The first vehicle I ever drove on the street (grew up driving farm trucks) was a 2001 Viper GTS with the double bubble back in mid 2002. Dad was great friends with the local dealership owner and delivered all the inter-dealer trades in the region. As a Christmas gift, the dealership owner let dad drive his personal GTS for a week. It scared dad to death despite having been a budding Nascar driver before his first marriage. Even still, he let me drive it despite only being 14 at the time. It was actually fairly comfortable for me to drive aside from the heavy clutch. I grinded gears a couple times til I got the hang of the clutch. He never let me go WOT for obvious reasons, but I got about half throttle and was hooked. Dad had driven sports cars, muscle cars, and owned a number rod cool cars, yet I would find out in his journal entries years later that it was the scariest and most exhilarating car he'd ever driven and mom was less pissed at him for letting me drive than for not letting her drive. lol He passed about a year after that from cancer and it remains my favorite memory of him. Letting me drive a Viper and teaching me to drive stick before that made me the car enthusiast I am today. Those cars have a special place in my heart.
Thanks for sharing your story! It’s amazing how cars have the ability to bring people together and create long lasting memories. Sorry to hear about your dad passing
It has always been a beautiful car, but I do love the Shelby and the GT40 a lot too. Don't know if the Shelby is considered a super car, but I'd imagine the GT40 has to be. I just saw an early Viper not too long ago and it is so beautiful. I love the look of the early ones.
I remember being blown away by this car when it first came out. As a life long mopar fan struggling with the K--cars of the 80's, the viper was a much needed breath of fresh air.
I love my 2nd gen viper , the only thing thats annoying is that dodge doesn't make parts for it anymore and there are no aftermarket for it when it comes to replacement parts.
i would never modify a classic like that. It devalues it tremendously. At classic car auctions, buyers turn away as soon as they see anything aftermarket. Most people don't own a car like that long enough to care in the beginning.
yep. and here is a demonstration of what it means for the mechanics: dead ends. they have to be ultra motivated and ingenious to work around the parts shortage. ruclips.net/video/2euabX9dNHI/видео.html
it has an italian engine, french tires, and a french guy named it. I'm not so sure about it's americanness purity, but hey, I agree it represents everything murica.
5 generations too?? Damn, thought there was like 2, maaaybe 3. Had no idea. Thanks man. I gotta see if you have any other videos like this. I'm gonna subscribe just because of this video. Thanks man.
Thanks for the comments man and glad you enjoyed the video! Got tons of other Mopar stuff on the channel, trying to add more Viper videos in the near future
Well here's a little inside information upon the creation of the Viper. I am a retired UAW Chrysler employee and my retirement plant of KTP Kokomo Transmission assembly. The actual creation of the Viper was originally thought of and created by two plant engineers that are two friends of mine that created the idea back in and around the year of 1987. The original prototype was created in one of their personal garages in Kokomo, IN. just down the street from the plant. The actual cardboard cutout is actually on display at the Walter P Chrysler museum. The two engineers presented the idea to headquarters and they eventually became head developers in the design department in corporate headquarters positions. So let's not give the big names too much credit for this iconic and beautiful domestic super car.
There were a few reasons why I never owned a Viper, one was the price. The other was being too low to the ground as I stood over 6 feet tall and I didn't want to get that low to get in and out of it! It's a SHARP VEHICLE, though! I always loved its look!!!
Worked on V10's at lamborghini...which that company did not build until about 15y later, yeah no. They only had V8's and V12's up to that point, so that's already a false memory, statement or a wrong factoid to be used here. The only reason they were sent to lambroghini was because after so many years, getting power out of engines was something americans no longer could do (not even out of big engines) , at least not without turbos or superchargers. For those saying, but MK, they had engines with outputs of up to 240 hp at the time, I say yes, they did get 240 bhp out of engines of around 5-6litres, out of which twenty years prior, they'd get closer to 300.
@@MarspeedCars In my E-School days, Pontiac put out the Fiero, a real engineering advance, and before that, the Firebird and Trans Am. Jim Garner drove a Firebird on the Rockford Files. And old timers told me about the glorious GTO. So it was a sad day when GM folded up Pontiac. But with Hellcat, Challenger, and Viper and the Plymouth Prowler, the tradition of daring American engineering lives.
