[via Edmunds Inside Line Twitter Feed]

Okay, let's all get together here and have a group hug over the '86 Eagle from yesterday. Rarely comes along a car, at such a price, that generates such unanimity among the Nice Pricians and Crack Piperarians, but this was such a car. Perhaps it was the surprise at seeing so nice an example of a piece of American automotive history at such a low price. Or, maybe it was just the warm glow the thought of a four-wheeling granny elicits in us all. Whatever the reason, grandma's Eagle received a nearly unprecedented 87% Nice Price vote. For the other 13% of you, you're still welcome here, but don't expect to get the first batch of Maw-maw's cookies- the special ingredient of which is love.

That Eagle was an AMC product with a transmission sourced from Chrysler, and was as comforting as an old sweater. Today, we've got a Mopar product with a transmission built by Tremec, and that is as comforting as an out of control freight train overrun with nut-sac chewing rabid chipmunks and with you, tied naked to the nose.

The Dodge Viper debuted as a limited-production car - and mind-blowing example of what Chrysler was capable of when somebody slips "E" in the drinking water - in 1992, five years after rocking the Motor City Auto Show as a concept. Powered by a Lamborghini-cast aluminum version of the then-new 490-cid pushrod V10 from the Ram pickup, the 400-bhp and 465 lb-ft of titty twist would provide eyeball-squeezing performance, and fuel economy only an OPEC minister could love. The acceleration of the Viper was so brutal that flabby men rocking the car would have their torsos re-shaped by the force - man-boobs flattened, beer bellies squeezed into six packs - exciting their 30-year younger female passengers until the next stop light when everything would return to its natural state of Dick Cheneyness.

Here's a '96 RT/10, the condition of which is, like all aspects of the Viper, a little rough. For that aura of hard use and patina of I'm not gonna' bother to blow all the dust out from under the hood, the car comes with an aggressive, Buy It Now of only $22,995. As the picture show some wear and tear that you might expect with an odometer rolling six, it's surprising that the seller claims only 50K on the clock. That's until you remember the stories of owners complaints about the build quality of the first generation Vipers. But it's not that bad, and a torn side bolster on the driver's seat isn't going to impede your tire-melting, full-throttle runs from gas station to gas station. And who wouldn't drop 23 large just for the RE DQLUS license plate?

So, check it out and and let's get down to bee's wax. It's a Viper; it's white with blue stripes, which isn't wood-causing, but could be worse; it's claimed to be rough but running, so barring any major mechanical issues, the Lambo-originated engine should be solid; and it costs less than your average V6 Camry. Now, comparing a used Viper to a new Camry is kind of stupid, I realize, but it's a handy point of reference, sort of like using Megan Fox to describe how attractive other women are- there's no comparison, but at least you get the idea.

But $22,995? What do you think, for that price, is this something you could sink your fangs into? Or, would spending that much mean you'd be taking it in the asp?

You decide!

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The catch is that the system that bolts into your car to enable all this costs $499, then there's a $30 a year subscription fee after the first year. Personally, we've never had a problem inserting a key into a lock and twisting it or waiting until we were in the car to start it, but convenience junkies now have one more way to shave precious seconds off their daily routine. [via Automoblog]

This one was particularly challenging as that Viper V10 was quite obviously not originally intended for the rusty and upright engine bay it currently rests in. The perceptive among you would have noted the shape of the firewall, location of the wiper motor, the fresh air intake and the dual hinge links and maybe, just maybe, if you've got the skill you'd have put it together and guessed correctly, a 1956 Ford F-100 pickup — the sleepiest sleeper we've seen since the Oklahoma Farm Truck.

[The Real JDM, (ironically)]

It makes sense that despite Scott Devon's $5.5 million losing bid for the Viper brand, he'd still go ahead with making a re-skinned version to resell. And what a beauty this re-skin is. Especially when the GTX is equipped with the same 8.4-liter (510 cubic inches) V10 engine — plus some performance add-ons to help it to produce 650 HP (484.7 kW) at 6100 rpm. The V10 engine is mated to a six-speed manual transmission and will go on sale in 2010 with an annual production of 36 units.

It's got an almost entirely carbon fiber superstructure and a bold, sweeping design that really takes the Dodge Viper to a whole new place. We're kinda digging it.

One of the coolest things is the actuation of almost all articulating elements on the GTX enabled by the incorporation of sensory touch switchwork. The touch-actuated switchwork gives the car a very clean and uninterrupted surface found outside the GTX.

