Intro
It's difficult to imagine gigantic automotive manufactures like Chrysler looking at their futures with uncertainty, but in 1988 that's exactly what was happening. Despite surviving near-bankruptcy a few years prior, Chrysler was still struggling in sales in comparison to their competition, Ford and Chevy. What the company's Executive VP Bob Lutz knew he needed was a game-changer, something that would redefine the sports car permanently. In 1989 the first Dodge Viper prototype was tested and by January 1992 it went on sale as the RT/10 Roadster. There's no hiding that the Viper development team was heavily influenced by the infamous Shelby Cobra, they even went as far as employing Carrol Shelby himself to consult the development. Like the Cobra, the Viper was designed to be boisterous, ostentatious and very very fast. Notoriously stripped of all frills, the first Vipers were bare-bones sports cars, doing away with anything that didn't make the car faster, such as door handles, traction control or air conditioning. As time would tell the Viper not only redefined the framework for sports cars but became ingrained into the culture as an essential player in the game. Part of the Viper’s success was the ability to meet the demands of their clientele. As years passed the designers at Viper continued to dial up the aesthetic ferocity while the engineers focused on turning up the performance while simultaneously making it progressively more manageable. 10 years later, about mid-way through the historical Viper production run, executives decided to return to their roots and from 2003-2005 the Viper was once again only offered as the roofless roadster you see before you.
Interior
Despite the aggressive exterior, upon getting inside the vehicle the driver finds all the creature comforts absent from the Viper in years past. Some of the features include air conditioning, power seats, power windows, power-adjustable pedals and a 6 disc CD-changer. Leather and Alcantara accents are frequently used to give the driver a feeling of comfort. Showing only 11,851 km (7407mi) on the odometer and boasting a clean carfax and thorough inspection upon arriving at our garage, this Viper has been maintained to present in like-new condition.
Exterior
Finished in a pristine and signatory Viper Red this car pays a beautiful tribute to the first editions of the car while pushing the brand forward with ferocity. With a loud, wild and never understated body styling the 2005 Dodge Viper defines the true American sports car. A legend among legends and this iconic model will continue to intrigue and inspire for generations to come.
Mechanics
All of the wild exterior charisma is backed up in a serious way under the hood. The massive 8.3L V10 kicks out 500hp and is capable of 0-60mph in under 4 seconds with a top speed of 190mph. In a world of PDK double clutches, flappy paddle F1 gearboxes and intelligent steering systems, the Viper gives the driver a refreshing old-school taste. All of the power and performance are fed to the rear wheels through a 6-speed manual gearbox that is as tight and responsive as anything else on the market today. With only 7407miles (11,851km) on the odometer, the car performs as brand new and has no mechanical issues whatsoever. The Viper also meets the Department of Transportation EPA regulations (OBD II).
Summary
Now that Viper has ceased production one can look back on it as one of the most fearsome American cars ever built. The illustrious reptilian rocket-ship enjoyed a 25-year production run and the SRT-10 Roadster certainly seems to be a dynamic highlight to a compelling evolution lasting two and a half decades. The Viper will certainly go down in history as a Mopar flagship and this 2005 Viper SRT-10 roadster will undoubtedly become a highly sought after collector car.
