Story By Darren Jacobs

July 10, 2009—consider it the date the Dodge Viper was reborn. After months of rumors, dire predictions and forecasts of gloom and doom, a mere two paragraphs in a press release sent a revitalizing, life-giving jolt through the steel skin of the iconic American muscle car. The paragraphs read as follows:

“Chrysler Group LLC announced today that production will continue for the legendary Dodge Viper SRT10.®

“Originally slated to cease production in December 2009, the Chrysler Group Conner Avenue Assembly Plant—the exclusive home of Dodge Viper production since 1995—will continue to build the V-10 powered sports car. Chrysler Group is no longer pursuing a sale of the Viper business assets.”

And with that, the dark clouds parted, allowing the bright sunlight of a new day to shine on the Viper Nation. To paraphrase Dr. Frankenstein, the Dodge Viper is alive, baby, its 600 horsepower-fueled heart beating strong. As it has done since its birth, the Snake will continue to rule the streets!

“The Dodge Viper has successfully captured the hearts and imagination of performance enthusiasts around the globe,” said Mike Accavitti, President and Chief Executive Officer, Dodge Brand. “We’re extremely proud that the ultimate American-built sports car with its world-class performance will live on as the iconic image leader for the Dodge brand.”

Ironically enough, the greatly exaggerated rumors of the Viper’s demise first cropped up at the ultimate celebration of Viper life, the 10th Viper Owners Invitational, held in Detroit, Mich. The news spurred the leadership of the Viper Club of America into action. Frequent dialogue was held with Chrysler and Dodge executives by the VCA leadership, which worked tirelessly to convey the dedication and love the Viper nation possessed for the Viper. No doubt their passion, and the passion of the entire VCA, played a significant role in the Viper’s revival.

“The Viper Club of America and its membership are extremely pleased with the decision to keep producing the Viper as a Dodge vehicle,” said National VCA president Chris Marshall. “While the interest to purchase the platform was high, our hope was always to see the car continue to be built by Chrysler. We look forward to seeing the Viper continue as the performance benchmark for many years to come!”

“I’m glad it’s here to stay,” said Jon Brobst, a founding VCA member and owner of PartsRack, a longtime and respected Viper supplier. “I was very happy to hear it was going to continue in production as a Dodge. Part of the allure of the Viper is that it’s an American muscle car, and part of the attractiveness of the Viper is that it’s a Mopar®. I’m glad it’s keeping its DNA intact, and not splicing in some other DNA. It started as a Dodge and it’s staying a Dodge.

“I think that’s a good thing for the brand and a good thing for Viper owners, to have that continuity and consistency. My first Dodge was a Viper. Since then, I’ve owned Rams, Dakotas, Chargers, Crossfires, dozens of Chrysler Group LLC vehicles, all begun by discovering the Viper.”

Those expressions of joy were, of course, echoed throughout the VCA. “I was very pleased to hear the Viper was going to continue,” remarked Alabama/Tennessee VCA region president Chip Winter. “I’d hate for such an iconic part of the American auto industry to fall by the wayside.”

Added Chad Fritz, Georgia VCA president, “I think the Viper living on is great for not only every car enthusiast, but also young people who don’t even have a license yet. I, like many, dreamed of owning a Viper years before I could even drive or afford one. It gave me a goal and every day I worked harder to get closer to my goal. With the Viper continuing, this means that young kids can continue to read and hear about the new Vipers and their amazing performance stats. Hopefully they will start dreaming of owning a Viper and one day achieve their goal and join us in the VCA!”

Perhaps the most visceral proof of the Dodge Viper’s rejuvenation is the new Snakes born into the world each day at the Conner Avenue Assembly Plant (CAAP). The production line was running as quickly as ever during a recent visit, with happy CAAP craftspeople buzzing about in their work as Vipers slithered off the line, awaiting new homes and happy owners.

“Everyone was excited to be back building the Viper,” said Melissa Holobach, Head of Viper Operations. “The morale is upbeat,” chimed in Janet Van Havermaat, Manufacturing Administrative Coordinator. “The craftspeople here are passionate about what they do, and they’re just happy to be back to work building the Viper for the customers.”