Want more information? Check out Devon's site.

That's right, Chrysler's announced today production will continue on the legendary Dodge Viper SRT10. The automaker, which is also back from the dead, will also shelve plans to sell the Viper program. Here's the full press release with all the details.

Dodge Viper SRT10 Will Live On

Auburn Hills, Mich., Jul 10, 2009 - Chrysler Group LLC announced today that production will continue for the legendary Dodge Viper SRT10.

Originally slated to cease production in December 2009, the Chrysler Group Conner Avenue Assembly Plant - the exclusive home of Dodge Viper production since 1995 - will continue to build the V-10 powered sports car. Chrysler Group is no longer pursuing a sale of the Viper business assets.

"The Dodge Viper has successfully captured the hearts and imagination of performance enthusiasts around the globe," said Mike Accavitti, President and Chief Executive Officer, Dodge Brand. "We're extremely proud that the ultimate American-built sports car with its world-class performance will live on as the iconic image leader for the Dodge brand."

Introduced as a concept car in 1989 at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, the Dodge Viper was designed and engineered to test public reaction to the concept of a back-to-basics, high-performance, limited production sports car.

The reaction was so overwhelming that customer orders began to flow in even before the auto show was over. Chrysler Corporation immediately decided to determine the production feasibility on transforming the crowd-pleasing Dodge Viper show car into a limited-production sports car in no more than three years.

In May 1990, after months of intensive study and testing, Chrysler Corporation announced that the Dodge Viper, powered by an aluminum V-10 was a "go."

Dodge Viper production began in May 1992 at the New Mack Assembly Plant and was moved to Conner Avenue in October 1995. Viper V-10 engine production transferred from Mound Road Engine to Conner Avenue Assembly in May 2001. In 2008, Dodge introduced the all-new, fourth generation Dodge Viper SRT10. With more horsepower, more torque and more than 30 exterior and interior color combinations, the latest Viper gives enthusiasts the performance they expect on the track and off, with more factory customization options than before.

For 2009, the Dodge Viper SRT10 offers outrageous power, with an 8.4-liter, 600-horsepower (450 kW) V-10 engine contributing to blistering acceleration (0-60 mph in less than four seconds, 0-100-0 mph in the low 12-second range), setting an American sports car benchmark.

To date, more than 25,000 Dodge Vipers have been built.

About Chrysler Group LLC
Chrysler Group LLC, formed in 2009 from a global strategic alliance with Fiat Group, produces Chrysler, Jeep®, Dodge, Mopar® and Global Electric Motors (GEM) brand vehicles and products. With the resources, technology and worldwide distribution network required to compete on a global scale, the alliance builds on Chrysler's culture of innovation – first established by Walter P. Chrysler in 1925 – and Fiat's complementary technology – from a company whose heritage dates back to 1899.

Headquartered in Auburn Hills, Mich., Chrysler Group LLC's product lineup features some of the world's most recognizable vehicles, including the Chrysler 300, Jeep Wrangler and Dodge Ram. Fiat will contribute world-class technology, platforms and powertrains for small- and medium-sized cars, allowing Chrysler Group to offer an expanded product line including environmentally friendly vehicles.

About Dodge
With a work-hard, play-hard attitude, the Dodge brand continues to offer a full line of cars, trucks, SUVs, commercial vehicles and a sales-leading, fifth-generation minivan in 2009. Dodge will soon add to its award-winning Ram lineup with the introduction of its all-new 2010 Dodge Ram 2500 and 3500 Heavy Duty trucks.

Dodge introduced several new vehicles last year, including the all-new 2009 Dodge Journey, the 2009 Dodge Challenger and the 2009 Dodge Ram. Dodge also celebrated the 25th anniversary of the minivan during the 2009 model year. With more than 65 minivan-firsts introduced since 1983 and more than 12 million Dodge and Chrysler minivans sold, Chrysler Group LLC has solidified its leadership in the segment. The 2009 Dodge Grand Caravan continues to set the mark in minivan value with more than 40 new or improved features from the previous generation, including unsurpassed 17 city / 25 highway mpg fuel economy. The 2009 Dodge Grand Caravan is also the first minivan in the segment to feature the all-new Blind-Spot Monitoring and Rear Cross Path advance safety systems.

Also in 2008, the Dodge Journey entered key volume markets outside North America, joining the Dodge Avenger, Nitro and Caliber. Dodge Caliber was the highest sales volume vehicle for the company outside North America in 2008.

