I cannot often pinpoint the very moment that I first laid eyes on a classic car, but I have no problem recalling my first Dodge Viper. It wore GTS Blue, and after years of vehicles that seemed to be reasonably humdrum, this car hit me like a bolt from the blue. It dramatically proved that the American car industry had not lost the ability to produce aggressive, stunning cars, which had performance to burn. This 1998 Viper GTS is an original survivor, and it has 16,900 miles showing on its odometer. It has been a cherished classic, but the owner has decided that the time has come for it to head to a new home. Located in the Township of Washington, New Jersey, the GTS has been listed for sale here on eBay. Bidding currently sits at $42,100. The reserve has been met, so a new home is beckoning for this modern classic.

It seems only fitting that the GTS is finished in Viper Red, which was the color that seemed best to emphasize the vehicle’s aggressive nature and stunning lines. The paint on this car is as close to flawless as you are likely to find, with no apparent chips or scratches. The panels appear to be perfect, with no evidence of any accident damage or issues. The owner claims that the GTS has never seen rain or snow, making his rust-free claims seem very plausible. The vehicle rolls on a later set of Viper wheels, but these represent one of the few modifications that have been performed. The glass looks immaculate, while the same appears to be true of the lights, lenses, and plastic trim.

Dodge designed the Viper’s interior with a sense of purpose. That means that the body-hugging seats are finished in hard-wearing but luxurious leather, while all of the controls and gauges are easy to see and read at a glance. With a mere 16,900 miles on the clock, it is no surprise that this Viper’s interior presents impressively in black. One of the few faults that can be seen is some wear on the outer bolster on the driver’s seat. This has not deteriorated beyond the point of no return, and a competent upholsterer should be able to repair this before it deteriorates further. The rest of the upholstery and trim are in good order, with no problems for the buyer to tackle. The stereo has received an upgrade, but the original components are included in the sale. As well as a couple of airbags, the interior features air conditioning, power windows, keyless entry, and a tilt wheel.

It is disappointing that the owner supplies no engine photos because this is one of the key features that people fell in love with on a Viper. There’s really no other way to describe it than as a monster. What buyers received for their money was an 8.0-liter V10 that pumped out 450hp and 490 ft/lbs of torque. All of that motive power found its way to the rear wheels via a 6-speed manual transmission, while the Viper also featured power steering and enormous 4-wheel power disc brakes. Was it fast? Well, just a bit. The Viper GTS could demolish the ¼ mile in an incredible 12.3 seconds. Proving that it wasn’t a one-trick pony that was fast in short spurts, the GTS could wind its way to an astonishing 180mph. The owner states that he mainly uses the car for shows, which helps explain the low accumulated miles. It has relatively new super-sticky Michelin tires on those gorgeous alloy wheels, and the Viper is said to run and drive beautifully.

I have had the privilege of driving some pretty incredible classic cars during my life, but the Dodge Viper experience has managed to elude me. However, I admit that it is an experience that sits pretty high on my Bucket List. I doubt that it would be an experience to forget, and it is one that those fortunate enough to slip behind the wheel should probably savor. Most manufacturers are now making it known that their future focus will be on zero-emission vehicles, which means that we are not likely to see cars of the Viper’s caliber produced in the coming years. For those of us with gasoline coursing through our veins, that is a source of heartache. That’s why cars like this 1998 Viper GTS are vitally important. These are a brute of a vehicle that offers nothing in the way of subtlety. It is also a dinosaur that is heading towards extinction. We weren’t around to save the original dinosaurs, but someone can protect and preserve this one. That way, future generations can gain an appreciation of an automotive era that they missed. That seems fair to me.