The Dodge Viper gained notoriety for being the "Ultimate Crime-Fighting Machine." It got more attention following the TV series titled "Viper" which first aired in 1994. But where is this once famous muscle car today?
The iconic muscle car was all about torque, but the American television series added to it and made it more than just a jock charmer. Some Viper enthusiasts are curious where the car model ended up.
No matter how much tuning and mods the Viper gets, the Dodge muscle car from Viper is as collectible as an exotic car.
Dodge Viper: The Ultimate 90s Muscle Car
What makes the Dodge Viper special? Why was it the car of choice to be the star of the TV show? It appealed a lot since it was Dodge's breakthrough muscle car in the 90s.
Dodge Viper owners enjoyed the little to no restrictions on the road. They were able to enjoy the speed that came with a V10 engine.
The roar of the Viper's V10 while high-revving on the road was pure testosterone. It was one of the most technologically advanced cars during that time.
The best Dodge Viper model came in 1997. The second model year of the second generation looked like a tweaked version of the 1993 Viper GTS.
It was the year the Viper saw an 8.0L-powered V10 engine that produced 410 hp and 465 lb-ft of torque. The car ran on a 6-Speed Manual gearbox with all its power sent right to its rear wheels. It even gave actual sports cars like the Porsche 911 a match.
Modified Dodge Vipers were a thing too. It didn't take long for NBC to jump into the hype of the fastest car in the 90s when it produced the TV series "Viper" in 1994.
The TV Series "Viper"
NBC originally aired the action-adventure TV series. It was about a special operations group that set up the ultimate crime-fighting machine in a crime-filled Metro City, California.
The TV series didn't have the finest acting and stories. It was more of an action-filled spectacle of cool cars and a lead car that morphed into an armored version with weapons. It was the car's crime-fighting features that made the show entertaining.
Chrysler's Steve Ferrerio designed the Viper model used in the show. He worked with Mike Sciortino of Unique Movie Cars of Las Vegas to create the "Defender."
The "Defender" was a 1993 Dodge Viper RT/10 chassis. As fast as the car ran on TV, it was slightly underpowered in real life. Its V10 engine was swapped for a390/360 hp V8.
Interestingly, the models used in the first three seasons were not actual production models. Chrysler used leftover engineering mules and prototypes instead. Fourteen of them were built for filming the TV series.
Each model was entirely hand-built. Since it was a one-off for a TV show, it's one that sits as a collector's item for movie car and muscle car enthusiasts alike.
Where Is This Dodge Viper Model Now?
The Dodge Viper was one of the coolest cars in the 1990s. Moreso when you see that actual one used in a television show that's a cult classic.
The actual car was listed at the Monterey Mecum auction in 2010. The "Defender" received a top bid of $270,000 but wasn't sold. It was said that the seller was asking way more for this one-off Viper creation.
It was put up on auction on eBay just a few years back. The listing indicated that it was the actual model used in the filming. Its V8 engine strengthens that claim. It only received a top bid of $174,100 during the time it was listed on eBay.
Kind of strange but the Viper Defender still looks great even today. Bidding has now ended without the reserve being met, though the top bid was $174,100.
It wasn't just the custom Dodge Viper model that comes with the sale. The package also included a large collection of show memorabilia.
To this day, there isn't any recent development as to where the "Defender" is and who has it right now. It will probably come to life again shall we see a reboot of the cult classic.
Will We See A Comeback?
The Dodge Viper itself is discontinued at the moment with no concrete talks about a return. There were rumors that we were going to see a 2021 Dodge Viper but there aren't signs of it towards the end of 2020.
It might be more possible to see a reboot of the Viper TV show right now. There are still the latter models which will be interesting to see customized. It might even run on its signature V10 if this happens
The loud and obnoxious V10 is truly a characteristic of a true roadster. It's also what made the Dodge Viper so charismatic.
It wouldn't do muscle car aficionados any justice to see the ultimate American sportscar not being able to keep up with modern electrical-heavy setups. Its breakthrough technologies were the reason it was created in the first place. Besides, the Viper's design was so timeless that even the first generation models will stand out even by today's standards.