While the video merely shows the beast awaken, idly snorting and snarling without too much drama, the real monumental moment is the merged realization of two snakes finally coming to fruition. After months and months of work, the Frankensnake is almost ready to terrorize the streets and we just had to show you how truly exciting the prospect of this is. For a full rundown on the meticulous work that has gone into this two year-long project, check out our first preview of Scott's two headed snake HERE.

[via MustangBlog]

The Dodge Viper's 8.3-liter V10 normally cranks out a pretty sad 510 HP and 535 lb-ft of torque, but GTA has massaged the monster mill to produce a prodigious 780 HP on high octane and a mind-bending 840 HP if its sipping ethanol. That dollop of organ-crushing engine is mounted in a unique chassis constructed of carbon fiber, kevlar and titanium which is unfortunately draped in body-work so supercar-generic your local constable won't even notice as you go 0-62 MPH in 2.9 seconds and hit a top speed of 217 MPH. Come to think of it, why aren't more supercar builders taking this route?

[via WCF]

The fire happened way back in 2007 in Kostroma, Russia, when a group of devout religious types took offense to the "666" mark of the beast license plate and set it on fire. We enjoyed the story when it first came out, and still think it's pretty amusing, though we're sad to see a Viper get it over something so silly. Perhaps Daily Mail should read Jalopnik more often. [Daily Mail]

Rafael set out to recreate the contemporary Viper Coupe and did so by reinterpreting many of its features as they would have been designed back in the 60's (we'll ignore the actual Cobra from the 1960s it was based on). He started out with research boards depicting classic muscle and sports cars of the late '60s and started sketching around the current Viper chassis, integrating classic design trends with the primitive (yet durable) construction techniques of the era.

Rafael says of his design:

"The design of the Viper Concept 1967 came from the idea of how the car would had been if it had appeared in the 60's to compete with the Corvette of the time."

We see a lot of Corvette in his design, but also a lot of the current Viper styling cues such as the modest double bubble roof, angular headlamps, engine compartment heat vents, and curvaceous rear haunches. It could have been full of win, but Rafael decided to leave out the large displacement V10 that is synonymous with the Viper and instead replaced it with the 440-Magnum that was used in the Challenger R/T. His decision was based on what would have been practical for the time, we say he wimped out.

Rafael estimates his 1967 Dodge Viper would sell for around $4,110, making it a worthy competitor to the Chevrolet Corvette. Although we'll never see this thing on the road, we can image what it would have been like and this makes us happy. Somebody who makes video games should by this design off of Raveal.

[via carbodydesign via Autoblog]

Dragtimes went out and dynoed a stock 2008 Dodge Viper ACR with only 1,350 miles on the clock and found out some impressive results. They managed to get the Viper ACR to lay down 546 horsepower and 510lb-ft of torque which means 642 horspower and 600lb-ft of torque after you factor in a 15% driveline loss. That's quite a bit of power that Dodge forgot to put out in its press material and enough to justify the unofficial Nürburgring lap as legit.

So, is the Viper ACR really faster than the current American horsepower powerhouse, the 2009 Corvette ZR1? We'll have to get these two out to a track to really know for sure (Hello? Chrysler? GM? Are you listening?). Until that happens, take a look at the video above and the dynograph below to see who really is the king of the American power wars.

(Thanks For The Tip FikseGTS!)
[via dragtimes]

Following on the heels of the Hurst Hemi Challenger, this new Viper will get a visual enhancement consisting of new aluminum wheels and the company's famous gold stripes on the outside and lots of leather on the inside. Performance upgrades appear to be limited to a revised suspension and a Corsa exhaust.

The first of 50 Hurst Vipers, in stunning gold-on-black, will be up for auction at the Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale Auction with the proceeds going to benefit Victory Junction, a camping ground for kids with serious illnesses. We suspect it's appropriate given how sick the Viper is.

Hurst releases first photos of the Hurst/Viper

Irvine, Calif. (January 9th, 2008) - Hurst Performance Vehicles today releases photos of the 50th Anniversary Hurst/Viper. This very special Viper is SERIAL #01 of only 50 to be built by the legendary Hurst Performance Vehicle Group. It features unique flat gold paint with gloss black stripes and black chrome Hurst wheels and detailing. This vehicle will be auctioned at the Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale Auction on January 17th, 2009 with the proceeds donated to Victory Junction, a year-round camping facility for children for chronic medical conditions or serious illnesses.