1:54, kind of makes me think of a Stealth concept. I actually was just thinking about how I haven't seen a Stealth in forever and recently I've seen a red one in great shape, at least from all outward appearances. Seen it a couple times lately.
Yeah I wish they would just to have something they can use to compete with Chevy! But the sales were always kinda low so not sure it would be worth it now. Dodge cannibalized it almost by putting 707 hp in the charger and challenger so who would buy the more expensive Viper after that lol
@@MarspeedCars im pretty sure the viper would've sold better if it had an auto option. It probably wouldn't have outsold the corvette but atleast it could've sold well enough for fca to justify keeping it in production.
Holy shit, I didn't know Chrysler bought Lamborghini. This is a great video. Thanks for sharing! Had no idea about most of this. The name of it, the concept car and it not being able to be driven for more than a few minutes. Dick Winkles haha, what a name. I also didn't know that Lamborghini had any influence on it. Great video man. Always liked the Vipers, but never looked into anything about it. I had no idea Shelby had any influence either. I see a Stealth! This was a suggestion that came on from autoplay and I'm glad I watched. Thanks for making this.
@@MarspeedCars Not talking trash by the way, I just find it funny that a lot of the big boosts to Chrysler came from outside sources. Bob Lutz was at GM at one point anyway
The first vehicle I ever drove on the street (grew up driving farm trucks) was a 2001 Viper GTS with the double bubble back in mid 2002. Dad was great friends with the local dealership owner and delivered all the inter-dealer trades in the region.
As a Christmas gift, the dealership owner let dad drive his personal GTS for a week. It scared dad to death despite having been a budding Nascar driver before his first marriage. Even still, he let me drive it despite only being 14 at the time. It was actually fairly comfortable for me to drive aside from the heavy clutch. I grinded gears a couple times til I got the hang of the clutch. He never let me go WOT for obvious reasons, but I got about half throttle and was hooked. Dad had driven sports cars, muscle cars, and owned a number rod cool cars, yet I would find out in his journal entries years later that it was the scariest and most exhilarating car he'd ever driven and mom was less pissed at him for letting me drive than for not letting her drive. lol
He passed about a year after that from cancer and it remains my favorite memory of him. Letting me drive a Viper and teaching me to drive stick before that made me the car enthusiast I am today. Those cars have a special place in my heart.
Thanks for sharing your story! It’s amazing how cars have the ability to bring people together and create long lasting memories. Sorry to hear about your dad passing
Arguably the greatest american super sports car ever built. There's nothing that truly compares to it.
I agree, it was kind of in a class of its own!
It has always been a beautiful car, but I do love the Shelby and the GT40 a lot too. Don't know if the Shelby is considered a super car, but I'd imagine the GT40 has to be. I just saw an early Viper not too long ago and it is so beautiful. I love the look of the early ones.
@@erictalkington5674 early vipers look better to me too
I remember being blown away by this car when it first came out. As a life long mopar fan struggling with the K--cars of the 80's, the viper was a much needed breath of fresh air.
The best performance car Dodge ever made and deserves another chance to live.
Would be so nice to see it brought back one day!
This reptile is one of my favorite sports cars, ever!
Dodge Viper GTS started my love for cars especially for Mopars
Yeah that was a thing of beauty 🤤
The gen5 viper is my dream car.
I have to say that’s my favorite looking gen, it’s just perfect 🤤
I'd love a video like this on the Hellcats... How on earth did those make it into production?!
I'm so glad they did!!!
Nice idea I can tackle that soon!
@@MarspeedCars that's AWESOME!!! Thank you!
I love my 2nd gen viper , the only thing thats annoying is that dodge doesn't make parts for it anymore and there are no aftermarket for it when it comes to replacement parts.
i would never modify a classic like that. It devalues it tremendously. At classic car auctions, buyers turn away as soon as they see anything aftermarket. Most people don't own a car like that long enough to care in the beginning.
@@jameswood678 by replacement parts i mean doors rubber seals windows lights. Almost everything has to come from a parted out one that was crashed.
