The Viper was Dodge’s mega performance/sports car built off and on between 1992 and 2017. It was a crazy-fast hot rod, capable of doing 0 to 60 mph in under four seconds, and had a top end between 160 and 200 mph. Some years ago, a chop shop in Las Vegas, Nevada decided to build a stretch limo version of the Viper to tote around the rich and famous in Sin City. It’s been on the market for at least three years (or has been sold and resold), having appeared here on Barn Finds once in 2021. From O’Fallon, Illinois, it’s available again here on eBay where the current bid is just $3,058, likely far below the selling dealer’s reserve.
Production of the Viper was interrupted twice during its 26-year run, including in 2007 and again from 2010 to 2012. The smallest engine offered in the Viper displaced 488 cubic inches, so we’re unsure how or why a 360 engine powers this one-of-a-kind limousine. Some 32,000 Vipers were seen at one time or another on the road, so it was not an uncommon sight around the turn of the century. Supposedly at least three-quarters of everything that went into producing a Viper was American-made.
Many readers will look at this vehicle and say, “Why?” From a practical standpoint, it’s hard to justify building a stretch limo out of a muscle car. The performance and handling are surely not what they were when the beast left Chrysler’s factory. But you’d probably be missing the point if you thought this thing was just about speed. It was about taking 10 people for a ride in style where the view is 360 degrees and there is no other machine like it out there to compare it to.
We’re told this Viper limo has just 6,800 miles which is possible if the car was only selectively used. It appears that no expense was spared in assembling this Dodge, but it would be cool to understand the building process. For example, did more than one Viper give itself to the project and how did they brace the extremely long mid-section so it wouldn’t bow under a full load? And you have to wonder what the turning radius must be – once you make a right or left turn down a street, you’re 100% committed.
Our own Jeff Lavery had the honor of writing about this unique cruiser when we first saw it more than three years ago. It was going for $135,000 at the time and other articles suggest the cost of producing it was $160,000. For more information about this Viper, check out what Road & Track and Hagerty had to say about it.
This answers the simple question “why do men choose to go to the moon?”
Because they can!
Good question 🤔. This abomination looks like it’s SHOOTING a MOON, and even uglier! What ever happened to CLASS? No need to respond! I think we all know the answer 😏
Now here is a crazy observation for ya. I lived in Vegas for a few years and that town is just quirky enough that I bet that somebody could make some pretty decent money taking tourists around town.
Pretty cool Russ ! Find another 488 motor and enjoy !
Horrible
Ralph was my first thought.
“Wow- I’d love a Viper limo!”- said no one ever.
The evidence of (but not the reason for) societal decline
This is the dumbest thing I’ve seen in a long time! Why?
Oh please 🙄
Its a sad viper state
The only thing worse is making it a 4×4
Let’s not give the new owner any more ideas.
They say that Shaft is a bad motha…shut yo mouth
..”performance/sports car built off and on and on and on…”. What has been done can be undone! Needs restored to a two seater :^}
Shaking my head….I’m a car dude, and all for creativity, but this is just ridiculous.
I was going to say this has been for sale for a long time, but Russ you said that right away. The seller has close to 3,000 vehicles listed!!
What’s the top speed ? 🤔 😲🏁
17 mph
Me: all i can say is why?
Everyone else: Because it’s AMERICA!
I think its only worth about $5k so you can use parts to fix a broken one, otherwise I think it would be fun to drift it if the drive line would hold up
My little mom always told me, “Just because you can doesn’t mean you should.”
This applies to many things in life and especially here.
That little saying has saved me (not always) from myself many times over.
It’s a shame it wasn’t applied here.
Color me amazed! This may be the strangest automobile I have ever seen. What in the name of all that is holy would possess someone to build something like this? I lived on the outskirts of Vegas for 6 years, so I have seen a lot of nutty things, but oh boy howdy, this tops anything else by a football field!
“Hot Tub Time Machine!”
Now that was funny!
better use for that motor (8.4L, bent10) in this rig than oe
LOL (AND true in my opinion).
Sold the original engine to cut their losses
Perfect parade car! Imagine all those beauties waving.
