where cars like the Lamborghini Aventador SV, Porsche 918 Spyder, and Lamborghini Huracan Performante reside. We’ll keep our eyes out to see if the team manages an even faster lap.


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One of the Nurburgring Record Attempt Viper ACRs Has Crashed

Sep 01, 2017



The team attempting to set a Nurburgring lap record with two Dodge Viper ACRs has crashed one of the cars following a tire failure.

According to a Facebook post on the official page for the record attempt, driver Lance Arnold had set a lap time of 7:01.3 in the Viper ACR on his first lap in the car. Things were looking good for the team, but it all went awry on Arnold’s second attempt. Whilst taking a corner at about 160 mph, the ACR’s left front tire failed. Arnold nearly saved it and just barely brushed the guardrail on the left, but then shot across the track and hit the right side guardrail. The impact was significant – heavily damaging the front right of the car and setting off the airbag.

This is certainly not how the Texan ‘Ring record attempt team wanted their trip to Germany to end. Making the situation even harder was that Arnold had expressed confidence the ACR could crack the 7-minute mark and may even be able to best a time of 6:57. Both Dominik and Mario Farnbacher, who had piloted the car during earlier record attempts but were busy racing this weekend, also expressed confidence that the ACR was “a mid 6:50’s car.” The team brought two ACRs along for situations just like this, but the first car was put out of commission after the drain plug for the differential fell out, leaking fluid onto the track and destroying the diff.

The team says they will eventually post a video of the lap and the accident. This is definitely a disappointing end to this endeavor, but who knows, maybe the Viper Exchange team will return to the aptly named Green Hell one day soon.


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Dodge Viper ACR Sets 7:01.3 Lap Time in Final Nurburgring Attempt


Sep 1, 2017



The privateer Viper Nurburgring effort draws to a close with a series of mechanical misfortunes, but a new 'Ring record for American, rear-drive and manual transmission cars.



The independent, crowdfunded effort to set a Dodge Viper ACR Nurburgring lap time has come to a close in both victory and defeat. The victory: Driver Lance Arnold set a 7:01.3 lap time around the legendary circuit, a new all-time record for American, rear-drive, and manual-transmission cars. The defeat: Shortly after setting this time, Arnold suffered a tire failure that led to a crash, bringing the privateer effort to an end.

This week marked the third attempt at a lap time for the independent group. It was a week of several misfortunes. Early on, driver Luca Stolz suffered a sudden left-front tire failure at speeds exceeding 170 mph. After replacing the tire, Stolz returned to the track, but a loose drain plug caused the car to lose its differential oil, seizing the diff and putting the car out of contention.

Driver Lance Arnold set the 7:01.3 lap time on his first full-speed lap in the second Viper ACR, beating the previous 7:03.23 the team set late in August. But on his second lap, Arnold’s car suffered nearly the exact same tire failure that hobbled Stolz. At around 160 mph in a corner, Arnold’s left-front tire gave out. He grazed the left side guardrail, then skidded across the track into the railing on the right. The airbags deployed, but luckily, Arnold walked away without injury.

With both cars out of contention, and an unforeseen expense to repair the damaged railing, this seems to be the end of the crowdfunded, privateer effort to set a Viper ‘Ring lap time. Russ Oasis, the man who hatched the idea and who has been at the legendary circuit for every minute of this gargantuan effort, was understandably disappointed to have it end like this.

“The combination of this powerful car and this track demands too much from any tire that can also be street legal,” Oasis told me by phone from Germany. “This wraps up our effort, trying to bring home the ultimate worldwide production car record at the Nurburgring.

“It’s been an honor to have worked with drivers of this elite level,” he continued. “Luca Stolz, Lance Arnold, Mario and Dominik Farnbacher, we couldn’t have done this without them.” Dominik Farnbacher in particular was a driving force in the effort, Oasis said, working as the development driver who provided the feedback for the team to get the ACR’s suspension and aero settings idealized for the demanding 12.9-mile circuit.

Those racers, Oasis noted, had high hopes for the Viper too. “Everyone thought it was good for a 6:55,” he said. “Not one of them thought it couldn’t do that. Every single driver said this car is unbelievable.”

