The Viper is dying...

"BJ" (benjamin-bignell) 05/24/2016 at 15:36 • Filed to: Dodge viper

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A relic of another time, the Viper ends production for good (?) in 2017. Here’s a eulogy of sorts...

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Personally, I’d love to at least try one sometime. I was 11 or 12 when it was first released and, like the Lamborghini Diablo, this car is part of the automotive mythology from my youth.

Let’s hope that FCA comes up with something just as crazy and just as ridiculous to replace it in a few years.

Ash78, voting early and often > BJ 05/24/2016 at 15:41

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I also remember this from my childhood and honestly thought it had died a few times already. But it just kept soldiering on. People give the 911 a lot of flak for not changing enough, but this is the poster child. Don't mess with success.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > BJ 05/24/2016 at 15:48

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Saw the twin to the one pictured above yesterday.

http://oppositelock.kinja.com/the-incredibly…

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > Ash78, voting early and often 05/24/2016 at 15:48

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The thing is, it isn’t a success. That’s why it’s dying.

Ash78, voting early and often > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer 05/24/2016 at 15:49

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The fact that it wasn't killed after the first gen is a success of sorts. Or just a stupid, money-losing continuation/homologation of a Lee Iacocca pet project. But in the car world, why split hairs?

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > Ash78, voting early and often 05/24/2016 at 15:52

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It’s not a success, it’s a poster. A very good poster, but it’s gotten to the point where FCA can no longer bleed money into a poster.

As a car, it’s a huge success. It accoplished what it was designed for very well. From a business standpoint, there’s no way to dress it up like that.

gawdzillla > BJ 05/24/2016 at 15:53

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i saw a few of them in person recently, looks a lot better than i thought they would, and smaller too

Shift24 > BJ 05/24/2016 at 16:05

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A car that defined MOPAR. With an engine derived from the crazy guys at Lamborghini, I will miss the deep rumble of that V10.

Future next gen S2000 owner > BJ 05/24/2016 at 16:07

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I will own a Viper one day.

RedlineZ bought an SV (And is getting rid of the z) > BJ 05/24/2016 at 16:37

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i think there was an article on the FP 6months to a year ago about part of the reason it is going away (for now) is because starting 2017 new safety regulations kick in that this chassis couldn’t comply with (think it was something to do with the roof height not being compatible with curtain airbags or something). its a halo car and by definition its a senseless development but that is exactly why dodge makes it. for gods sake they made the hellcat, then they proceeded to hellcat everything left laying around, challengers cherokees and wranglers etc. So yea the viper will go away for a while but I don’t expect viper development to be mothballed completely. maybe I'm optimistic but I'm willing to wait 3 years for dodge to change their mind like the last time.

TractorPillow > BJ 05/24/2016 at 16:39

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The Viper is the car that turned me into a car guy...well car boy at the time. I owe a lot to that car. I love the Viper as an icon. I hate the Viper as a car. Three weeks without one and I’ve already forgotten my hatred and started looking for another (albeit a newer one). It’s a car that appeals to the boy in me. You can be a jaded adult, but pass by a Viper on the road and your heart skips a beat and a smile sneaks it’s way into your face. It may stop being produced by FCA but it won't ever be forgotten.

66671 - 200 [METRIC] my dash > BJ 05/24/2016 at 18:09

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Not a big deal for me because I’d really only ever consider a first gen. But still I love v10s and it’s sad to see it go.

BJ > RedlineZ bought an SV (And is getting rid of the z) 05/24/2016 at 19:57

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In the article, the side curtain airbags were cited as a reason for stopping production of the car.

I agree that it’s a great halo car, and it’s a fun exercise, but I suspect that the people who spend that kind of money on a sports car expect a bit more sophistication.