This date in Viper History

[pony23]

The concept car was revealed to the world.





http://autos.yahoo.com/blogs/motoramic/jan-7-dodge-reveals-viper-concept-date-1989-143724822.html

[big-n-italian]

happy birthday VM-01!

[J TNT]

Yep ,I still remember seeing it that day ! :)

[Thawk97]

Wow that's a very cool video. Some haters in the comments just don't know. Happy Birthday!

[Viperpro]

As a newlywed and soon to be father, I knew back then that I just had to have one of these missing out on the Cobra era. My dream came true in 1999 when I flew across the country to take delivery of a used Gen I. I now have a Gen II and still cannot believe I own one of these amazing machines. Since I have entered the snake den all this has been much more. I have attended two VOIs, set up multiple events for the local club and have enjoyed countless hours discussing the car with friends, family, an extended Viper family and attending events. Bottom line is that the picture above is more than just a car for many of us, it started a phenomenon.

[viperr]

I remember how amazing it was that a K-car company could come up with such a radical vehicle. It was an exciting unveiling at the Detroit Auto Show and even more exciting for me when I went to the Skip Barber Driving School in 1996 and got to actually drive one. I knew I would eventually have one, but It took until 2007 before actually becoming an owner. With over 100,000 miles on it, I am obviously happy with the car and use it as often as I can. I am attaching a couple of photos of a brochure from August 1989. It isn't the VM-01, but it is an early Viper which I believe was the original concept car at the show. Notice that they show a 400 cubic inch engine and a 5 speed transmission. There are a few changes that came after this brochure was published, but they were all for the better.


http://i823.photobucket.com/albums/zz152/viper9910/004_zps097ece8e.jpg~original (http://s823.photobucket.com/user/viper9910/media/004_zps097ece8e.jpg.html)URL=http://s823.photobucket.com/user/viper9910/media/002_zpsc7762bc1.jpg.html]http://i823.photobucket.com/albums/zz152/viper9910/002_zpsc7762bc1.jpg~original[/URL]

[JonB ~ PartsRack]

That photo was 'computer generated' and VERY high-tech at the time.

They actually created a huge contact-negative full sized of the computerized rendering, and printed an industrial-sized Kodak photo-paper enlargement which hung at CTC for years. About 3'x4'......poster sized!

{I have the negative and the photo!}

[viperr]

Wow! For 1989 that really is high tech. It sure changed a lot. I wonder when the very first flyers for the RT-10 were made?

[Getnlwr]

400 cubic inch? Yowza... They missed the mark a little bit.

[DreadLox]

That concept looks awesome! God Bless the first Gen Viper!


Wow that's a very cool video. Some haters in the comments just don't know. Happy Birthday!

Read some of those comments too... So many ignorant people don't know what they're talking about. I hear so many people say "put a corner in and your viper would spin out..." Blah blah -.- 99% of them have never driven one (and probably 98% of that 99% are Chevy buffs lol)

[Canadian venom]

That photo was 'computer generated' and VERY high-tech at the time.

They actually created a huge contact-negative full sized of the computerized rendering, and printed an industrial-sized Kodak photo-paper enlargement which hung at CTC for years. About 3'x4'......poster sized!

{I have the negative and the photo!}

That's very cool!

[DrTaco]

Awesome

[gutterworks129]

I enjoyed the video and it brings back memories of seeing them in person. I look at my 92 everyday and smile.http://i578.photobucket.com/albums/ss227/gutterworks129/rides_zpsc1607398.jpg (http://s578.photobucket.com/user/gutterworks129/media/rides_zpsc1607398.jpg.html)

[viperr]

It is great that you have a 1992. I even noticed the radio antenna on the rear fender which I think was 1992 only. That year was the most primitive and raw Viper ever. Yours looks to be in great shape. I would love to have one from that year in my garage.

[FrgMstr]

I flew up to Minnesota to buy my Gen IV Viper from Dodge of Burnsville. This is sitting in its showroom. It has never been titled.

http://kylebennett.com/files/hfpics/Gen1Viper1.jpg

http://kylebennett.com/files/hfpics/Gen1Viper2.jpg

http://kylebennett.com/files/hfpics/Gen1Viper3.jpg

http://kylebennett.com/files/hfpics/Gen1Viper4.jpg

http://kylebennett.com/files/hfpics/Gen1Viper5.jpg

[viperr]

Do they have it for sale? It is hard to imagine one that has never been titled and apparently not on the road very much.

[VYPR BYT]

Very cool. Happy B-day Viper!

[FrgMstr]

Do they have it for sale? It is hard to imagine one that has never been titled and apparently not on the road very much.

I asked and was told that many had offered a LOT of money for the car and the owner would not sell it. The dealership owner is an actual Viper fan, as I bought the SSG one pictured above that was his personal car.

[JonB ~ PartsRack]

The 1992 had many unique (and some weird) design differences from later cars. Noteworthy are the 'tri-y' split exhast manifolds, and the low-profile Magnesium intake manifold. Also a folding vinyl soft top, not canvas. JAXSIT Jack H here somewhere here is an expert, owns 3 and a LOT of OE parts! . . . . . The removeable antennae was OE thru (approx) vin # 667 in 1993.....as was the IM thru 1993.

[big-n-italian]

i remember seeing ads for Gen I cars in the dupont registry when they were first hitting the streets. no sales prices i remember were less than $100,000+.

[Drummerviper]

The 1992 had many unique (and some weird) design differences from later cars. Noteworthy are the 'tri-y' split exhast manifolds, and the low-profile Magnesium intake manifold. Also a folding vinyl soft top, not canvas. JAXSIT Jack H here somewhere here is an expert, owns 3 and a LOT of OE parts! . . . . . The removeable antennae was OE thru (approx) vin # 667 in 1993.....as was the IM thru 1993.

Mine has done other odd stuff. My favorite are the keys that have no dealer into and simply say "Mr. Lutz". Also, perhaps the first hardtop and it states "serial number Lutz". Still has its 22 year old tires and both engines.

[Slaughterj]

Mine has done other odd stuff. My favorite are the keys that have no dealer into and simply say "Mr. Lutz". Also, perhaps the first hardtop and it states "serial number Lutz". Still has its 22 year old tires and both engines.

I remember your story on that car, still need to see it sometime!

[100]

The Viper was definitely a game-changer and it took years for any meaningful competition. Now, with the new Z06, SRT needs to create another game changer and quit coming out with new colors. Apple hasn't been doing shit, but has been coming out with new product colors.

SRT needs a new chassis/frame like the Ariel Atom (Formula One Style) -- Mercedes racing did this years ago, and had a problem with doors, so the doors lifted vertically. They only used this chassis for one model -- years ago. Most of the low-level race cars use a flat frame because of the "door problem".

SRT needs to go back to composite/fiberglass for low cost, but have a TA model (very very low prod. run) that uses the carbon fiber. SRT also needs to boost the horsepower and go AWD to handle that horsepower.

For heat load issues, Re-create the water cooling system for the vehicle...like nothing seen before (a secondary radiator system that uses a different material than water).

[Rand1993]

The 1992 had many unique (and some weird) design differences from later cars. Noteworthy are the 'tri-y' split exhast manifolds, and the low-profile Magnesium intake manifold. Also a folding vinyl soft top, not canvas. JAXSIT Jack H here somewhere here is an expert, owns 3 and a LOT of OE parts! . . . . . The removeable antennae was OE thru (approx) vin # 667 in 1993.....as was the IM thru 1993.

The early '93 also had the battery under the trunk, not behind the driver side rear wheel. My '93 is one of those early ones.