Do mere mufflers make a car iconic? In the case of the Dodge Viper, some enthusiasts may consider the side pipes to be one of the more sought-after features of Mopar’s modern muscle car. That’s not to say other versions of the Viper didn’t also have memorable muffler designs, such as the GTS coupe with its center-exit pipes. But the first generation Viper does stand out for the meaty mufflers that always burnt your calves if you weren’t careful, and this 1995 Viper listed here on craigslist is also a standout for its gorgeous Emerald Green over tan color combo.
The seller is asking $37,500 for this Viper. Now, when he claims it’s the last of the side pipe-equipped models, what he’s actually pointing to is how this is one of the last 300 made of the initial production run. That may be splitting hairs to some extent, but the Corvette guys do it all the time, and to an occasionally exhausting (see what I did there?) degree. The color combo is honestly the bigger story to my eyes, as most of these first-batch Vipers were painted red or black, so seeing a deep forest green color is a delightful change of pace.
The Viper was a stark affair in terms of equipment and creature comforts, but that was part of the appeal. Dodge wasn’t going to waste time with lots of luxury and sound deadening; after all, that would defeat the purpose of the concept car design and make the Viper heavier / more costly to manufacture. You signed up for a raw, unfiltered driving experience when you bought a Viper, and that’s what makes it wonderful. Modifications of note include an MGW short throw shifter, 18″ rims, and smooth inlet tubes. The latter helps improve airflow and generates an additional 10-14 horsepower, along with improving the intake noise.
The restrained approach to modifications is what you want to see in car like this, along with holding onto original parts like the iconic wheels that sell for a small fortune on the used parts market. In 1995, the Viper produced a monstrous 400 b.h.p. and 465 lb.-ft. of torque. While still impressive today, it was absolutely bananas in the mid-90s. The Viper still looks like nothing else on the road today, and I don’t believe there’s been a clearer connection between a model’s name and what it ultimately looked like in production form. You can’t get this level of performance and exclusivity for under $40,000. Thanks to Barn Finds reader Barney for the tip.
Vipers look wonderful in green, which as, as Jeff noted, a nice alternative to the usual red or black.
I can’t imagine why anyone would need to add another 10 or so horsepower. Vipers were — and are — brutal, and would sink their fangs into an inattentive driver. If the mileage is really under 30K as stated, I can well understand why. A total lack of any electronic nannies left control entirely up to the driver. I drove a few, and fortunately escaped with a few lurid slides and long black stripes on the pavement. But I enjoyed every minute!
I do have to wonder about the price, though. Seems awfully low, and thus close inspection is necessary to make sure the seller is being reasonable, not trying to offload a car with dodgy history. Having the original wheels is a real “plus” in my book, and if I bought, they’d go back on first thing.
Got to drool all over the first car at it’s introduction at the early ’90s Indy 500. Love the looks. Nice one here.