While the Viper crew wasn’t able to get below seven minutes, their effort has put the 2017 Dodge Viper ACR firmly into the record books—without any support from Dodge. As we told you back in July, this has been the only privately-funded, non-factory-backed effort to set a ‘Ring lap time. The fact that they did it with showroom-fresh, bone-stock Vipers (provided by Texas dealership Viper Exchange), full-tread-depth street-legal tires (supplied by Kumho, a major sponsor of the effort), and transparency unmatched by any automaker effort, sets them apart from any other ‘Ring lap attempt known to Road & Track. We can think of no better tribute to the Viper as it ends production.

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Former Viper Plant to Become New Home of FCA US Car Collection

Former Viper Plant to Become New Home of FCA US Car Collection; Company Launches Viper Memorabilia Auction to Benefit United Way

51-year-old Detroit plant to be converted to meeting and display space
Move puts Company’s nearly 400 concept and historic vehicle collection under one roof
Facility to be renamed Conner Center
Space anticipated to be available in second quarter 2018 for internal use initially
Auction of Viper memorabilia to benefit United Way for Southeastern Michigan
More than 1,800 Viper items – including signed hoods, prints and posters – will be up for bid
Online auction opens March 21; runs through April 13
Full list of items and bidding available at https://auction.unitedwaysem.org/

March 21, 2018 , Detroit -

03-21-2018

The Conner Avenue Assembly Plant, the former production home of the iconic Dodge Viper, will become an internal meeting and display space that will showcase the Company’s concept and historic vehicle collection.

FCA US LLC will honor the legacy of the Dodge Viper as part of two initiatives announced today.

First, the Conner Avenue Assembly Plant, the former production home of the iconic Dodge Viper, will get a second life as an internal meeting and display space that will showcase the Company’s concept and historic vehicle collection. Second, the Company is kicking off an auction of Viper memorabilia to benefit the United Way for Southeastern Michigan.

Conner Center: Home of the FCA US Vehicle Collection
Renamed Conner Center, the former manufacturing facility, tucked in a Detroit neighborhood just south of the famed 8 Mile Road, will have space to exhibit 85 of the nearly 400 concept and historic vehicles that will now be stored onsite under one roof. Previously, the Company’s extensive collection was housed in several locations.


“With a storied history of its own, the Conner Avenue facility is an ideal location to showcase the vehicles that have sustained the Company for more than 92 years,” said Brandt Rosenbusch, Manager, Historical Services. “We are proud of our history and have been working diligently in the daily care and restoration of these important vehicles. This move will allow us to house all of our collection under one roof and have the space to share that history with our employees.”

Approximately 77,000 of the plant’s nearly 400,000 square-feet of floor space will be dedicated to displaying vehicles like the 1902 Rambler, the oldest in the collection, to one of the most significant, the 1924 Chrysler Touring. Conner’s administrative offices will be converted into nearly 22,000 square-feet of meeting space that can accommodate gatherings of various sizes. It is expected that the facility, built in 1966, could also open its doors to the public in the future. The building should be available for use by internal groups and departments in the second quarter of 2018.

United Way to Benefit from Viper Memorabilia Auction

Production of the Dodge Viper came to an end on Aug. 31, 2017, and with that, the decommissioning of the plant began. As the assembly line was dismantled, office furniture removed and rooms cleaned out in preparation to repurpose the facility into meeting and display space, hundreds of pieces of Viper memorabilia, as well as a few items related to the Plymouth Prowler, were identified and salvaged. The decision was made to auction these items off to benefit the United Way for Southeastern Michigan.

“We found things like signed sketches, photos and posters, not to mention all of the items that were part of the operations of the plant,” said Mike Tonietto, former Conner Avenue Assembly Plant Manager and auction coordinator. “As more and more items were discovered, the question became what do we do with them. Rather than store them somewhere where they would never be seen or, worse yet, disposed of, we decided to auction them off.

“We know there are lots of Viper – and a few Prowler – owners, fans and even employees around the world who will want to own a piece of automotive history,” said Tonietto. “This is a great way to share some one-of-a-kind pieces involving these iconic vehicles while at the same time supporting an organization that does so much good in the community.”

After the Company’s Historical Services group selected the items that would be kept for display or archival purposes, more than 1,800 items remained – including eight signed hoods; more than 500 pieces of art, prints, signage and posters; and an assortment of Viper merchandise from key chains to apparel to coffee mugs – that will be available for auction.

One of the many available pieces of art is a sketch of the Viper GTS with portraits of the three former Chrysler executives responsible for its development – Bob Lutz, President and CEO; Tom Gale, Vice President – Product Design and International Operations; and Francois Castaing, Vice President – Vehicle Engineering and General Manager of Powertrain Operations. The limited edition print – number 14 of 300 – features the signatures of the three executives along with an authentic blue Viper GTS emblem.

