This 1999 Dodge Viper RT features an 8-liter V10 with manual transmission and has only 35,000 miles on the odometer. Found here on eBay with an asking price of $23,600, the car is being sold by X2Builders.com which is based in Pontoon Beach, Illinois. The ad does say this car is being sold on a salvage title, so bring your trailer or arrange for shipping if you plan to purchase this car. Thanks to Adam C. for the tip on this great sports car!
Here is the heart of the beast, an 8.0-liter V-10 making 450 horsepower and 490 lb-ft. of torque! While these numbers don’t seem remarkable in 2018 (when Dodge is producing a Hellcat with 707 hp), nearly twenty years ago, it was about as good as it got. Back then the sticker was around $68,000, which is $102,000 in today’s dollars. You were certainly paying a premium for performance before “stock” vehicles routinely produced 400+ horsepower like they do today.
The interior looks pretty decent. The silver and black theme is classy and compliments the exterior well. A few close-up photos show some light scratches and wear, but overall it looks like a 35,000-mile car. If you’ve never sat in one of these cars, they are not built for tall people. I speak from experience: When I was a teenager, I was drooling over a new Viper at my local dealership. The salesman invited me to sit in the driver’s seat. I was a young six-foot-four lad and could barely contort my body enough to sit down. When I did, my head was sticking up past the roofline and I was looking over the top of the windshield. This dashed my hopes for owning my own Viper some day.
The car is in amazing shape except for the nose. There is no information on why it is being sold on a salvage title. Certainly, the nose damage would be fairly easy (and not overly expensive) to fix. Hopefully, the car hasn’t been in a flood or other circumstance which caused damage that you can’t see. Would you take the chance on a car like this with a salvage title?
Salvage title is a bummer but looks like its in nice condition other than the front boo-boos.
If if drives half as good as it looks it seems like it would be tough to go wrong buying & enjoying. Great color instead of red or black or yellow like most i’ve seen.
Friends that have had Vipers don’t drive them much. Nowhere near as practical as a Vette or 911 but they definitely have appeal!
Hard to believe 450hp isn’t a big deal anymore (says the guy driving a 640hp ‘family’ sedan).
There are a couple of Vipers with roughly the same or lower mileage that are within a year or two of this one that have recently sold on eBay for a few thousand dollars more. Why bother with this one, it has a salvage title and frame damage, according to the seller. At this price it would be wise to keep looking. These aren’t particularly rare, there is no need to make that sort of compromise at this cars asking price.
Steve R
The seller only states that has “minor” front frame damage. I’m assuming this, is just to make everyone think that everything they see is all that happened. For it to be considered a salvage title there has to be a lot more damage than what’s visible!
Minor frame damage is an oxymoron
My guess is that they just left that front end damage to make any potential buyer think they were getting a great deal. Obviously they had to be a lot more damage to that for the vehicle to have a salvage title. It would be really interested see what a Carfax set about it, I’m betting it was either in a major accident or was in a flood although I don’t remember any significant flooding in Illinois recently.
Well actually… in some areas of Illinois, an airboat will be required for harvesting. Lots of flash flooding starting last thaw.
Salvage title taints the value regardless and of course whenever the new owner decides on selling. I’d move on to another car. Not worth it. Salvage title doesnt go away.
X2 specializes in Viper and Ford GT parts and occasionally sells salvage titled vehicles. Bet your behind this one has more issues than it appears. Caveat emptor.
Give him 15k…pull the motor & tranny…drop it in a 60s or 70s Mopar luxobarge (like the 68 Fury below). Done.
The seller has a 2015 Viper engine and transmission with 1,400 miles sitting on a pallet ready to go for that price, $15k.
Steve R
Where did you see that information? I didn’t see it anyplace.
Mark, it’s with the other items the seller has listed on eBay. It’s never a bad idea to check what else a seller has listed as well as their completed listings along with completed and sold.
Steve R
So…whose barn did this come out of?
Is this Barn Finds or Hemmings?
Uncle Henry and Aunt Em’s barn, judging by the salvage title.
With all the negitive comments coming across, then add to the fact the reputation of the earlier years were a complete breast to handle. Which more than likely explains the damage.
Bought a new Dodge Journey in 2009. Salesman told me a story about selling a Viper to a guy who owned a local fitness gym. They offered him Driving classes, he declined and flipped car on the way to Vegas that night.
With salvage title and possible unknowns passing seem to be the local choice here.
I was always scared of these.
When was buying salvage cars, every time there was a Viper offered, it was broken in half.
You would have to check this one very closely to see if that happened here in its early life.
I like these .. very different and a proper sports car.
Engine looks amazing ..
You don’t have to be tall for it to be a problem. I am 5 foot 8 but short legs and don’t fit in an Audi TT so guessing this would be a problem too.
I find it’s only the convertibles due to the windshield height that’s the problem. Like the XKE a hardtop makes all the difference. I’m 6’6” and fit in both just fine when the roof stays put.
Salvage titling happens for a reason, usually the repair estimate reaches somewhere in the vicinity of 75% of market value. The expensive stuff isn’t shown in the pics. Branded titles can often depreciate value by as much as 50% of non-branded comp vehicles……………..unless a silly buyer rationalizes away reality. Serious/expensive damage can be repaired properly…….for a cost…..but rare is the integrity present to do it for over value. Nearly every “salvaged” car I’ve seen had been hacked by someone without enough talent/knowledge/experience, or someone without integrity.
Uncle Bib, some states brand the title salvage if the vehicle was stolen and not recovered in time before the insurance company paid it off.
The Carfax on this will tell the tale.
Also you can google the VIN to see if anything comes up.
Here are the pictures of the damage it suffered.
https://www.google.com/search?q=1B3ER65E2XV503689&client=firefox-b-ab&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj4vb7rvpjeAhVniVQKHbCqDKgQ_AUIDigB&biw=1536&bih=750
Like my friend’s Ferrari, it is a breast to drive to the grocery store, or on Sunday to get an ice cream. If you are going on a long road trip it is a beast as well, loud, uncomfortable, hot, and a speed trap invitation. If you are going to race it, well, YES. But the days of amateur racing are dwindling down, not many places you can do it anymore.
I seems, at least to me, that one of these beasts pops up every other day. I guess the young guys with money have gotten old and no longer wish to show off. For this kind of dough a nice used ‘vette would be my choice.
Good Point Miguel. Theres a reason that snake was totaled, hung the front end back on with zip ties. That said, I was standing next to a Viper once and I swore the ground was vibrating while it was idling. yeah baby.
Caveat Emptor.
good luck
Cheers
GCP