While there’s a history in this country of enthusiasts buying muscle cars and never driving them – and subsequently finding out lots of other guys did the same thing, thus deflating the values of the car in question – the early Dodge Viper seems to be holding steady value-wise despite many of them being put away like the proverbial rookie card. This 1993 Dodge Viper RT/10 listed here on craigslist has just 12,000 miles and a slightly checkered past, offered for $36,000.
Thanks to Barn Finds reader Rocco B. for the find. The Viper shown here has a colorful backstory that led to it being parked for many years in a garage and only occasionally exercised. The Viper was stolen when it was fairly new and the original owner – the seller’s uncle’s brother (stay with me) – took the insurance pay-out and assumed the Viper to be lost. But then it turned up in a parking garage, only a little worse for the wear.
Well, after the Viper turned back up, the seller’s uncle purchased the Viper from his brother and used it sparingly for the next few years, before it was effectively parked and left in storage. The Viper did get run on occasion, but in many ways, this is a time capsule. It still has some signs of wear, with creases evident on the leather seats and what appears to be some light wear marks on the center console. Overall, however, it presents like a car that’s been used sparingly.
The engine bay really pops, but even so, some detailing here would have been this Viper even more compelling. One ding against is that even though it was recovered, it had already been declared a total loss by the insurance company – so I’m guessing the Carfax looks pretty messy at the moment. While it is a collectible, most collectors want cars with clean histories, so it will be interesting to see whether the seller gets his price for low-mileage Viper.
Wouldn’t your uncles brother either be your father or your uncle as well ?
I know my uncle has 2 brothers , 1 is my Dad the other is my uncle lol. Has nothing to do with the car I know but still seems an odd thing to say . And I’m still confused as too who sold what to who for how much if the car was paid off to the owner by insurance did the owner then buy the car back from the insurance company when it was found with the money they paid him for the car .? Seems strange the insurance company would take a big loss on the car after it was found undamaged I would think they would want all their money back paid out an return the car to its owner . Maybe his brothers uncle worked at the insurance company?
Yes original owner got paid by insurance so car is a total loss, salvage title, he would not get it back, insurance would be new owner if found, I do not believe they would ask or sell back to original owner, usually they would put out to auction, then new owner would have to bring to their state dmv for a rebuilt title.