Vipers
At The Greenbrier Concours d'Elegance we define "Vipers" as cars manufactured by Dodge (SRT for 2013 and 2014), a division of FCA US LLC from 1992 through 2017 having taken a brief hiatus from 2010-2013. Production of the two-seat sports car began at New Mack Assembly in 1991 and moved to Conner Avenue Assembly in October 1995.
Although Chrysler considered ending production because of serious financial problems, on September 14, 2010, chief executive Sergio Marchionne announced and showed a new model of the Viper for 2012. In 2014, the Viper was named No. 10 on the "Most American Cars" list, meaning 75 percent or more of its parts are manufactured in the U.S. The Viper was initially conceived in late 1988 at Chrysler's Advanced Design Studios. The following February, Chrysler president Bob Lutz suggested to Tom Gale at Chrysler Design that the company should consider producing a modern Cobra, and a clay model was presented to Lutz a few months later. Produced in sheet metal by Metalcrafters, the car appeared as a concept at the North American International Auto Show in 1989. Public reaction was so enthusiastic that chief engineer Roy Sjoberg was directed to develop it as a standard production vehicle.
Sjoberg selected 85 engineers to be "Team Viper", with development beginning in March 1989. The team asked the then-Chrysler subsidiary Lamborghini to cast a prototype aluminum block for the sports car to use in May. The production body was completed in the fall, with a chassis prototype running in December. Though a V8 engine was first used in the test mule, the V10, which the production car was meant to use, was ready in February 1990. Official approval from Chrysler chairman Lee Iacocca came in May 1990. One year later, Carroll Shelby piloted a pre-production car as the pace vehicle in the Indianapolis 500 race. In November 1991, the car was released to reviewers with first retail shipments beginning in January 1992.
Sjoberg selected 85 engineers to be "Team Viper", with development beginning in March 1989. The team asked the then-Chrysler subsidiary Lamborghini to cast a prototype aluminum block for the sports car to use in May. The production body was completed in the fall, with a chassis prototype running in December. Though a V8 engine was first used in the test mule, the V10, which the production car was meant to use, was ready in February 1990. Official approval from Chrysler chairman Lee Iacocca came in May 1990. One year later, Carroll Shelby piloted a pre-production car as the pace vehicle in the Indianapolis 500 race. In November 1991, the car was released to reviewers with first retail shipments beginning in January 1992.
You can read more about the selection of the Viper Class on our News Release at this link: A Dodge Viper Show Class Announced at the Inaugural Greenbrier Concours d'Elegance
If you have any questions about this class, please feel free to contact our Chief Judge Paul Ianuario via email pai01@aol.com. If you would like to submit your car for consideration please click the button below.
If you have any questions about this class, please feel free to contact our Chief Judge Paul Ianuario via email pai01@aol.com. If you would like to submit your car for consideration please click the button below.
