It has been 25 years since the first ever Dodge Viper rolled off the assembly line in 1992 in Detroit and ever since, the two-door coupe has been an icon. In spite of Chrysler running into financial troubles and changes of ownership, the Viper continued uninhibited to become a legend in itself. Yesterday, the last model of the current Viper rolled off the production line and sadly, there might not be a new one coming.
The Viper has held the record for the largest production engine with its massive 8.4-litre V10 engine. Back in 1992, it pumped 400bhp of power pegging it straight into super car territory. Most importantly, the Viper had no electronics at all, this making it one of the maddest cars to drive with all the horsepower and torque in tow. The second generation Viper lost a few kilos and a few cc of displacement but gained pace and horsepower with ABS coming in as late as 2001.
In 2003, the third generation of the Viper got even more bite and more horsepower and a stiffer chassis, the one that could actually hold around corners. The fourth-gen car that arrived in 2008, went back to the same 8.4-litre displacement as of the original Viper with the horsepower now breaching the 600bhp mark and 760Nm of torque. With Ralph Gilles announcing the end of the Viper in 2010, there was a slew of special editions of the ZBII Viper.
Sergio Marchionne revived the Viper in 2013 with the new car generating almost 650bhp of power and over 800Nm of torque. The Viper ACR holds the record for the fastest American car around the Nurburgring with the all-new platform and electronic aids along with modern aerodynamics defining the latest Viper. FCA’s Ralph Gilles bid an emotional adieu to the Viper yesterday as the last of the cars rolled off the assembly line with a series of pictures on his Instagram account.
We hope the Viper makes a comeback again and continue to adorn the bedroom walls of today’s kids like the first Viper did on ours.
