The Dodge Viper RT/10 remains one of the best deals out there in both the modern muscle and emerging collector car classes. It may be crude, but it remains one of the most significant cars to come out of Detroit in recent memory. The Viper shown here is from one of the earlier production years and bears the closest resemblance to the concept car that inspired it. The seller notes it has just 4,350 actual miles which makes the asking price seem like even more of a bargain. The Viper is listed here on eBay for $51,900 with the option to submit a best offer.
You don’t have to dig too far into the internet archives to read the numerous forum pages that discuss the litany of build quality issues the first-generation Viper suffered from. They range from minor annoyances like loose-fitting trim and cheap switchgear to more offensive faults like leaking targa panels and excruciatingly hot inner sills that sit right above the side-exit exhaust outlets. But most everyone forgave these faults when they took their first ride or drive in a Viper, as the raucous driving experience all but guaranteed an ear-to-ear grin on the driver’s and passenger’s faces. This Viper presents like a nearly-new car should with beautiful paint and those iconic three-spoke wheels presumably blemish-free.
The interior was a very simple affair, with a classic three-spoke steering wheel and acres of gray plastics. You can tell Dodge spent very little time or money on the cockpit, as it’s laughably cheap in design and materials compared to other high-end sports cars of the same era like the Porsche 911 and Acura NSX. But Mopar didn’t have much interest in coddling drivers who stepped up to Viper ownership, choosing to focus on getting the concept car out to the marketplace as a production model as quickly as possible and with most of its impressive performance credentials unchanged from what was promised once Dodge promised to deliver in a production-grade model.
The Viper is an original owner car that still resides on its original tires. The seller notes there are some minor tweaks from stock condition, neither of which is a big deal. The upgrades include a Hennessy air intake and mufflers, which may actually be OEM-approved given Hennessy’s long-term relationship with Dodge and for building performance upgrades for American muscle cars. Overall, the condition certainly looks accurate for a low-mileage survivor like this, and if you can make an offer and get it for under $50,000, you’ll own a modern icon that’s barely broken in. Which generation Viper is your favorite?
Here is a car that makes no excuses for what it is. You may not love the car but you have to respect it for it embodies everything a true muscle car is and was. You will also never see a large displacement V10 be offered in a sports car either. A car with a name that accurately describes its purpose and intent. It will bite and kill you if you disrespect it.
And it is a point in time when the “car guys” got to show their stuff.
Dodge in general makes no excuses for what they are in all their models this one and the new models are no exception.
I was at a supercar show last year and they had one just like this in the show. The owner had his life wrapped up in this thing. A 2×4 foot information sign, two Viper jackets over the seats, framed pictures of Vipers, and toy Vipers on the center console. The only thing missing was a time out kid on the tire.
https://www.ozy.com/good-sht/whats-with-creepy-time-out-dolls-at-classic-car-shows/88074/
This is the one to own. Collector status in the Viper community for sure. Check the front air dam for damage and rear tires.
…and look close to the hood for cracks in the paint, the filler was notoriously thick on the first run and the heat of the glorious V-10 at full chat did not help! Also if it used or dripped coolant, the TSB issued had you retorque the head bolts and if that did not work, (9 out of 10!), the engine got pulled and sent to a special box for a bit of REWORK by Arrow up in Michigan. (The cylinder liners were moving!). They’d remove, knurl them, repress them and then balance and essentially blue print the engine. Good Lord those were WONDERFUL when you pushed the little pedal on the right…
This is the one to own. The early years will be like C1 and C2 Corvettes.
Got a chance to drive one of these on a track once, thing damn near killed me. Its a handful to drive, but what a ride! Tempting.
Like the dog that chases a bus, if you got it, what would you do with it? Keep it, hope the value goes up? Drive it, but not much, it is hot, hard, loud, and, you will soon be very tired if you try to drive it in traffic, or, for hours on the Interstates. Dealer friend had one, as his personal car, OK for the 3 mile drive from home to the dealership, garaged at both ends, 10 minutes of joy twice a day, but longer trips were a chore.
I have a 95 and I couldn’t disagree more. The car is quite comfortable and enjoyable to drive. Also gets 22 MPG on the Hwy. If you are running it hard about 12. I drive mine to work once or twice a month and it’s a blast to drive as long as the roads are dry. Vipers are not a chore to drive at all.
Back in the 90’s, I was a Viper tech, and the only one at my Glendale, CA Dodge dealership “qualified” to work on them. One of the salesmen always used the old “buy a Vette” line on prospective customers. .. “the minute you sit in one, your **** grows 6 inches”. I’d rather have worked on a Town & Country minivan.
I sure would love to own this bad boy.