Vehicle Description
The first-generation Viper tapped into desires we'd all but
forgotten we had. Big horsepower, droptop roof, and a decent set of
creature comforts, it was the modern embodiment of the original
Cobra, but with more muscles. This supercharged 1996 Dodge Viper
RT-10, like many of its kind, has been upgraded under the hood into
another level of unbridled American prowess, and the result is one
of the most powerful exotics we've endeavored to tame. The Viper
remains a monument to an era when Chrysler reinvented itself on the
back of the snake, and uber-powerful, dialed-in examples like this
fun driver are a testament to the car's enduring popularity.
There's probably nobody on the road who doesn't recognize the Viper
as something remarkable. Most were red, so this black SRII Viper
probably caused a lot of double-takes back in 1996 when it was new,
and even today it has a predatory look that will keep those pesky
Mustangs, Camaros, and Corvettes at bay. The swoopy body was
rendered in various durable plastics, not aluminum like the Cobra,
but the resemblance is definitely there and the sculpted muscles
are uncanny. Perhaps there are only so many ways to clothe a giant
engine and a minimalist chassis - you make it wide and beefy - but
the Viper manages to look streamlined as well. Anyway, the long
hood, short deck look totally works here and has been washed and
waxed carefully throughout its life so that it still has a showroom
shine. Sure, it's been driven and presents like a driver today
(we'd recommend a high-end cut-and-buff to restore some former
glory, it will go a long way), but there is no evidence of abuse or
track use anywhere on the car. Even things like the front chin and
rocker panels remain remarkably free of major road rash, and if
this car has ever seen rain, I'd be shocked. White racing stripes
provide the perfect amount of contrast to the black finish, and
they're also featured on the removable hard top. The 2nd generation
RT-10 wasn't much different than that 1st generation on the
outside, especially early production cars like this one, (evident
by the side-exit exhaust; later '96 models had rear-exit exhaust)
as most of the changes were reserved for the 'double-bubble' GTS
coupe that came out later in the year. But that rarity is precisely
what makes this RT-10 so special, and features like the hood scoop,
hood louvers, hidden-pipe side exhaust, and lighter curb weight all
add to the mystique.
Inside, the minimalist approach paid serious dividends with a pair
of deeply bolstered buckets and only the essentials. It does show
some aging, with fading found on the dash and regular wear-and-tear
on the leather surfaces, but that's to be expected from a Texas car
that loved to be shown off in the sun. The wide center console
straddles the 6-speed manual transmission, and the instruments are
all individually nestled into their own round openings in the dash.
The original stereo was a cheesy off-the-shelf Chrysler piece, so
it's been upgraded to a Pioneer AM/FM/CD/AUX unit that sounds
worlds better, but if you have any hot blood running in your veins
the symphony of the rumbling exhaust is likely all that you'll ever
need. Two removable tops are included, with the aforementioned
hardtop continuing the white stripe pattern, and a black canvas top
that seals up the top just as well.
The Viper's whole reason for existing in the first place was to
showcase Chrysler's new 8.0L V10 truck engine. Never mind that the
all-aluminum engine in the Viper didn't share even one component
with the truck lump and that the work was farmed out to Lamborghini
instead. The net result was a horsepower and torque monster that
catapults the roadster forward at any speed, in any gear. But the
415 factory rated horses obviously weren't enough for the former
owners of this black beauty, so a Roe Twin Screw supercharger,
bored 63mm throttle, true ram-air intake, methanol injection
system, VEC engine management system, and an updated exhaust were
all added to kick things up a notch. The bright red intake manifold
is a work of art all by itself, and the spotless engine bay is more
proof of a dedicated and conscientious owner. Underneath, the
factory chassis looks like a fabricated piece, which it pretty much
was, but it came built for combat with an upgraded stock suspension
full of lightweight aluminum components (new for the SRII), power
steering, and massive power disc brakes at all four corners. The
mechanicals are virtually bulletproof and have demonstrated over
the years that Chrysler over-engineered their halo car because they
knew nobody would be taking it easy with the loud pedal. Chrome
Viper wheels add a jolt of bling and there's no mistaking those
gigantic 275/35/18 front and 355/30/19 rear meats that stick this
monster to the pavement.
The Viper is still the king of the hill, and even at 25 years old,
this one will still break hearts. Call today!
