Dodge should have a facility where they restore modernize Vipers

[serpent]

Similar to what Nissan does for GTR's (Nissan Omori Factory). https://www.nismo.co.jp/en/products/...car/index.html

Imagine being able to get yout Gen II GTS restored. Yes, it will be expensive af, but it will be updated, either the 8.0L or a newer 8.4L with abs, tcs, etc. I know people will cry that it takes away the spirit of the car, but lets be real, cars like that cannot be built from factory anymore, those days are gone. Want to build a drag Viper? This facility can do it too, etc.

I would love a Gen III coupe with possibly a newer motor. Have a Competition Coupe that needs a newer motor, this facility would do it too. I just wish American car companies would do this. Also, is there a company the modernizes American cars? I'm thinking along the lines of a Singer, Gunther Works, etc. But then again, their prices are insane like million dollar builds. I can see the gen II maybe even gen I getting to that point if they can modernize the car and it was more liveable (optional rear or side exhaust).

Pipe dream? I know, its just some thing that would be nice since these cars are getting rarer and rarer.

[J TNT]

Prefix does similar work, and Paint work I suspect would be better ….

[Steve-Indy]

As I recall, Steve at Autoform does Viper restoration...based on a phone call a couple of years ago.

[13COBRA]

Prefix, Autoform, Calvo, nth, etc. Plenty of options! Just depends on how much money you want to spend.

[Hawk]

What would be even better is having readily available parts on cars they were still making 6 years ago!

[Aevus]

What would be even better is having readily available parts on cars they were still making 6 years ago!

1000%

hahaha

[w12x]

What would be even better is having readily available parts on cars they were still making 6 years ago!

As much as I love the car, it's Dodge/FCA so I'm not getting my hopes up...

I'm still searching for a GenV Viper but the lack of parts if anything goes wrong has been pretty discouraging to be honest...

[Hawk]

I’m honestly thinking of selling mine and next winter ordering a base Z06 for a track car. I just keep thinking if I have a slip up on the track that the availability and the cost of the parts are not worth it. Not that I’m running it hard or pushing the limits of the car I’m more worried about some jack ass in a Miata losing control and wrecking my Viper. I would also feel safer throwing a roll cage in it but since they aren’t making anymore Viper I cant justify doing it to mine

[w12x]

I’m honestly thinking of selling mine and next winter ordering a base Z06 for a track car. I just keep thinking if I have a slip up on the track that the availability and the cost of the parts are not worth it. Not that I’m running it hard or pushing the limits of the car I’m more worried about some jack ass in a Miata losing control and wrecking my Viper. I would also feel safer throwing a roll cage in it but since they aren’t making anymore Viper I cant justify doing it to mine

I'm torn between a C8 Z06 with Z07 package and Viper(aiming for TA), emotionally the Viper wins hands down, but from the logical side I know it will be so much easier to maintain/repair a Z06 given GM's history and volume compared to FCA.
Given some of the posts here and the availability of parts, I would be scared to even take a Viper out and park it...plus the high revving flat crank V8 is it's own monster as well

Will continue to look for a Viper but if I can't find the right one I may ultimately go for the new Z06. If you decide to sell yours down the road let me know, depending on the spec and price I may be interested.

[RedTanRT/10]

Serpent,

at first glance it sounds like a good idea, Nissan does this, Mercedes does theirs 20 miles from me, Porsche has a program and in the US Nissan did a bunch of original Z's long ago. Trouble is I don't think there would be too many takers and if the factory wants to go this route, they'd need to do a whole lot more cars then Viper.

BTW, did you look at the pricing on the Nismo FAQ section. "It will vary depending on the model, grade, model year, condition, replacement parts etc., but the standard reference price for production costs is about 45 million yen (including tax)". $45 Million yen is $343K US!!!

[StrokerAce]

As much as I love the car, it's Dodge/FCA so I'm not getting my hopes up...

I'm still searching for a GenV Viper but the lack of parts if anything goes wrong has been pretty discouraging to be honest...

I'm signing the paperwork's next week to sell mine to a dealer. It's not a TA though, but, if you're interested give me a PM.

[ViperGeorge]

I'm signing the paperwork's next week to sell mine to a dealer. It's not a TA though, but, if you're interested give me a PM.

Will the dealer actually give you a good price? Anywhere near what it might be worth?

[Siciliano15]

FCA would have been a company to consider this under the Sergio Marchionne and then Tim Kuniskis leadership but now that Stellantis has taken over its all over now. In just a year they disbanded the SRT division, and they cancelled the 300, Charger, Challenger, and Hemi engines. They have nothing to replace them with besides a disgusting looking Hornet, a lame electric Charger that looks strange and has fake exhaust noise, and some 400hp turbo v6 YAWWNN. FCA was the best company by far, but now is gone and in its place is a woke piece of crap European company that is going to dull down the brand and eventually put it out of business.

[quickster2]

FCA would have been a company to consider this under the Sergio Marchionne and then Tim Kuniskis leadership but now that Stellantis has taken over its all over now. In just a year they disbanded the SRT division, and they cancelled the 300, Charger, Challenger, and Hemi engines. They have nothing to replace them with besides a disgusting looking Hornet, a lame electric Charger that looks strange and has fake exhaust noise, and some 400hp turbo v6 YAWWNN. FCA was the best company by far, but now is gone and in its place is a woke piece of crap European company that is going to dull down the brand and eventually put it out of business.