Storage and insurance…
Part out the drivetrain, convert it into a hot tub.
You know this is destined for Floriduh. The majority of comments have given me a glimmer of hope for society. Having said that, if it were a Viper thrown on to a lifted 80’s Blazer chassis, there’d probably be an inordinate and disturbing amount of approval.
Other than the snarky comment about Florida, I agree with you completely.
Yeah back off Florida. By the way, where’s youn’s from anyway?
Hey, it may actually BE destined for the sunshine state, more specifically – mar a lago.
Especially that comment!
“Yeah back off Florida. By the way, where’s youn’s from anyway?”
What? Like most things these days, I can’t tell if this is a joke/sarcasm agreeing with me or if it’s a serious comment. If you’re asking where I’M from, I reside in an area that isn’t familiar with the term “youn”, if that was what you intended to type.
What a waste of time and money, to say nothing about ruining the donor car!
If it rains, just drive it into your garage for cover…….Oops….Oh right..
No windows no roof no seat belts no thanks. How did it pass a safety inspection?
It’s Vegas baby!
I want to become pals with the guy who spent this kind of stupid money on this mess. Holy Moly!
He probably made it back using it as a limo
I’m not sure if you know how true that probably is. The stretch limo.thing is big in business in Vegas and it wouldn’t surprise if this thing is booked solid during the summer. One this size would make about $1500 a day, 7 days a week. Not so funny when you look at it that way.
Wouldn’t seem very practical for using as a limousine. You would get 3rd degree burns from the seats severe sunburn from the sun overhead or heat exhaustion. Putting a screen door on a submarine makes same amount of sense.
Got a 360 so you don’t twist the car on 1/2
You guys got my curiosity going..I’ve looked everywhere for underside photos and those of the passenger side. Can’t find any of either.
The stump jumpin hardware in the trunk is really squirrel proof. Damn, you’d think that the electrician might have taken a little more pride in his work.
This thing is made for a person who is ashamed of what manhood he has.
Here in Idaho the only reasonable purpose for this “thing” would be a mobile feed bunk for a concrete feedlot.
I’ve spent all the time I’m going to on this one.
I’ve got pretty girls to catch and cars to drive.
For Frog; apparently you haven’t spent much time in Vegas. People down there could care less about you heat. That city runs double time between about 7 PM and 8 AM. Las Vegas isn’t like anything else in the country and all I am saying is that I think someone could make pretty good money with this abomination. I don’t have a dog in this fight so whether or not you agree with me or not is totally irrelevant.
Charles
You are correct! Been to and through Vegas enough times to know I wouldn’t want to live there. I appreciate your insight. I ran a limousine
business in San Diego. Your busiest times were at night true enough. Your worst customers were at night as well. Having to try and reason
with drunks ESPECIALLY in an open car forget about it
That’s some hard enough money to make as it is. Apples and oranges difference in location as far as climate. So speaking for myself and my personal experience heat and sun aren’t the only issues. You need
$1 million liability insurance per car. Closed car.
Different people, different points of view. No harm, no foul.
Charles
Been there and did it and walked the talk and got my feet plenty wet. Is it wrong to assume you have also? Since you have a great idea maybe you should capitalize on it and make alot of money. And keep us informed on your success.
Ideas and opinions are like shoes, you have to try them on and see if they fit and serve their intended purpose.
It looks like it still has its manual transmission so you can hook gears up and down the strip. I’m a little surprised that nobody has made a Corvette America reference.
Lol 🍻 right on Carl.
Yikes!!!!!!!
The auction ended with a high bid of $7069. Still too much for this thing.
It must quite the experience trying to manevuer this abomination around any thing.
Well for some reason the sale has ended.
Owner probably monitors Bf comments.
Oh yeah, I remember this one from the first time through B.F.
I mean, this is one that you can’t forget, even if you want too!
Talk about an answer to a question nobody asked.
But whatev’s. Not my circus. Not my clown car.
$135K ask the first time around, didn’t even make $8K second time around. The seller has 40% positive on ebay…ouch.
tcopps, that sez it all….