Category Archives: Viper

The Corvette is Not Our Competition Says Ralph Gilles

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SRT CEO Ralph Gilles talked to the folks at Automotive News at the recent Detroit Auto Show and explained why the Viper and the Corvette do not run in similar circles:

We’ve never tried to be Corvette. We never will be. We’re handmade. It takes 18 hours to paint the stripe on a Viper. We color sand the entire car, inside and outside. All the panels are beautifully finished. We’re trying to build a custom show car that you can own. This is not a disposable device here. … Whoever buys a Viper is someone special. They’re not normal. It’s someone who really wants to rock and roll and feel alive and not have a filtered experience. It’s a car we designed for pleasure.

Read the full interview at Automotive News.

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Viper Design Flaw Investigation Concludes

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The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration opened an investigation on the 2003-2008 Dodge Viper after as many as eight accidents all showed post-crash damage to the rear suspension knuckles. Eight months and 9,670 Vipers later, they determined that the knuckles were damaged as a result of the accidents and were not  a cause. The true cause of the accidents was deemed to be human error. See the story here at Car Buzz.

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Viper Sales Are Fine Says Ralph Gilles

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There have been many stories recently about the Viper not selling as planned, about production being scaled back, that the Corvette was stealing sales. It turns out that the issue is not poor sales but poor planning. Apparently, people who spend $130,000 on a car have the nerve to insist on the options that they want. Whew! See the story at Jalopnik.

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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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Ralph Gilles Discusses the 2014 Viper TA with Adam Corolla

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SRT CEO Ralph Gilles discusses the 2014 Viper TA with Adam Corolla. The specs include; 3390 lbs, two mode suspension, bigger Bembo brakes, active aero devices generating an additional 600 lbs of down force and 355 rear meats. Per Ralph,“The new 2014 SRT Viper TA is being engineering for the dedicated track enthusiast, who still wants to drive to the track and take their hobby to the next level. Our engineers revised the suspension settings to refocus the Viper specifically for track duty, using a blend of components from the GTS and the SRT models, add in the extensively developed aero package and the new Time Attack package is born.” See more at Allpar. Video after the jump!

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2014 SRT Viper GTS Anodized Carbon Edition at the LA Auto Show

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Chrysler is on a bit of a roll with special editions. The latest is a metallic matte black and satin finished Viper GTS Anodized Carbon Edition (GTS ACE anyone?) giving it an even more sinister look. It features black chrome “Rattler” wheels accompanied by other unique exterior trim pieces and finishes. The only splash of color, orange, can be found on the calipers, the stitching and a few interior accents. It is limited to a run of just 50 vehicles. Look for it in a very few showroom floors in January. See more detail here at CarBuzz. More pics from the LA Auto Show after the jump!

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