Category Archives: 1990s

Prototype Viper Saved from the Crusher

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In January, Chrysler had announced that they were crushing 93 of the very first Dodge Vipers that were built. Most of these cars were donated to technical schools and were not road legal. As Mopar Blog reported in March, South Puget Sound Community College in Olympia, Washington refused to see their car crushed and started an online petition. Well, good news. It worked! Carbuzz is reporting that, due to the petition the resulting local news coverage, Chrysler has decided not to crush the car and is currently working with the school to arrive at a solution.

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1994 Viper with 504 Miles on eBay

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Are you a huge fan of the first generation Viper RT/10 but you’ve been kicking yourself for not buying one when available between 1992 and 1995? Well today’s your lucky day! Behold a 1994 Viper with only 504 miles. There’s no story as to how the car survived almost 20 years without being driven but it was probably purchased new by a speculator. If so, that plan may not have worked out as it’s listed for $37,500. A new Viper RT/10 in 1994 was priced at $56,600. So, do you drive and enjoy it or, at this point, put it on a mantel? See the article at CarScoops and the original eBay listing. More pics after the jump!

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1996 Chrysler Sebring Project, Part 2: DIY Bumper Refresh.

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Body shop guys may turn their nose at what I’m about to show you, but if the car cost $750, and it’s a high-mileage daily driver… why would I spend four grand on it in a body shop? This article is for those who want to refresh a beater’s bumper, and make an otherwise decent-looking car look good from more angles.

The bumper skin’s top has weathered away, it feels like a cat’s tongue. It’ll need to be wet sanded and shot with a sandable primer to flatten the surface and make it ready for paint. Read how to fix it after the jump!

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1996 Chrysler Sebring Project: Part 1

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For those of you who don’t know me, I’m a designer by trade, do mechanical work and light restorations on the side, and have blogged elsewhere. From time to time I come across some novelties, things I discover or really cool tips that can make a positive difference for more than one kind of car, and for other people as well. This is one of them…

Craving an older dirt-cheap convertible this summer, I had my choice of Sebring or perhaps a Sebring. You can probably guess what I bought. Yes it’s not the most stellar model to roll off the assembly line, it has its quirks and shortcomings but on the whole I have no regrets, keeping in mind I will sell it in the springtime, the next scheduled sale in an ongoing list of cars, that is my life.

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Forgotten Movie Mopar: 1974 Dodge Charger from “Wheels of Terror”

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We all remember “Christine.” We all remember “Duel.” But what about “Wheels of Terror”? Starring Joanna Cassidy and a sadistic ’74 Dodge Charger, this movie takes us on a wild ride through the Arizona desert as a madman in his brutal car terrorizes a small town and its inhabitants. While this little 1990 made-for-TV movie isn’t the best I’ve ever seen, it’s certainly worth checking out for the nasty looking custom Charger that really becomes a character in it’s own right. More pictures plus the FULL MOVIE after the jump!

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Reader’s Rides: Michael and Dana Conder’s 1971 Dodge Dart Swinger Special and 1999 Dodge Neon

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Here’s a cool two Mopar family: Michael and Dana Conder’s 1971 Dodge Dart Swinger Special and 1999 Dodge Neon. The Dart is a Slant 6 car and all original except for the American Racing 15” Outlaw IIs. Check out the Neon and see its spec after the jump!

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Best Sleeper? 1989-1990 Dodge Caravan Turbo

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Yahoo Autos recently published a list of “5 Killer Sleeper Cars” and one of them was the 1989 -1990 Dodge Caravan Turbo, which was available with a 2.5-liter turbo four banger and a five-speed manual. With 12 psi of boost, these grocery getters could run a 12 second quarter mile. In fact, I have video of one doing just that after the jump!

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A Brief History of the Viper at the 24 Hours of Le Mans

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The Viper GTS-R made its first appearance at Le Mans back in 1996. Running in the GT1 class, it completed all 24 hours of the race and finished eighth in class and 10th overall. Viper returned in 1997 in the GT2 class. This time it didn’t go so well. Two Vipers crashed and the other two did not finish. But when the Viper team returned again in 1998, they won the GT2 class. And in 1999 they won the GTS class–and also took second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth in class. They won the GTS class again in 2000, which was their last appearance until their return this weekend. More at DriveSRT.com

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