Dodge announced two new colors—Toxic Orange Pearl Coat and Bright Silver Metallic Clear Coat—to celebrate the final production year of the current generation Dodge Viper SRT10.® The Viper is now available in 12 different colors and six stripe options—the most regularly-available choices in one model year.
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When factoring in body style, color, stripes, wheels, interior color, interior trim and radio choice … 41% of 2009 Vipers were unique 1 of 1 vehicles.
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By Darren Jacobs
It’s funny, sometimes, the way inspiration can strike. Earl Kessler had hit rock bottom in 1996. In rehab for alcohol abuse, he was looking for something, anything, to kill time, to distract him from the urge to take a drink. A magazine in the rehab facility, probably left behind by a visitor as an afterthought, caught Kessler’s eye—the Summer 1996 issue of VIPER Magazine, featuring the Dodge Viper GTS Coupe on the cover. In that moment, Kessler’s life was changed for the better forever.
Kessler marveled at the cover. It became a motivational tool he employed to survive his stay in rehab. “I had never seen a Viper Coupe before,” recalls Kessler. “I read that magazine every chance I could during my stay. On my last day I made a deal with myself that if I could stay sober for ten years, I would buy myself a Viper Coupe.
“The Viper absolutely helped me pull through. It gave me lots of hope and something for which to look forward. I looked forward to buying a Viper, and I would never have found out about it if it hadn’t been for the magazine.”
Kessler is very fortunate to have many friends and family that encouraged him on the road to recovery, “My family and friends were there for me when I needed them,” Kessler emphasized. “I would not be where I am today without their support.”
The early years of sobriety weren’t easy on Kessler. “The first two years were the hardest, since I had to completely change my lifestyle,” he says. “I just stayed focused, even when the Viper Coupe was retired in 2002.”
Four years later, in 2006, Kessler celebrated his 10th year of sobriety. Lo and behold, what should appear on the cover of the Winter 2006 issue of VIPER Magazine, but a homage to the 1996 cover which inspired Kessler, featuring the exact same layout but this time highlighting the new 2006 Viper SRT10® Coupe. Coincidence? We think not—after all, twelve-step programs do emphasize the need to submit to a Higher Power!
“I couldn’t believe it,” recounts Kessler. “It was like it was meant to be. There was ?no way I couldn’t buy a Viper now.” He wasted little time, purchasing his Viper in 2006. He stills owns the 2006 SRT10 twin turbo coupe. “I just keep making it meaner,” says Kessler. “I had RSI double then triple the horsepower; now it’s at 1500 hp. It’s sweet.”
The 46-year-old contractor remains sober today. “I feel very grateful that I was able to make it,” says a thankful Kessler. “I’m a hard-working person. I stay busy and have fun with my car and family on the weekends. I’ll come home really tired and sore from working all day, and all I have to do is peek in that garage and I’m feeling better.”
As with all VCA members, Kessler receives a free subscription to VIPER Magazine with his Club membership. He also pays for a second subscription out of his own pocket, and leaves each issue at different businesses he visits, hoping to pass on his muse to others.
“When I go to my AA meetings, or I’m at the county offices pulling permits, all the different areas I visit, I leave a VIPER Magazine behind,” says Kessler. “It definitely changed my life when I read that magazine, so I like to share it if I can. Who knows what’s going on in people’s lives? Maybe it will have the same effect it had on me.”
By Don Firth
My wife, Eunice and I both own Vipers. We actively participate in South Florida Viper Club activities and drive on the tracks at Sebring, Homestead and Palm Beach, Fla.
Here are photos of Eunice and myself at the Biltmore during a Viper Tennessee rally, our two Vipers and two members of our office staff posing with our newest Viper.
I purchased my silver Viper in 2005. I went to an auto showroom to buy a Ferrari and drove away in a Viper—never regretting the switch in plans. A few months later I added a supercharger from Doug Levin Motorsports, which boosted the power to almost 800 hp. I participated in annual track events at Sebring with Skip Thomas and Danny Archer as well as HookedOnDriving, FARA, ERME and Chin.
