![]() The first generation of the Viper is only available as a convertible, as the coupe wasn’t introduced until Gen 2.įinal word: If we had to describe the Generation 1 Dodge Vipers in a few words, they would be “massive horsepower and torque”. They started getting orders before the show ended – which was a clear sign to greenlight the Viper project to the public. lbf of torque at 3600 rpm, leading to incredible acceleration and top speeds.The power of this engine demands a very stiff chassis that leads to this car feeling like it’s born for the drag strip.ĭodge brought out the concept car version of the Viper, (called the “Copperhead” at the time) at the 1989 North American International Auto Show to gauge public reaction.Specifically, the engine produces 400 HP and 465 ft The V10 is based on a truck engine, and has massive torque to match. To accomplish this goal, Dodge engineers decided that the engine came first – and then built the rest of the car around it. ![]() Specifically, the Viper was built to outshine the AC Cobra, with a specific performance goal of going from 0 to 100 mph and back to a halt within 15 seconds. The first generation of the Dodge Viper was built with one goal in mind: raw performance. Sure, it’s not the car with the most creature comforts – but none of that matters when the naturally aspirated V-10 opens up on a long stretch of asphalt. If you just want to go fast in a straight line and turn heads, the first generation of the Dodge Viper is exactly what you’re looking for. Now that you know how this legendary supercar came to be, let’s get into the nitty gritty details of each generation. Excited by these parts’ potential, Lutz talked to his head of engineering and got a concept car started.Īlthough he initially disliked the early takes on the new muscle car, Lutz says that “ All my doubts were erased when I saw the first clay model, with its powerful, bulging surfaces and heroic proportions.” Lutz recounts in the foreword to The Viper Buyers Guide that Chrysler was planning on building a new V-10 engine and five-speed manual transmission, along with independent front suspension parts that had enough strength for a muscle car. He wished that a Chrysler car could offer him the same thrill that the Cobra was currently giving him.Īll of a sudden it hit him – all of the parts necessary for a true American muscle car were available at Chrysler. They didn’t have a rear wheel drive car that was competitive with the Corvettes and Cobras of the world.Īnd so here Lutz was, driving a Ford car with the Ford emblems removed, enjoying his driving experience but feeling guilty for doing so. Having just switched to Chrysler from Ford, Lutz felt a pang of guilt for enjoying the Cobra so much given that it represented his current competitor.īut there was just no way around the fact that at the time, Chrysler/Dodge didn’t make cars that were as exciting to drive as the Cobra. Lutz was having a hell of a time driving his customized Cobra around twisty Michigan back roads. ![]() On a Sunday afternoon in 1988, Bob Lutz reflected on how much he loved his Ford Cobra. If you want to dive deep into the Viper’s incarnations over the years, look no further – your ultimate buying guide awaits. The Viper has always been known for its power, torque, top speed, and acceleration, with later models incorporating more and more upgrades in these areas and others. ![]() There are five generations of the Dodge Viper. 2017 was the last year of production after a 25-year run from 1992-2017. The Dodge Viper is one of the most iconic All-American muscle cars ever built. ![]()
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