@@davidmopar8446 Fuck it! Scavenge what you can. I hope it's in good shape, pass it down to family.
yep. and here is a demonstration of what it means for the mechanics: dead ends. they have to be ultra motivated and ingenious to work around the parts shortage.
ruclips.net/video/2euabX9dNHI/видео.html
WOW, THE VIPER IS THE GREATEST!!
There is no car ever that is more American than this. I wish I wasn't a broke teenager...
Can’t imagine what it would feel like to own one 😩
You might not be here or still have a license if you could’ve bought one though lol
@@JohnSmith-in2kl If and when I get my hands on one chances are I'll crash and burn or lose my license lol
If you work towards it I promise that you can make it
it has an italian engine, french tires, and a french guy named it. I'm not so sure about it's americanness purity, but hey, I agree it represents everything murica.
HYPE AFFFFFFFFFFF, ANOTHER GREAT VIDEO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks broo!!! 🙏🏼
You're a boss! Great video about my favorite car of all time!
Appreciate it Bob! 🙏🏼
Lamborghini didn't have any road V10's until the gallardo in the mid 2000s
I sure do miss the Viper
All of us Mopar guys do 😩
Dick Winkle... LMAO!
Hahaha I was like “why did his parents do that”
@@MarspeedCars Still not as bad as Dick Trickle...
@@AndrewAMartin no not that bad at least
His parents should be in jail for that.
@@jeffsvlog203 I don't know, maybe his folks wanted to use the nickname Rip... Rip Winkle, driving his van... Yeah, that might be worse LOL!
5 generations too?? Damn, thought there was like 2, maaaybe 3. Had no idea. Thanks man. I gotta see if you have any other videos like this. I'm gonna subscribe just because of this video. Thanks man.
Thanks for the comments man and glad you enjoyed the video! Got tons of other Mopar stuff on the channel, trying to add more Viper videos in the near future
@@MarspeedCars You can probably score an interview from original owners or retired engineers/designers. Good content!
Do a video on the max wedge cars of the 60s
Sweet
Lol, Chrysler really loved cutting off and adding to the 318, eh? 😂
They couldn’t get away from it 😂😂
Damn! That concept at :53 is friggin awesome! It definitely has that Cobra vibe too.
Thanks for another interesting and informative video 🇺🇸👍
Well here's a little inside information upon the creation of the Viper. I am a retired UAW Chrysler employee and my retirement plant of KTP Kokomo Transmission assembly. The actual creation of the Viper was originally thought of and created by two plant engineers that are two friends of mine that created the idea back in and around the year of 1987. The original prototype was created in one of their personal garages in Kokomo, IN. just down the street from the plant. The actual cardboard cutout is actually on display at the Walter P Chrysler museum. The two engineers presented the idea to headquarters and they eventually became head developers in the design department in corporate headquarters positions. So let's not give the big names too much credit for this iconic and beautiful domestic super car.
I love me a great Dodge Viper video
There were a few reasons why I never owned a Viper, one was the price. The other was being too low to the ground as I stood over 6 feet tall and I didn't want to get that low to get in and out of it! It's a SHARP VEHICLE, though! I always loved its look!!!
The 2000 Dodge Viper GTS-R concept will always be my favorite Viper.
Worked on V10's at lamborghini...which that company did not build until about 15y later, yeah no. They only had V8's and V12's up to that point, so that's already a false memory, statement or a wrong factoid to be used here. The only reason they were sent to lambroghini was because after so many years, getting power out of engines was something americans no longer could do (not even out of big engines) , at least not without turbos or superchargers. For those saying, but MK, they had engines with outputs of up to 240 hp at the time, I say yes, they did get 240 bhp out of engines of around 5-6litres, out of which twenty years prior, they'd get closer to 300.
correct. the viper is the first production V10 engine... in the world. (read it with Jeremy Clarkson's voice)
Let's face it: Dodge has taken over the place of Pontiac, and gone even further.
The conquest for power has pushed them to new heights lol
@@MarspeedCars In my E-School days, Pontiac put out the Fiero, a real engineering advance, and before that, the Firebird and Trans Am. Jim Garner drove a Firebird on the Rockford Files. And old timers told me about the glorious GTO. So it was a sad day when GM folded up Pontiac. But with Hellcat, Challenger, and Viper and the Plymouth Prowler, the tradition of daring American engineering lives.