The production Hurst/Viper vehicles will feature the new Hurst HARD-DRIVE® gold anodized pistol-grip shifter, Hurst 19" and 20" polished aluminum wheels, Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 tires, Corsa exhaust and Moton Club Sport adjustable coil-over suspension with Eibach springs. The interior features a special Katzkin charcoal leather with Hurst embroidered logos, gold thread detailing and perforated leather inserts. In honor of the Golden Anniversary the vehicle will be available exclusively in Hurst's legendary color combinations of Black with Gold stripes and White with Gold stripes. HURST/Vipers are available for individual order though Hurst Performance Vehicles and Woodhouse Dodge.

[Source: Hurst]

The ASC built McLaren Diamondback Viper is now up for grabs on DodgeVipersForSale.com. Originally built for the 2006 Detroit Auto Show, the Diamondback Viper was a one-off concept based on the 2006 Dodge Viper SRT-10 Coupe that showcased lighter weight components and a McLaren tuned 8.0-liter V10 good for 615 horsepower. It was originally rumored that the Diamondback was the precursor to the 2008 model, but unfortunately it was shelved to live its life as a concept study only.

The Diamondback Viper featured custom carbon fiber body panels, a special stainless steel quad outlet exhaust, a custom carbon fiber racing stripe with "Mclaren Orange" and "Viper Blue" accents as well as a custom in-hood trumpeted air intake system with individual port throttles.

It's estimated that it cost ASC and Dodge $750,000 to build the one-off Diamondback Viper, but it can be yours for the much lower price of $295,000. This may seem expensive to you and me, but considering the collectability of concept cars, this is one's a steal.

Diamondback Viper Startup

Original ASC Press Release:

THIS IS NOT YOUR AVERAGE VIPER
ASC (American Specialty Cars) has a long history of developing vehicle prototypes with innovations designed to showcase the company’s expertise in vehicle design and performance materials. ASC showed its expertise at the 2006 North American International Auto Show by unveiling a supercar made even more super by the addition of a mostly carbon-fiber body. A ‘snake’ with an all-new skin, the ASC Viper Diamondback is super-light and super-fast. It’s fitting that ASC, which helped the Chrysler Group bring the new Dodge Viper SRT10 coupe to life, would, with the aid of McLaren Performance Technologies, show how the Viper coupe might be taken to an all-new level of ‘extreme’.

The 2006 615-horsepower Diamandback Viper features a carbon fiber roof, deck lid, rockers, fascia inserts and body trim. It also sports a massive OmniCarbon™ hood that shows off ten unique trumpeted air intakes, with individual port throttles peeking through. This is a McLaren Performance Technologies feature, reminiscent of McLaren Can-Am engines of the past.

The hood is comprised of compression-molded carbon fiber, both painted and woven. It’s displayed beautifully, with a broad, clearcoated racing stripe down the Arctic White painted expanse, subtly outlined by “Viper Blue” and “McLaren Orange” pinstripes. In all, ASC removed about 85 lbs. from the vehicle — the hood alone weighs about half of the standard production model. Taken together with the performance modifications by McLaren, the resulting power-to-weight ratio is estimated to yield an incredible 0-60 time — in just 3.5 seconds!

ASC MODIFICATIONS:

* Custom McLaren Performance Technologies engine tuning, resulting in 615 Horsepower

* Exterior racing-type kill switch

* Custom ASC OmniCarbon™ hood, with carbon-fiber roof, hatch, front chin spoiler, rear fascia, side rockers, deck spoiler, side venting gills and interior accents

* Custom in-hood tumpeted air intakes,
with individual port throttles

* 1.25" lowered suspension

* 4-point racing harness

* Custom stainless-steel, quad outlet exhaust

* Custom carbon-fiber racing stripe, with "McLaren Orange" and "Viper Blue" accents

* "Arctic Ice Pearl" paint

* Custom 3-piece forged and painted 19" aluminum wheels

[Dodge Vipers For Sale via Motor Authority]

This is inverse to the two vehicles' Nurburgring laps, where the ACR managed a ZR1-defeating 7:22 lap record; the GT-R’s time is only 7:29.

So how does a 480 HP car weighing 3,814 Lbs accelerate faster than a car with 600 HP that weighs only 3,408 Lbs? We’re guessing the warranty-voiding launch control has something to do with it. [via Autoblog.nl]