By Robert Emslie
It’s been more than a quarter century, but it’s always good to remember that Chrysler once offered a show car that was likely the most audacious, no-holds-barred, balls to the wall, middle finger in the face of conformity ever conceived. And then they went ahead and built it.
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Yeah, and more importantly, the Intrepid!
And the other LH cars as well!
It just occurred to me that there’s a book waiting to be written from that idea: “How Renault Saved Chrysler’s Bacon: The Decade Before Daimler”. Hmm…
Also titled ‘How Running a Winning Formula One Team By Being First With New Technology Teaches How to Save An American Auto Company. by François J. Castaing (retired).
Viper was one of the tests for the project management method that Chrysler used through the rest of the ’90’s, after the takeover
byof AMC. http://www.allpar.com/model/viphist.htmWhenever I see a Viper driving by find myself stopping and staring at it. Not so with Corvettes, even though they are arguably a better car. Maybe it’s because of the Viper’s low production numbers or its reputation, or maybe because I’ve owned a 2005 Corvette before, but the Viper just seems more special.
Of course, there’s always the unique sound of that V-10. If you’re accustomed to engine noises that one definitely gets your attention because it’s rarely heard.
It is an…interesting…exhaust sound.
True, but I think of agricultural in an early Lamborghini V-12 sort of way. Also, the agricultural sound is very guttural and visceral, which made it perfect for dropping into the Dodge Ram pickup.
One of the few cars besides Saabs that wear 3-spoke wheels very well.
The Viper is at the top of my want list. Preferably late 90s GTS (or a new 4th gen.) but I’m not picky. It also explains why I love the Cobra so much…same mantra.
Cuz America!
It doesn’t look a day over 15! The guys on Top Gear always used to talk about poster cars, and this one is right up there for me.
Y’know, that really is a good point. There aren’t many concept cars that make the transition from concept to production as faithfully as the Viper did, nevermind that it did it while also being a completely bonkers, balls-to-the-wall concept to begin with. Chrysler does deserve a lot of credit for that.
Another concept that actually saw its way to the production line, but this time with less than stellar results.
Or a another car first shown as a concept which actually shares some parts in the handbrake assembly with the Viper, (and the Renault 25)
http://www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Renault-avantime-44.jpg
In a similar vein, I present the following. Sometimes going more or less straight from concept to production without considering the execution isn’t necessarily the greatest idea.
I like all of those, even looked into buying the top one, I’m glad they were made!