It’s no wonder the CAAP craftspeople were walking around with smiles plastered to their faces. The artisans at Conner are highly invested in their work, as they breathe life into the ultimate four-wheel dream. Many CAAP workers count Viper owners among their friends (heck, some even own Vipers themselves!). The bond between the CAAP craftspeople and the Viper is a strong one, a bond that thankfully remains unbroken, to the joy of those working at the facility.

“I was very pleased and happy to hear the Viper would remain in production,” said Chris Vitale, an Engine Auditor at CAAP who has helped create Vipers for 15 years. “I’m very proud to work on the Viper.”

“I want to see it live,” said Dave Ironsides, who has worked as a Viper craftsperson since 1992, dating back, in his words, “to VIN No. 30.” He added, “I want to see it live for quite awhile. There’s no better car to build.”

Truer words were never spoken. More than 20 years after the Dodge Viper was first introduced as a concept car in 1989 at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, and after the production of more than 25,000 Dodge Vipers, the iconic muscle car endures, primed to stir the passions of a new generation of car enthusiasts.

From CAAP, to Chrysler Group LLC headquarters in Auburn Hills, Mich., to VCA members spread around the globe, the word has gone forth, loud and clear—the Dodge Viper is back!

Viperclub.org Forum Feedback

“I’m lovin’ it!” — daytonprowler

“Long Live Viper.” — jdeft1

“I just bought my car last month … I love the fact they are continuing to make them! Now I have a Gen4 to look forward to.” — AbsolutHank

“This is awesome news!” — KenricGTS

“The Club we all belong to has done some fantastic work to keep the love alive during a difficult time in the auto industry. We … buy tons of Chrysler products, convince our friends to buy Chrysler products, and the VCA gang
of hard-working National Officers, Directors, etc., have done a superb job of … keeping our message current. I think many of us today are witnessing a rebirth, a vote of confidence and the continuation of the true iconic muscle car …” — Bill_Pemberton

First Born

Guess the identity of the first vehicle to roll off the assembly line following the formation of the new Chrysler Group LLC. If you picked a 2009 Dodge Viper SRT10 ACR (pictured at left), you would be dead on the mark.

The decision was a no-brainer—what’s a more appropriate vehicle to kick off the next chapter in Chrysler’s long and storied history than the company’s renowned halo car?

You can bet this noteworthy Viper will no doubt attract great interest, not just from the VCA, but from any car buff with a sense of history. Surely many a Viper collector reading this issue is already licking their chops and scheming on how they can add this baby to their garage!

Fortunately, the crack investigative reporting team here at VM (with some sleuthing help courtesy of Viper Program Manager Mike Shinedling) sniffed out the whereabouts of this sure-to-be-sought-after Viper—the showroom of University Dodge in Davie, Fla. The Viper ACR remained available for purchase at the dealership as of press time, with a suggested price of $132,760 listed on the University Dodge Web site. But who knows where this particular Viper will end up by the time this issue is received?

The final destination of this illustrious Snake has the makings of a great feature article for a future issue of VM. Please send us an e-mail or letter if you have any information regarding the eventual home of this notable Viper.

By Roger Meiners

If you can get 600 hp I’ll make a bronze statue of you,” said Herb Helbig, SRT®’s Manager of Vehicle Synthesis. He was talking to SRT engine development engineer Dick Winkles at a meeting in early 2007. SRT engineering was discussing the new-generation Viper engine, then in the early stages of development.

The official Chrysler corporate horsepower goal for the new Viper engine was 560 at that time, but the guys in the trenches, the SRT engineers—passionate about the Viper brand—could not accept anything that did not begin with a six (as in 600 horsepower).

“Team meetings talked about the trials and tribulations of getting even 560 horsepower out of the new engine, but Herb said we needed to outgun the ZR1,” said Winkles. “So we made that the unofficial goal,” he added.

“I made the promise about the bronze statue, but I was using it as a figure of speech, not expecting to be held to it,”
said Helbig. But then Winkles delivered. “He wouldn’t let it go. He kept complaining, ‘600 horsepower and no statue.’”

Helbig’s son signed up for a bronze casting course at Oakland Community College, so Herb signed up, too, and when the time came to select a project, the choice was obvious. “I made two trophies, one for the engine team and the other I did in secret for Dick.”

Helbig delivered the trophy at lunch before the holidays. They took Herb’s car and the trophy was on the passenger seat
for Winkles. They both delivered on their promises and it’s all the better for our Viper owners.

