In 1989 the failing Chrysler company introduced a radical new car design at the North America International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit, Michigan. This new car, named the Viper, featured a never before seen design, and power in an American sports car. This first ever produced Viper had only a 300 horsepower engine, but Chrysler had bigger plans...
In 1991, the first Dodge Viper rolled out of the assembly plant in Detroit and with it, a legacy that has spanned the last 10 years. The first production model of the RT/10 featured a 400 horsepower engine (which would later be upgraded to 415, and finally 450 horsepower), leather interior, 6 speaker sound system, and the looks to kill, only 285 Vipers were produced the first year. From 1992 to 1995 the viper was changed very little (some colors came and went), but then in 1996, with the GTS production started, Dodge made some changes in the body, removing the side exhaust. Eventually Dodge would replace the smooth hood with the one found on the GTS models. The RT/10 is an open top roadster that does come with a soft top, and an optional hard top availavble from Dodge for $2,500.
2002 marks the last production year of the RT/10, as it gives way to its offspring, the SRT/10 convertible roadster.
In 1996 Dodge introduced a coupe version of the Viper called the GTS. This new model featured all the same features as the RT/10 Roadster, but had a fixed hard top and a hatch back. Also new with the GTS were the rear exhaust pipes and a modified hood with a special triangualr intake in the front. The GTS also featured a longer frame and a taller body then the RT/10, and was also 64lbs. heaver. Both the GTS and RT/10 rode only 5 inches off the ground.
The GTS offered 36.8 cubic inches of head room, 42.6cu.in. of leg room, and 53.8cu.in. of shoulder room. The GTS also offered 9.18 cubic feet of storage for your traveling needs. Both Viper models offered driver and passenger air bags, and 3-point safety belts.
The GTS had a max speed of 189mph, with a 0-60 time of 4.1 seconds, and a 1/4 mile time of 12.2 seconds at 118mph. And for the poor gas milage (12mpg city/21mpg highway) the GTS offered a 19 gallon tank. Both models also offered 17 inch aluminum wheels with Michelin tires for maximum road hugging.
1999-2002 Dodge Viper GTS-ACR
In 1999 Dodge decided to make a production street legal race inspired car, named the ACR (American Club Racer). The ACR was almost exactally like the stock GTS, but had a 10 horsepower upgrade, less weight, and it is lower to the ground. To bring the weight down, Team Viper removed the AC, and sound system (which could be reinstalled for a price). They put new suspension on the car to lower it, and added a K&N filter chargers to boost the horsepower of the car. Although limited, these cars are well worth the extra money needed to buy one.
Dodge has done it yet again, brought the world the next and most powerful Viper to date. This new model, just released in August/September, was only offered to current Viper owners who bought their car new, and still had ownership. Not surprisingly the entire stock of new vipers sold out in under 2 weeks.
Now you may be asking "why did they sell out so fast?" well, the answer is simple..500/500/500! That's 500hp/500lb.ft. of torque/500cu.in. of displacement. Throw in a new body style, less weight, longer frame, and the return of the ever popular side exhaust, you have an instant seller. Also new with the new Viper is a 5 speaker sound system with an in dash 6 CD changer.
The 2003 SRT/10 offers seating for 2, no cup holders, 36.5cu.in. of head room, 42.4cu.in. of leg room, 54.1cu.in. of shoulder room. Not to mention all of the normal "fully loaded" options come stock, Heat and AC, leather, power everything. Now the exerior specs. The newly redesigned body moves air much better then the old, the only draw back is the design came from a Japanese engineer. The body its self sits less then 5.25 inches off the ground, providing a drag coefficient of 0.43 with the top down (only .4 with the top up). The length is 175.6inches, stands at 47.6 inches high (body only, no wheels) and weighs only 3380lbs. The gas tank holds 18.5 gallons, and needs every bit of it for its 10mpg city/20mpg highway. Holding this car to the road are two 18 inch rims in the front with Michelin P275/35ZR18 run flat tires, in the rear there are two 19 inch rims with P345/30ZR19 run flat tires. The front tires are 10 inches wide, with the rear 13 inches wide. The rims are polished forged aluminum. The new SRT/10 is truly something to contend with, not many cars priced over $100,000 can keep up with this car, and that's just the way Viper fans wanted it. Dodge gets a pat on the back for this one (2 when they come out with a hard top model!)