In 2008, Eunice drove my Viper at Sebring and Homestead tracks. As she started as a novice, we were in two classes and were able to slip-seat my Viper for these events. Then in 2009, she advanced to the same class that I was driving. The only solution was to get a second Viper.
Eunice had glimpsed the Snakeskin Green Viper one evening, a year earlier, and decided that was the car for her. I went online in May 2009 to find that there were only two such cars available in the USA. One was 1,500 miles away; the second was 20 miles away. She bought it sight unseen from University Dodge in Fort Lauderdale. This was the only Snakeskin Green produced with the black stripes, spoiler and splitter. After only 7 months, she already has 10,000 miles on the clock.
We enjoy the Viper experience, which includes day-to-day driving, track events and even drag racing. However, the best experience is the new friends we have made during the Viper Club events.
By Dr. Rich Andria
I bought my first Viper, a red 2008 SRT10® coupe, in August 2007 and it was delivered May 1, 2008, in Connecticut. Because I was retiring in December 2008, I shipped it to my new home in Naples, Fla.
As you are aware, Vipers “grow on you” and, with two more spaces in my Viper garage to fill, I bought my second Viper in September 2009, a yellow 2002 GTS. This Viper has some interesting upgrades: a Cat-Back™ exhaust, SRT® wheels, built in radar detector system with sensors in the grille (and at the rear) and a killer sound system including a subwoofer, equalizers, a huge power capacitor and three amplifiers putting out 1,700 watts of power!
So much excitement owning these two killer cars made me upgrade my VCA membership to Venom. However, I still had an empty garage slot to fill, so when I saw a red 2002 Viper GTS Final Edition online (#162) with only 196 miles on the clock, well, what is a Viper lover supposed to do? I purchased this Viper also; and now my three Viper slots are filled. The GTS Final Edition, shown with my wife Terry, has ceramic brakes with slotted drilled discs, roaring Cat-Back exhaust system and straight tubes installed.
Here’s the 1-of-1—2009 Viper SRT10® ACR VOI.10 VCA Raffle Car—with Virginia and me in front of our Viper garage mahal we built in Pahrump, Nev. Thanks to everyone at The Viper Club of America, Chrysler, CAAP, Prefix and Woodhouse Dodge who worked hard to make the 1-of-1 a truly special Viper—a beautiful vehicle that exceeded our expectations!
—Michael von Quilich
Debbie Ruckert purchased this 2006 Dodge Viper for her husband Dave’s birthday. Several Viper owners and John Gastman at Roanoke Motor Co. Inc. assisted her in the buying process—she was extremely grateful for the help. “Thanks to the many Viper owners and John for all the time everyone took in helping us—including sharing your experiences and knowledge about Vipers,” explained Ruckert. “We’re both looking forward to upcoming Viper outings.”
As with many regions, the VCA Northern California Region awards members who have contributed to the club during the past year. This year, President Maurice Q. Liang commissioned Daneen Bronson to custom paint award plaques. The snakeskin pattern is slightly different on each award, making them unique works of art.
By Darrell Igelmund
When my wife Linda and I joined other Washington State Viper Club members driving to Detroit for VOI.10, we never realized that major trips would become an annual affair. Last summer it was the coast highway, all the way from Seattle to LA. We took our time and had an absolute blast. Perfect weather, winding roads and daily vistas of the Pacific Ocean we will never forget.
The photo shows the Viper posing at the destination—the famous Huntington Beach (Calif.) International Surfing Museum (“Home of surfing!”). We blocked the sidewalk with the Viper to get the best angle when two policemen came around the corner. After a few minutes of discussion we found that they liked Vipers also … and were more than happy to add to the fun.
For the next few days we bathed in car heaven. Only a few blocks from the Pacific Coast Highway, we saw about every style and price of car you would ever hope to see—Aston Martins, Jaguars, a Hummer with 60” TVs framed in the back windows, and hot rods of all types. And you know what? The Viper was the biggest head-turner of them all!