Viper Garages

I love receiving VIPER Magazine. Over the years VM has featured many stories and photos of some awesome Viper garages. The last issue was even dedicated to this subject. While some of those garages are indeed impressive, I think we can all agree that ANY garage that is home to a Viper is an awesome garage. I am enclosing a photo of my garage, along with a photo of my license plate. The fact that my garage is on a Delaware beach is its strongest attribute.

Dan Perrino

Via e-mail

We agree. Any garage that has a Viper in it rules! And, you’ve got a garage on the water, and there is no substitute for that! Thank you for the kind thoughts regarding VM and for sending the photos.—Ed.

Viper Production Results

I’ve subscribed to VIPER Magazine for five years now and really enjoy reading and examining the year-end production results for each model year. These articles generally contain the number of each color produced and of each model. Where can I obtain this information for the 2000–2002 model years? Thank you.

Matthew Ames

Via e-mail

Matthew, exterior color production totals for 2000–2002 Dodge Vipers are below. The information is from the Viper Registry at www.theviperregistry.com/build.php. A good resource for more information is at http://forums.viperclub.org/srt-engineering-q-area.—Ed.

2000-2002 Dodge Viper Production Totals

Lunga vita Viper? That’s Italian for long live the Viper.

Thank you Chrysler Group LLC for keeping Dodge Viper in production. Grazie a tu Fiat S.p.A. executives for your decision to keep Viper in the immediate family. After all, Viper is Chrysler Group’s crown jewel and the epitome of SRT® performance vehicles.

Was it happenstance that the Viper was the first car to be put back into production under the new Chrysler Group LLC? Of course not. Like a phoenix rising from the ashes, the Viper was symbolic of the re-emerging company. We were proud to see Conner Avenue Assembly leading the charge back into action!

Now that the Viper faithful can breathe a little easier, it’s exciting to think about what the future could bring under Fiat S.p.A. leadership. Imagine what could happen when the brain trusts of Ferrari and Maserati have a chance to mix with Viper performance engineers. Yes, the sparks will fly and yes, something American-Italian could be very tasty on tomorrow’s menu.

Speaking of something tasty, have you had a chance to purchase your VCA raffle tickets?
If not, you’ll want to act immediately by the Friday, October 16 deadline. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to own #99 of 100 GTS-R cars Dodge built in 1998. Number 99 is extra special because it was specially hand-crafted for former Chrysler President Bob Lutz. And if owning #99 isn’t enough to satisfy your appetite, you can fill up on conversation over dinner with the man himself. Dinner with Bob Lutz is part of the package and many would say that alone is worth the price of a raffle ticket. For details on how to purchase tickets and the other prizes turn to page 37.

By the way, did you have time to participate in any Viper club outings or events this past summer? We hope so because that’s what owning a Viper is all about. If you were somehow cheated this summer, make it a point to go on a fall outing with your VCA friends and family. It’s a great time of year to enjoy a spectacular ride taking in the fall colors. We at VIPER Magazine would love to report on some of your scenic travels and fun you had with your Viper friends in our next issue.

Arrivederci!

Clay Thompson

President, J.R. Thompson Company

Publisher of VIPER Magazine

It’s no secret in the Viper Nation that VCA members give their all in support of a long list of charitable causes. However, the entire world got a recent glimpse of the giving side of Viper owners, thanks to the efforts of Central California President Jerry DeYoung and his wife, Paula. The DeYoungs, through their third-generation construction company, DeYoung Properties, joined the Emmy award-winning, hit reality show, ABC’s “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” to build a new, quality-constructed DeYoung home in just seven days for one deserving family in Fresno, Calif. The episode aired on March 8.

Mary Ann Riojas and her family were understandably surprised when Ty Pennington, team leader of “Extreme Makeover,” accompanied by his design team, knocked on their front door in early January and announced their home was chosen to be drastically revamped. The DeYoung Properties team went to work right away, tasked with overseeing construction on the intense, one-week build while maintaining the highest standards of quality craftsmanship, design, earth-friendly features and energy-efficiency in creating a dream home for the Riojas clan. All labor and materials for the makeover were donated by the DeYoungs and their trade partners.

