Performance was just starting to come back in 1992 when Dodge introduced its remarkable Viper RT-10. This was not a cruiser. It was a bruiser with 10 cylinders, side exhaust and only two seats. Well, here is car #85 that has had only two owners since new. It is listed for sale here on eBay with 3 days remaining in the auction. Prices for these cars have been improving and this car has garnered 29 bids and a current bid of $35,177. The Viper is located in Frederick, Maryland and the owner is pretty transparent about its condition.
The interior on these early Vipers was sparse but practical. This one looks to be in great shape. From the gray bucket seats to the carpet, everything looks practically new. The car is said to have 31,900 miles on the odometer. As explained in the eBay ad, the first 100 cars were assembled and disassembled 3 times to adjust the production line. Unfortunately, while driving this one day about 15 years ago, a the driver ran over a chunk of a truck tire in the road and it dented the side exhaust on the passenger side. It also damaged the finish on the right front wheel. When the wheel was refinished, it looked fine but now 15 years later, the clear coast is starting to yellow so it doesn’t match the other wheels. The dent in the side exhaust can be clearly seen in the pictures included in the ad.
The 8.0 liter engine looks impressive under the long hood. Dodge rated the engine at 400 horsepower and 630 lb ft of torque from the factory. In town, the EPA rated the fuel inefficiency at 12 mpg and on the highway the Viper was said to achieve 20 mpg. Car magazines at the time were able to get from 0 to 60 in about 4.0 to 4.5 seconds and cover the quarter mile in 12.6 seconds. The first generation of the Viper was built from 1992 to 1995 not including the preproduction Vipers in 1991. This car comes with the original canvas top and zip up side windows.
This roadster was made for one thing and that was to go fast. The buying public was enamored with the car and I remember going with my brother and dad to see it on the showroom floor. The Dodge dealer had it roped off but they let us sit in it. I had never seen an 8.0 liter 10 cylinder powered beast before that day. While this car has a few cosmetics problems, the number of bidders should continue to climb as the auction comes to a close.
If it doesn’t go much higher,this could be
a great deal.
These are the way cars should be – no screen
on the dash.About as pure of a car can be in this age.
Was lucky enough to drive a few of these. A total beast, a ton of torque, and a mile wide grin…a true back to basics performance icon.
It looks nice and wish I could get away with buying it.
The later years of these had many upgrades in the option and interiors which made them much more comfortable for more than a short drive.
At 35K this would be a lot of fun.
Those wheels are hideous.
Agreed, they are Fugly !
Where were you in 1992 ?
They sound like a Hoover.
I have a 95 much cleaner than this car but you are right they sound like crap.
but a VERY ANGRY HOOVER!… a coworker got to do the only (at the time),Viper advertisement …..he was PAID to drive around Hawaii ‘s volcano trimmed roadways. Latter morphed to the beat of Magic Carpet Ride by Steppenwolf. http://www.splendad.com/ads/show/807-Dodge-Viper-Magic-Carpet-Ride.html
…and he was PAID…
Barn Find? Seriously?
My neighbor who lives across the street from me purchased a new viper in red. What a eye catching automobile. The following year –believe this–he won another Viper, bright green and black. It is awesome when he has both of them parked in his driveway. He and his wife occasionally go for a cruise, sometimes in Red, sometimes in Green. Both cars have almost no miles on them.