Story by Maurice Q. Liang
Now you can experience the thrill of racing a Viper ACR in miniature form with these latest Viper toys. Whether it’s the wicked wing or the distinctive paint job, the ACR has caught the attention of toy manufacturers and spawned a renewed interest in Viper toys. Since the real ACR is a driver’s car, it seems only fitting that most of these miniature versions are action toys, rather than detailed static models.
Drive your own ACR with this large, 1/18 scale (about a foot long) remote control car made by Fastlane (large model shown on page 39). The remote control is a unique “scroll and go” control, rather than the usual trigger and steering wheel. The plastic toy is well-proportioned for a remote control car, though it’s certainly not attempting to offer the detail of a diecast model. It’s available for $45 at Toys ‘R Us.
Want something more affordable? Try NKOK’s 1/64 scale Viper ACR remote control cars. These rechargeable pocket rockets are small enough to fit in your pocket, but offer you full remote control functionality. Typically, they sell for around $20 on Amazon.com. These remote control cars come in the introductory red with black hood and red driver’s stripe, or GTS blue with black hood. Despite being a plastic toy, it has fairly accurate proportions, as it sits at the front of the row of ACRs beside the track.
Remember when you used to play with Hot Wheels cars on that signature orange track, rather than keep them boxed up in mint condition? Well, you still can! A buck will get you a Hot Wheels ACR in one of two paint schemes (so far), the introductory red with black hood and red driver’s stripe or white with black hood and red driver’s stripe (both versions shown sitting on the track in the picture). At the time of this writing, the white version is more rare and hard-to-find than the red version. Though the paint scheme is not exactly accurate (the roof, decklid and front bumper should also be black), these toys are a great giveaway at car shows to Viper fans young and old.
If you’re willing to spend a little more (as in $3), Johnny Lightning offers the ACR in the same 1/64 scale, but with a more realistic look. This diecast model features an opening hood with “detailed” engine inside. Thus far, the Johnny Lightning version comes in three color schemes: the classic red with black hood and red driver’s stripe, all-black with a red driver’s stripe or white with a black hood and red driver’s stripe, shown beside the track in the photo. Johnny Lightning also offers the standard 2008 Viper coupe in several colors in this scale. All are available at Target and Toys ‘R Us.
This could be the ultimate Viper model. It’s certainly the biggest! The 1/4 scale model is huge, resembling a wind tunnel test model that car manufacturers use. Accurately modeled by former Saleen designer Alan Eggly and his partner “Big Joe” Randazzo, it’s made out of fiberglass and can be painted and detailed to match YOUR Viper (or your DREAM Viper) using the same paint that the real cars are painted with. Right now, it’s only available in Viper SRT10® coupe and Viper SRT10 ACR form, though if there’s enough demand, High-Performance Furniture will consider modeling the older Vipers. Don’t have a shelf or display case big enough to house such a large model? High-Performance Furniture also offers a matching coffee table made from glass and carbon fiber to act as a display case, or you can order a ?half-model mounted on a carbon fiber plaque, so you can hang it on the wall. Photos ?don’t do this model justice. Around 40 inches long, the sheer size is impressive in person. Prices start at $999 for the wall-mount model, $1699 for the model by itself, and $1999 for the model with the coffee table. Just like the real car, optional equipment like the ACR wing, stripes and black wheels are additional cost. If you’ve been searching for the ultimate gift for the Viperholic in your family, this is it! Available from Partsrack.com.
These ACR toys are popular, so often, they disappear off the shelves quickly. As with most Viper toys, they likely won’t be made for very long, at least not in the current paint schemes, so if you want them, get them now and save yourself the headache of searching for them later, when they’re even harder to find! The real ACR is likely to be one of the most rare and coveted Vipers of all time, and these toys will be just as rare and collectible!
Maurice Q. Liang is co-founder of the Viper Club ?of America, author of the ?Viper Buyer’s Guide, and an ?avid collector of “Viperabilia.” ?He can be reached at [email protected].
