1994 with 1,050 miles. Thoughts on value.

[snkskyn]

A friend of mine has a black 1994 Gen 1. Has 1,050 miles on it. It is flawless. I have a 2008 conv and 2010 ACR but always wanted a Gen 1 car. Its been sitting at his company for years. Assuming there are no major mechanical issues with it due to sitting around for so long, what would you think is a fair offer? He wants it to go to someone who likes vipers and he knows I do.

I appreciate your input.

[Thawk97]

$35kish? Maybe a bit more but probably not more than $40. Currently available comparison woulld be something like this: http://www.vipertrader.com/details.php?id=22562

[Ohiotj]

Assuming a few things here. I am guessing the car is stock. How old are the tires? Does it have the new style gaskets? Plus General fluid and wearable items needed to get it ready for the road. If all those need done you are looking at 4500 or so worth of work minimum. I am guessing a car with everything updated and ready to roll is around 32,500. I wish they are worth more but that's an honest number from a gen 1 owner.

[Granger73]

I agree. Low mileage is a plus only if you continue to keep mileage under @3K. Once you pass that it becomes a second tier car. At 10K it's just one of the bunch. The 94 is probably the least desireable as over 3000 were produced and that year comprises over 50% of GEN1 total production. Kind of like the 54 and 64 Corvettes.

[Matt M, Pa]

I'm a firm believer that a "good deal" is one agreed to by both the seller and buyer. If indeed this '94 is flawless...I agree with Thawk97.

When I was looking for a Gen 1 (or 1.5) I found LOTS of low mileage Vipers that were still beat up. Once with something like 2000 miles had (among other things) damaged sills and even a torn (not even sure how that happens) driver's seat belt. A local guy had a 9000 mile '93 for sale. Needed tires, dash repaint, had the original gaskets and needed the underside of the fascia painted.

I also found lots of low mileage cars with aftermarket radios, lowered, etc. I wanted stock....and am willing to pay a premium to get a clean, stock Viper.

While paying a hugh premium to get a very low mileage car is foolish if you plan to drive it...I can report that my Vipers don't get driven enough each year to ever be high-mileage cars.
(Completely off topic but a friend of mine has a 1991 Bronco Silver Anniversary going to auction next month. It has 79 miles on it. 79. What can you do with that other than a museum?)

[JonB ~ PartsRack]

-More Vipers were built in MY 1994 than any other.

--50 miles year average!!

---Very Low Miles G1 Viper WILL HAVE HEAD GASKETS FAIL much sooner than driven cars. Guaranteed. 1050 miles is "better" than 150 miles, if they were evenly divided over 20 years!

----I hope you are both happy and the Snake gets a good pit....

[Vigilantty]

Let me start by saying I have a low mile 1994 Black viper and am partial to Gen I. However, I have witnessed two gen I cars , both with less than 9k miles for sale for less than 25,000 dollars and both have been for sale for a long time . They are both in mint condition, bone stock ,but both are red. It kills me as an owner to think these cars cannot sell at that price point. Maybe the market will turn around , but i think the Gen V viper has increased attention towards Gen II vipers. Also every article and video of the Gen V constantly badgers the uncivilized nature of the previous vipers and the Gen I was unfortunately the lest civilized of the group. Additionally, the Gen I viper is a younger man's car and all of us in that age group that lusted for a Gen I viper are older now and want luxury items like door handles and and a roof. Additionally, the complete lack of parts and upgrades has kind of put the Gen I in behind the other vipers. That being said the car is worth what you are willing to pay and the seller is willing to let it go for. In the Northeast part of the country 30k has not been the price of these cars for the better part of 10 years, but one day down the road a low mile original car maybe priceless.

[jdeft1]

I doubt a '94 will never be a big, fat money car in our lifetime, IMO... There are plenty of low miles gen 1s out there and tons of guys who think there're gonna be $$s .. I DON'T! Maybe $40k if you put it in the museum now. It's hard for me to talk value. I've driven the good, young money out of several to help your cause. Overall gen1 production was 4000+ and most are still under wraps............... Besides, that car needs several thousand dollars worth of mechanical work even as it sits! Head gaskets, hoses, fluids to start... DO NOT DAMAGE THE DASH PAINT, don't touch it ever for any reason.