Sergio was the 1 who refused to invest in the Viper platform a few years in advance of 2017 FYI. Once he made that decision the FMVSS 226 regulation was the coup de gras. Viper sales were anemic until the ACR came out. Plant capacity was reduced to 20% of the initial GEN V volume because of the lack of demand. It was a business decision.

[J TNT]

Sergio was the 1 who refused to invest in the Viper platform a few years in advance of 2017 FYI. Once he made that decision the FMVSS 226 regulation was the coup de gras. Viper sales were anemic until the ACR came out. Plant capacity was reduced to 20% of the initial GEN V volume because of the lack of demand. It was a business decision.

Great info Quickster 2, I sometimes wondered if they had Produced a Convertible it would have given the Platform another 3 to 5 years Given Convertible Sales were typically 2 to 1 Hard Top essentially more than doubling Sales . And mitigating FMVSS 226 regulation for a few years .
It sounds like Sergio and Tim lacked the conviction and Vision that Bob Lutz had .

[Bill Pemberton]

Unfortunately we all forget that the vehicles we call exciting now are going through a transition that the old farts on here remember happening to " Muscle Cars " in the 70s. We had a " Woe is me attitude " ( me included ) for years, yet when all was done this last three decades of " Muscle Cars " far eclipses the previous era. I don't blame Stellantis because frankly they hung out longer than GM or Ford and Kuniskis and SRT ( along with design improvements from Gilles ) kept the Challenger and Charger alive much longer than the Corporate timeline dictated. I still remember when 2014 was the last year for the Challenger, ha.

I am a foolish optimist, but since the Automotive Industry is dictated by one thing ( which we often fail to remember ) and that is the consumer. Ford just announced a big loss in their EV builds and the Wrangler is the numero Uno Hybrid sold in the US. I believe the US consumer will dictate more and more and we will see EV machines continue to come into the market, but I also think the Hybrid will flourish and be the dominant vehicle many years into the future. You may argue, but how many of us thought with the previous gas crises periods we have had that Trucks and SUVs would be the vehicles we would all drive and gas efficient cars would not only lag in Sales they would virtually disappear with some companies ---- Stellantis US included.

I also have faith in folks like Kuniskis, Gilles and others, because they have proven that " Passion " still creates Sales, it often stabilizes them long beyond expectations . Kind of surprising for the last few years the number one Pony car was not the Camaro or Mustang, it was the Challenger. To complain about Stellantis is human nature , humans don't like change, but they have been criticized for coming to the party late, so why not be thankful to a degree.

Parts are a nightmare for Viper owners, though some issues are supply related with all vehicles Worldwide, but if you have been upright for decades and owned a silly number of vehicles, you are well aware that once a car is no longer built, parts will become a problem. What is so great, in my estimation, is we have a Club with years of resources ( what a unique library ) from passionate owners, so we can all work together to find solutions. Membership here helps this continue well into the future, because this is the single most valuable resource to keep our Snakes on the road.

I do believe we will see another Viper and yes it will be different ( but we already know the Vette will be too, Ferrari is changing , etc. ) but ironically for those of us who have loved certain hybrid machines for years ( Formula 1 beasts ) I have a feeling the track rats and Gearheads at Stellantis will continue to bring us some exciting stuff for years to come.

[quickster2]

Great info Quickster 2, I sometimes wondered if they had Produced a Convertible it would have given the Platform another 3 to 5 years Given Convertible Sales were typically 2 to 1 Hard Top essentially more than doubling Sales . And mitigating FMVSS 226 regulation for a few years .
It sounds like Sergio and Tim lacked the conviction and Vision that Bob Lutz had .

Structurally, it would of been very tough to make a convertible from a GEN V. That would of been a way around it in the near term. Additionally, I surmise that most, if not all , on this forum would not of invested our own money to keep the car going

Camilo Pardo, the designer of the 2004 - 2006 Ford GT, and his partners, have carved out a nice niche for themselves servicing and enhancing those cars. We hosted him at the Plant. Very interesting and talented fellow.

[quickster2]

"I have a feeling the track rats and Gearheads at Stellantis will continue to bring us some exciting stuff for years to come".

I agree Bill. I owned a '69 Vette Convertible in my Senior Year of High School. Quite a different car nowadays. GM is going all electric. Folks will be pining the death of the ICE engine in the Vette one day as well. I remember waiting in long lines to get $3 worth of petrol way back when. $3 did go a lot further in your tank though. I also remember walking in '77 & '78 when I was in the Army due to petrol shortages just a few years later. I was in the "mechanized Army" reduced to a foot soldier LOL.

Change is the only constant. As you know too well, building a few cars a day was unsustainable long term.

[serpent]

Prefix, Autoform, Calvo, nth, etc. Plenty of options! Just depends on how much money you want to spend.

I get that, and love those brands (wish I could afford a TT Nth Moto car). What I mean is a company that refreshes the 30 year old cars. A company that does something along the lines of what Singer or Gunther Works does. But again, those are million dollar builds. I have a feeling someone will come along and modernize the RT10 and gen II GTS. Its going to be costly tho! LOL

[StrokerAce]

Will the dealer actually give you a good price? Anywhere near what it might be worth?

It's tempting.

[w12x]

I'm signing the paperwork's next week to sell mine to a dealer. It's not a TA though, but, if you're interested give me a PM.

I'm trying to find a TA myself but a friend of mine is toying with the idea of selling his C7 Z06 and getting a GT/GTS Viper (I assume it's the 2013 GTS in your sig), if you have any numbers in mind drop me a PM and I will pass it to him