I love the Dodge Viper I saw one a month ago on the interstate behind my Dodge Charger
They stick out big time, one of the coolest vehicles around!
Charger vs impala
Challenger vs Camaro
Viper vs Corvette
Yeaa asirr
1:54, kind of makes me think of a Stealth concept. I actually was just thinking about how I haven't seen a Stealth in forever and recently I've seen a red one in great shape, at least from all outward appearances. Seen it a couple times lately.
Nice video, I love my viper.
9:47 looks like a haunted happy meal almost.
Nice video! Dodge should bring the Viper back to compete with the Corvette with the Helliphant engine in it. 👍🏻👍🏻🇺🇸🇨🇦
It ain't a viper without a V10
@@mikehawk6175 Still a Viper but with more power.
Yeah I wish they would just to have something they can use to compete with Chevy! But the sales were always kinda low so not sure it would be worth it now. Dodge cannibalized it almost by putting 707 hp in the charger and challenger so who would buy the more expensive Viper after that lol
@@MarspeedCars im pretty sure the viper would've sold better if it had an auto option. It probably wouldn't have outsold the corvette but atleast it could've sold well enough for fca to justify keeping it in production.
Holy shit, I didn't know Chrysler bought Lamborghini. This is a great video. Thanks for sharing! Had no idea about most of this. The name of it, the concept car and it not being able to be driven for more than a few minutes. Dick Winkles haha, what a name. I also didn't know that Lamborghini had any influence on it. Great video man. Always liked the Vipers, but never looked into anything about it. I had no idea Shelby had any influence either. I see a Stealth! This was a suggestion that came on from autoplay and I'm glad I watched. Thanks for making this.
Bob Lutz, Lee Iacocca, Carroll Shelby. Ironic that Ford people wound up saving Dodge and Chrysler.
They made the right decisions and weren’t afraid to think out of the box and bring new ideas to the company!
@@MarspeedCars Not talking trash by the way, I just find it funny that a lot of the big boosts to Chrysler came from outside sources. Bob Lutz was at GM at one point anyway
Nice video and what song is that in the back ground you use that song a lot I like it
Thanks bro! What time was it at? I used 3-4 different songs
@@MarspeedCars the one that's in this video
But what time was it? If you forget I’ll list all the songs (I used 3 I think in this vid)
@@MarspeedCars I think its the one at the beginning
Great info. Cool car for sure only one sports car in those days was hands down better. Legendary Corvette ZR-1 1990-1995. Long Live the King!!!🦅
My dream car
what size tires are on when you did the second burnout video
Which burnout vid? I lose track of some of my videos lol
@@MarspeedCars ruclips.net/video/3NjaWxFfD_8/видео.html
215/65/17, they were the stock tire size on stock rims. It helped because they were smaller and less weight and the V6 has less power
@@MarspeedCars have you used the diablosport for your charger?
Yes made a review video for it last week!
Muscle+exotic=viper
Can we get a "Dodge Viper - History, Major Flaws, & Why It Got Cancelled" ?
Chrysler: Lamborghini was a terrible investment, but Maserati was far worse.
Mercedes: *inhales*
Stellantis: *dies*
Yup .... This ain't no freaking Cobra
i thought it was lee iacocca?? i would've used awd on viper.
The viper is Dick Winkle approved
😂😂
I thought Lee Iacocca was president before Bob Lutz?
He was chairman from 79-92, so he was one up on President Lutz
Such an abrupt ending lol
Better than the corvette
90s cars all look like toys and it's a style that hasn't aged well
Yes I agree. But the mid 2000s Vipers still look brand new
@@MarspeedCars The Viper is one of the exceptions for me. I'm not a fan of most 90s cars. This one looks so toy like and fantasy though it fits great.
Disagree. Today's cars look WAY worse. They're either generic or hideously ugly for the most part. Only the Challenger and 2021 Bronco are exceptions.
@@dibslin985 I disagree lol. 90s cars are just mostly uninspired bubbly plastic blobs on wheels. Modern cars look so much better.
@@baronvonjo1929 We'll agree to disagree.
i cant be the only one to laugh at Dick Winkles name
🫵😎
Rooosh engineering??!!🤣🤣🤣 get there terminology right please