I drive my car, love and maintain it as directed, but don't expect a return. My money's in the fun factor.. Great times and nice people met!!

Cheers!

[Viper Red]

I don't think price is a deciding factor for a viper sale. I think mileage and condition are to a buyer who's out there wanting a viper. It's a very limited market out there, but once a determined buyer meets the perfect viper... price will not be an issue.
Unfortunately, not a lot of people out there are hard core Gen 1 lovers.

[Alley]

I met a guy at a Mopar show that just bought a red 93 with 9k miles for $28k if that helps.

[JPL]

The 94 is probably the least desireable as over 3000 were produced and that year comprises over 50% of GEN1 total production. Kind of like the 54 and 64 Corvettes.

Sorry, but I don't follow, and I’m not trying to start anything here either, but just because there are more of them they are the least desirable? Absolutely nothing against the '93's but with these changes alone wouldn't you prefer a '94 over a '93? (found this online):
"94 was the big change year, new intake manifolds, water pumps,
single fan radiator support, fender mounted coolant tank, AC factory installed, one piece exhaust
manifolds that do not leak, Different fuel pump and lines, antenna in the windshield, transmission with reverse lockout,
battery in rear fenderwell, rubber mounted exhaust with new mufflers."

[99RT10]

Sorry, but I don't follow, and I’m not trying to start anything here either, but just because there are more of them they are the least desirable? Absolutely nothing against the '93's but with these changes alone wouldn't you prefer a '94 over a '93? (found this online):
"94 was the big change year, new intake manifolds, water pumps,
single fan radiator support, fender mounted coolant tank, AC factory installed, one piece exhaust
manifolds that do not leak, Different fuel pump and lines, antenna in the windshield, transmission with reverse lockout,
battery in rear fenderwell, rubber mounted exhaust with new mufflers."

Simple supply vs. demand. More supply, less demand = cheaper.

[JPL]

Simple supply vs. demand. More supply, less demand = cheaper.

I understand supply vs. demand, but in this case specifically, with all variables being equal, you feel the '93 is more desirable than the '94 due to production numbers?

[Matt M, Pa]

When it comes to early Vipers...IMO....all bets are off. Too many variables to simply say that a '93 is worth more because of lower production figures.

To most people, the '92 through '95 all look the same. '92 and early '93 had the trunk mounted battery and rear antenna. Want a yellow one? Only '94 or '95. Black? '93 through '96. A/C didn't become a factory option until 1994...and not all got it. I looked at many low mileage '94s without A/C.

My opinion is that the year will be less important (except for those that HAVE to have the first year) than color and condition. If history repeats itself...it will be the stock cars that are worth the most in the future.

In the end...I hope my cars go up in value. If they don't...i'm still enjoying them just as much. Buy what you like because you like it...not because you think it will go up.

[Granger73]

Sorry, but I don't follow, and I’m not trying to start anything here either, but just because there are more of them they are the least desirable? Absolutely nothing against the '93's but with these changes alone wouldn't you prefer a '94 over a '93? (found this online):
"94 was the big change year, new intake manifolds, water pumps,
single fan radiator support, fender mounted coolant tank, AC factory installed, one piece exhaust
manifolds that do not leak, Different fuel pump and lines, antenna in the windshield, transmission with reverse lockout,
battery in rear fenderwell, rubber mounted exhaust with new mufflers."

You really have to differentiate between collectibility and desirability. From a collectibility viewpoint, the only significant change is the A/C. The other changes don't really address collectibility. Further many of the changes you mention really came during the 93 model year. Those changes may make the 94 a more desirable car, but they do not necessarily increase it's collectibility. The 94 may be more "desirable" as a driving car, but I would put it at the bottom of the GEN1's when it comes to collectibility.
99RT10 is right. Supply and demand rule. Also the fact that there are really 2 versions of the 93 adds additional interest.

[Granger73]

To most people, the '92 through '95 all look the same.

True, but to a collector there are many features that differentiate these cars. Look at 53-55, or 63-67 Vette's. Easy to pick a winner.