DeYoung Properties was chosen as the builder for the “Extreme” project in large part because of their 30-year tradition of giving back to their Central California community. DeYoung Properties supports local schools, non-profits and community groups, in addition to its neighborhood building activities. The company donated two homes to benefit the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in 2007 and 2008 and will donate a third home in 2009.
“DeYoung Properties’ unwavering passion for their community was clear,” said Conrad Ricketts, executive producer of “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.” “We are looking for ‘Heroes in the Community’ and both the family and DeYoung Properties are wonderful representations of our theme this season.”

“We were honored to have been asked to be the builder for this extraordinary project to help change one family’s life forever,” said Jerry DeYoung, president of DeYoung Properties.

“What a way to begin a new year!” chimed in Paula DeYoung, executive vice president of DeYoung Properties. “To be asked to build a safe, quality-crafted home for one deserving family in one week with all labor and material donated, is the Super Bowl of home building, so we were honored to say yes.”

For further information on “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” or DeYoung Properties, visit www.abc.go.com or www.deyoungproperties.com.

Gateway Region’s Mark Eidelman purchased this little Viper for his nephews Ryan and Tyler pictured with their father, Ken Foster. “I wanted to start Ryan and Tyler out right with their enjoyment of fine cars,” said Mark. “They are enamored with the Viper’s MP3 player and radio. They love the quick acceleration and torque of the Viper and especially its ability to run over and smash flowers and bushes in their garden.”

Here’s a snapshot we unearthed from the VM photo archives. A sunny day at the drag strip always brings a smile to one’s face—even for a Dodge Viper!

By Nancy Ann Friend

In October, my husband Larry and I took our annual fall road trip with our two Vipers. We traversed eight states in seven days. We both love to drive our Vipers, so consequently, the 2000 miles did not seem extensive. The first site we visited was Brown County, Ind. After a day and a half there we moved onto the great Smokey Mountains. At the Biltmore Mansion in N.C. the security guards were very accommodating and allowed us to park in front of the mansion for a picture or two. They then led us to our own private parking spots.

That night at the hotel it started to drizzle and while we were unloading our luggage the driver’s door on my Viper would not close. It was late and we both knew repair shops would not be open. We couldn’t keep the door open all night in the rain. Fearing that we would break the door if we pushed too hard, we decided to call our Dodge dealer, Roanoke Motors in Ill. It was late there, but as usual, John Gastman answered his phone and was there to help us. He assured us that this had happened before and that the piece in the hinge would break before the door would. Larry pushed until the door closed. This is not the first time we have sought the help from Roanoke Motors. We are fortunate to have such an accommodating dealer.

The next day was rainy and we didn’t expect to see much. While in Tennessee my Viper veered right, but luckily it happened at an exit ramp. I had trouble controlling the Viper until I arrived at Bristol Motor Speedway. Being huge NASCAR fans we just had to tour as much of the track and museum as we could and it proved to be an unexpected highlight of our trip.

Another thrill was crossing the Appalachian Mountains in W.V. and Ohio using only the back roads. All day our Snakes slithered their way around sharp curves, switchbacks and steep grades. We really put our Vipers through their paces thus testing the legendary handling of these cars.

This 1936 Auburn Boattail Speedster features a 2000 Dodge Viper crate motor (460 hp, 500 lb-ft of torque) that is mated with a Viper 6-speed transmission. This custom beauty was hand-built over a period of four years by Brad Videen of Cambridge, Minn., and his brother Greg.

“Special thanks to my brother Greg Videen, Stan Berg and Mike Speidel for their guidance and talented help in completing this car,” said Brad. “Greg has fabricated countless parts, was the chief technical guide, and did all of the tig and arc welding. Stan took my body work to a final finish, and Mike worked with me on multiple projects during the course of construction.”

Other Viper modifications include: Viper seats with custom leather by Venzano Automotive (Mich.); adjustable Viper pedals (narrowed), “SUPERCHARGED” factory hood emblem modified to read “VIPERCHARGED;” Viper oil cooler, 2 ½” high flow custom stainless exhaust, Viper headers; Borla mufflers and crossover pipe; Viper steering column with tilt Viper wheel; and the paint is ’96 Viper GTS Blue Pearl Metallic.

Viper-powered pickup photos courtesy of Paul Ronald from VCA Washington.