Simon Cars - Dodge Viper SR-I

Dodge Viper SR-I

Bob Lutz of Chrysler needed a halo car to change the parlous state of his corporation and he sanctioned the Viper project to create some thing in the spirit of the AC Cobra. THe project supposedly took a Dodge lorry engine, bolted it to a steel chassis and threw on a fibreglass body. In fact it was much more sophisticated than that, and Chrysler-owned Lamborghini created a powerful alloy version of the lorry engine to give 400 bhp from 8-litres. The car debuted at the 1989 Detroit Auto Show and the production version appeared in the 1992 show. The launch car was an open roadster and it wasn't until the second generation Viper GTS coupe launched in 1996 that comforts came to the Viper.

aa Chrysler Viper 1994 RT-10 badgec

Chrysler Viper 1994 RT/10. Yes thisi s a CHRYSLER (not a Dodge) because it was sold to Germany, and Europe only knows the 'Dodge' name as a Truck manufacturer.

aa Dodge Viper 1994 RT-10 badger

Dodge Viper 1994 RT/10 - badge on front wing.

aa Dodge Viper 1994 RT-10 badgev

Dodge Viper 1994 RT/10 - badge on boot lid. The badge is the head of a Viper, and the name 'Viper' is a tilt towards Caroll Shelby's Cobra. Caroll Shelby was consulted about the Viper.

Dodge Viper 1994 RT-10 front

Dodge Viper RT/10 1994. Chrysler subsidiary Lamborghini engineered the development of the 7,996cc V10 engine from a Dodge V8 truck engine. The rest of the Viper was built of steel tubes with a plastic body.

Dodge Viper 1994 RT-10 engine

Dodge Viper 1994 RT/10 - V10 7,990cc engine developed by Lamborghini

Dodge Viper 1994 RT-10 frontf

Dodge Viper 1994 RT/10. Powered by an 8.0-litre V10 version of an existing Chrysler V8 developed by Lamborghini. The car went into production in 1992

Dodge Viper 1994 RT-10 frontr

Dodge Viper RT/10 1994, with 7,990cc V10 engine and detachabable roof panel

Dodge Viper 1994 RT-10 rearc

Dodge Viper 1994 RT/10, with detachabable roof panel from 1994. The RT/10 was the Roadster version

Dodge Viper 1994 RT-10 rearo

Dodge Viper 1994 RT-10. The SR/10 was a roadster, and a detachable roof was later an option.

Dodge Viper 1994 RT-10 side

Dodge Viper RT/10 1994. The original SR/10 roadster was available with a detachable roof panel from 1994

Chrysler Viper 1994 RT-10 front

Chrysler Viper 1994 RT/10. Yes this is a CHRYSLER (not a Dodge) because it was sold to Germany, and Europe only knows the 'Dodge' name as a Truck manufacturer. The RT/10 was the 'base' model but still managed 450bhp from its 7,994cc V10

Chrysler Viper 1994 RT-10 rear

Chrysler Viper 1994 RT/10. Exported to Germany and sold as Chrysler, rather than Dodge. The Viper was designed by Tom Gale and Chrysler CEO liked it sdo much he signed it off straight away. On first generation cars (SR-1) the side windows and rear window were removable and not made of glass.

Chrysler Viper 1994 RT-10 tail

Chrysler Viper 1994 RT/10. The original SR-1 Viper from 1992 did not have rear exhaust pipes. The Dodge Viper was sold as Chrysler Viper in some markets

Dodge Viper SR-II

Dodge Viper ZB-I

AC Cobra 428 front

AC Cobra 428. The AC Cobra was upgraded to MkIII form for 1965 with larger diameter chassis tubes and coil spring suspension all around. Under the bonnet a 427cu.in. or 428cu.in. V8, Carroll Shelby battled Enzo Ferrari for a homologation special, both cars being ruled out for the 1965 season, and hence the decision to sell off detuned versions of these specials as road cars.

Chevrolet Corvette 1981 Targa Top front

Chevrolet Corvette 1981. This Targa Top C3 was only available with a 5,735cc (350) V8 rated at just 190 bhp. Just 40,600 C3s were produced in 1981, some at the traditional St. Louis plant, and the rest at the new Kentucky plant

Lister Jaguar Le Mans 1990 front

Lister Jaguar Le Mans 1990. Powered by 6,996cc 604 bhp juned V12 engine. The Lister Jaguar Le Mans was capable of 200 mph. Only 20 Le Mans were made.

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