The auction goes live on March 21 and will run through April 13. A full list of items with descriptions and bidding instructions are available at https://auction.unitedwaysem.org/.

All items are being auctioned in “as is” condition. Some items have minimum starting bids, while others have a “Buy it Now” option. Larger items will need to be picked up directly from the Conner facility by April 30, 2018. Smaller items will be shipped directly to the highest bidder. The auction is open to qualified bidders outside of the U.S., but winning non-U.S. bidders will be responsible for shipping as well as customs taxes and duty on any purchases.
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Mar 21, 2018
FCA US LLC announced the Conner Avenue Assembly Plant, the former production home of the iconic Dodge Viper, will get a second life as an internal meeting and display space that will showcase the Company’s concept and historic vehicle collection. Second, the Company is kicking off an auction of Viper memorabilia to benefit the United Way of Southeastern Michigan.
Conner Center Feature

Horsepower History: Dodge//SRT Teams with Barrett-Jackson to Auction Last 2018 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon and 2017 Dodge Viper for Charity

"The Ultimate Last Chance:" Last 2017 Dodge Viper built and final unit of limited-production 2018 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon to be offered at Barrett-Jackson auction as a pair
1,485 combined horsepower (840-hp Challenger SRT Demon/645-hp Viper) to cross the block at the Barrett-Jackson Northeast auction scheduled for June 20-23 in Uncasville, Connecticut
Both vehicles feature Viper Red paint and exclusive badging, specific VIN documentation build package and one-of-a-kind memorabilia
In-depth details on these vehicles and this exclusive auction are available at DodgeGarage.com
One hundred percent of hammer proceeds from the sale to go to the United Way


April 12, 2018 , Auburn Hills, Mich. -



Charity gets a mega-horsepower push this June as Dodge//SRT joins with Barrett-Jackson for a once-in-a-lifetime offer for any automotive enthusiast: "The Ultimate Last Chance" - the last unit of the limited-production, world record-setting 2018 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon and the last 2017 Dodge Viper, the American hand-built supercar, auctioned as a pair. Details on the Dodge Challenger SRT Demon/Dodge Viper Barrett-Jackson auction lot can be found at DodgeGarage.com.

You read that right. The winning bidder takes home a combined 1,485 horsepower: The 840-hp Dodge Challenger SRT Demon, the industry’s first and only purpose-built, street-legal production drag car with the most powerful production V-8 engine and 20-plus industry-first, drag-performance features, leaving its mark as an undisputed muscle car legend; and the 645-hp Dodge Viper, America’s hand-built performance supercar with 8.4L V-10 engine, aerospace-grade, lightweight carbon fiber body, iconic side exhaust and massive 14-inch wide rear tires, leaving behind a 25-year legacy with more track records than any other production car. Both offered in exclusive Viper Red exterior color (production code LRN) as the last of their kind.


“An avid collector could search a lifetime to try to put two vehicles of this pedigree together and never find it, it’s that elusive,” said Steve Beahm, Head of Passenger Car Brands, Dodge//SRT, Chrysler and FIAT – FCA North America. “Pairing the last Dodge Challenger SRT Demon and the Dodge Viper production cars – two of America’s most sought-after vehicles – under the roof of Barrett-Jackson gives someone the ‘last’ chance to own this unique piece of automotive history, and Dodge//SRT the opportunity to raise money for a cause close to our hearts.”

Plans to auction the end-of-era Dodge Challenger SRT Demon and Dodge Viper vehicles – “The Ultimate Last Chance” – were announced today during the Barrett-Jackson West Palm Beach auction in Florida.

“We couldn’t be more excited to team up with Dodge for another significant sale,” said Craig Jackson, chairman and CEO of Barrett-Jackson. “Over the years, Barrett-Jackson has reached incredible milestones with Dodge, including the sale of a 2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat (VIN 001) that raised $1.65 million at our 2014 Las Vegas Auction to benefit Opportunity Village Foundation. The sale of 'The Ultimate Last Chance' is a car collector’s dream and we are honored to partner with Dodge and support their philanthropic goals.”

