A handful of vehicles on the market have earned a reputation for being dangerous. There’s the Lexus LFA, and early models of the NSX also have this reputation. However, one of the most famous dangerous cars comes from Dodge.
Enter the iconic Dodge Viper. While it’s always been a beast on the streets, the original model of the Dodge Viper is often described as one of the most intimidating vehicles ever produced. People also love this vehicle because it’s considered one of Dodge’s most stunning rides. However, most would agree that the 1992 Dodge Viper was incredibly powerful.
The design team first tested the car in 1989 as a prototype. After that, the vehicle was used as a pace car for the Indy 500 before finally arriving on the market for the 1992 model year. Given the vehicle’s history in the Indianapolis 500, the Dodge Viper was never designed to be just fast. Instead, it was engineered to be the fastest and most extreme car ever created by Dodge. For many car enthusiasts, the Viper put Dodge on the map and forced people to take them seriously as a sports car manufacturer.
The Viper was discontinued in 2017 due to low sales and various regulations that would have been difficult to meet for the automaker. However, the Viper is still a sought-after ride, partly due to the dangerous reputation of the early models, most notably the original. After all, people love thrills, even if they have no desire to push a car like the 1992 Dodge Viper to its limits.
Torque Is One Of The Reasons The Original Dodge Viper Is So Dangerous
The 1992 Dodge Viper set the stage for Dodge to be seen as a legitimate sports car manufacturer. This early '90s speed demon has a hefty 8.0-liter V10 under its hood. It's a rear-wheel-drive car with a maximum output of 400 horsepower at 4,600 rpm and a torque of 450 lb-ft at 3,600 rpm. An absolute beast that features a 6-speed manual transmission.
As for speed, the original Dodge Viper can accelerate from zero to 60 miles per hour in an astounding 4.5 seconds. Many people may assume that the relentless power and speeds would be a significant part of the reason this car is so dangerous. While this may be partly the case, the torque is one of the most critical factors. Sure, there are cars with more torque than the original Viper, but most drivers were simply unprepared for how this bad boy behaved when they floored it. Hence, there was simply too much torque in a small package for most people to safely drive the 1992 Dodge Viper.
The Lack Of Safety Equipment Make The 1992 Dodge Viper Dangerous
Besides the excessive use of torque on the 1992 Dodge Viper, the biggest reason for the vehicle's dangerous reputation is due to lack of safety equipment. In other words, a fast car with as much torque as this one needs built-in safety barriers. In fact, this car has been called the last of its kind when it comes to a terrifying driving experience. The 1992 Dodge Viper is a sports car that combines the bare-bones nature of many of the classics with out-of-this-world performance.
A list of what's missing from the original Dodge Viper include airbags, traction control, and ABS. These are all ultra important for the safety of any vehicle, especially one as fast as the Dodge Viper. The automaker eventually added these electronic aids to the car, but the fact that they didn’t exist on the 1992 model is a significant reason for its reputation.
The 1992 Dodge Viper Is For Experienced Thrill Seekers Only
The entire lineup of the Dodge Viper is iconic. For many gearheads, the ride is their favorite from Dodge. Not only that, but some even call the car their favorite American sports car ever. However, much of the reason behind this love for the Viper is its extreme reputation. This is true because a majority of car enthusiasts are thrill seekers, and what better thrill is there than getting behind the wheel of what is often considered one of the most dangerous cars ever sold in the US?
The 1992 Dodge Viper still fetches a pretty penny on the used car market. According to Bring A Trailer, you could easily spend over $150,000 for the pleasure of owning this raw sports car from Dodge. However, according to Kelly Blue Book, the average value of the 1992 Dodge Viper is closer to $50,000. The original Dodge Viper is a true legend in the car world because it’s a simple little car emphasizing performance. However, this lack of attention to safety features led to the vehicle being one of the most talked about in the entire history of Dodge. The Viper may have become safer as the model years passed, but even at its safest, it was still an ultra-fast snake just waiting to strike.