The 2018 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon rattled the windows with a debut at the 2017 New York International Auto Show, grabbing attention with its 840-hp rating, street-legal drag radial tires and record-setting performance, first front-wheel lift in a production car, certified by Guinness World Records and world’s fastest quarter-mile production car (9.65 seconds ET/140 mph), certified by the National Hot Rod Association.

Production of the Challenger SRT Demon is limited to one model year and a total of 3,300 units (3,000 U.S./300 Canada).

In addition to the Viper Red exterior color, the last production 2018 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon includes:

Black interior with cloth/Alcantara leather seats
Front passenger seat
Rear seat delete
Trunk carpet kit
Custom Demon car cover
VIN instrument panel badge
Demon Authentication package (build sheets and Certicard)
Demon Crate, which includes narrow front-runner drag wheels, performance powertrain control module with high-octane engine calibration, replacement switch module with high-octane button and a set of Demon-branded track tools


The vehicles cross the block during the Barrett-Jackson Northeast auction (June 20-23) at the Mohegan Sun Resort in Uncasville, Connecticut. One hundred percent of proceeds from the sale go to the United Way.

“By giving both dollars and time, our employees provide a lot of ‘muscle’ to support United Way,” said Brian Harlow, Head of Manufacturing and United Way Chair for FCA US LLC. “To really kick this year’s United Way campaign into high gear, we are excited to offer up even more might with 'The Ultimate Last Chance' auction. Offering the last two of these iconic vehicles in a one-of-a-kind auction package will not only fulfill any car collector’s dreams, but also provide much needed support for those less fortunate.”

Production of American hand-built V-10-powered Dodge Viper concluded at the Conner Avenue Assembly Plant in Detroit in fall 2017. The last production 2017 Dodge Viper is styled in homage to the first-generation Dodge Viper RT/10 with its Viper Red exterior and black interior. The car (VIN ending in 731948) includes exterior carbon fiber accents, black Alcantara leather seats and an exclusive VIN instrument panel badge and authentication kit.

Dodge//SRT and Barrett-Jackson have collaborated before, with charity as the winner. A one-of-a-kind 2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat, VIN0001, raised $1.65 million for charity in 2014 — at the time more than any other car in Barrett-Jackson history.

About the Barrett-Jackson Auction Company
Barrett-Jackson, The World's Greatest Collector Car Auctions™, was founded in Scottsdale, Arizona, in 1971. Its internationally renowned auctions are hosted in Scottsdale; Palm Beach, Florida; Reno/Tahoe, Nevada, and Las Vegas. The events feature hundreds of the world's most sought-after, unique and valuable vehicles where they cross the block in front of a global audience. For more information about Barrett-Jackson and complete event information, visit www.barrett-jackson.com or call (480) 421-6694. Barrett-Jackson can be found on Facebook or followed on Twitter @Barrett_Jackson.
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New Dodge Viper Allegedly Coming With 550 HP V8



May 25, 2018


A new Dodge Viper is allegedly on the way – and it could ditch its venerable V10 for a more ordinary aluminum block V8.

According to Car and Driver, Fiat Chrysler is quite keen on developing a new Viper to square off with the Chevrolet Corvette. The publication is rather confident in this bit of intel, even going so far as to say “trust us: A new Viper is happening.”

The next-generation of the American super sports car will retain its front-engine rear wheel drive layout, along with its cab-rearward design and elongated hood. Aluminum and carbon fiber will help keep the weight down, and front and rear independent suspension will ensure things stay hooked up through the corners. A convertible will be on the cards from the beginning, with the hardtop coming 2-3 years later.

Under the hood will be a new aluminum block V8. The entry-level model will likely be naturally aspirated, C&D says, and will develop around 550 hp. A supercharged version with up to or over 700 hp will arrive at a later date. That forced-induction engine is considered to be a next-generation version of the 707 hp Hellcat V8 currently found in the Challenger and Charger Hellcat and Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk.

In an effort to set itself apart from the competition, FCA is eyeing a manual transmission for the next-gen Viper. It’s not clear if the car will be manual only, or if it will have an automatic transmission option.

C&D predicts Dodge will show an early rendition of the new Viper at the 2019 Detroit Auto Show – which will mark the 30th anniversary of the Viper concept’s debut. It won’t be on roads until late 2020 as a 2021 model year vehicle, however, and we think that’s a rather optimistic prediction. Prices should start at around $90,000.

Maybe the Viper’s not dead after all. Although, if it doesn’t have an absolutely massive V10 up front, can you really say it’s a Viper?


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