| The Viper was conceived as a modern take on | | | | the truck application, was unsuitable for a |
| the classic American muscle car. While there | | | | performance car and suggested a more |
| are some who insist that the iconic AC Cobra | | | | comprehensive redesign which would have |
| was a source of inspiration, the final | | | | included four valves per cylinder. Chrysler, |
| version of the Viper was far too large and | | | | however, was uncertain about the Viper's |
| heavy to seriously claim any direct lineage | | | | production costs and sales potential and so |
| with the compact and lightweight vehicle. | | | | declined to provide the budget for the |
| Most saw claims to kinship with the Cobra as | | | | modification. |
| a marketing exercise, although Carroll Shelby | | | | |
| was involved in the initial design of the | | | | The engine produced 400 hp (298 kW) at 4600 |
| Viper. | | | | rpm and 450 ft·lbf (610 N·m) of torque |
| | | | at 3600 rpm, and thanks to the long-gearing |
| The Viper was initially conceived in late | | | | allowed by the torquey engine, provided |
| 1988 at Chrysler's Advanced Design Studios. | | | | surprising fuel economy at a claimed 21 mpg |
| The following February, Chrysler president | | | | US (11.2 L/100 km) if driven sedately. The |
| Bob Lutz suggested to Tom Gale at Chrysler | | | | body was a tubular steel frame with resin |
| Design that the company should consider | | | | transfer molding (RTM) fiberglass panels. |
| producing a modern Cobra, and a clay model | | | | Much of the suspension, following the |
| was presented to Lutz a few months later. The | | | | manufacturer's "engine first" mantra, was |
| car appeared as a concept at the North | | | | sourced from the Dodge Dakota pickup. Typical |
| American International Auto Show in 1989. | | | | of American performance car design, it had a |
| This concept vehicle was originally named | | | | front-mounted engine driving the rear wheels; |
| Copperhead because of it's low, wide | | | | it was also heavy with a curb weight of 3,280 |
| appearance characteristic of reptiles and | | | | lb (1,488 kg) and lacked many modern driver |
| would later be changed to Viper. Public | | | | aids such as traction control or anti-lock |
| reaction was so enthusiastic, that chief | | | | brakes. Car and Driver magazine referred to |
| engineer Roy Sjeoberg was directed to develop | | | | this generation as "the world's biggest Fat |
| it as a production car. | | | | Boy Harley", and likened driving it to |
| | | | "playing ping pong with a Louisville Slugger |
| Sjoberg selected 85 engineers to be "Team | | | | baseball bat." Despite this, in straight line |
| Viper", with development beginning in March | | | | performance, it completed a quarter mile in |
| 1989. The team asked then-Chrysler subsidiary | | | | 12.9 seconds and had a maximum speed of 164 |
| Lamborghini to cast some prototype aluminum | | | | mph (264 km/h). |
| blocks based on their V10 truck engine for | | | | |
| sports car use in May. The production body | | | | The car was also devoid of any real luxuries. |
| was completed in the fall, with a chassis | | | | Along with the absence of exterior door |
| prototype running in December. Though a V8 | | | | handles, the vehicle lacked windows and even |
| was first used in the test mule, the V10 | | | | a roof. Although a soft top cover was |
| which the production car was meant to use was | | | | available, it was designed primarily for |
| ready in February 1990. | | | | outdoor vehicle storage. In terms of interior |
| | | | space, the trunk was large enough for the |
| Official approval from Chrysler chairman, Lee | | | | rain cover and little else. Chrysler's |
| Iacocca, came in May 1990. One year later, | | | | purpose for the vehicle was clear in almost |
| Carroll Shelby piloted a preproduction car as | | | | every aspect of its construction; from the |
| the Indianapolis 500 pace car. In November | | | | unyielding bolstering of the seats to the |
| 1991, the car was released to reviewers with | | | | side-exit exhaust that came with its own |
| first shipments beginning in January 1992. | | | | disclaimer against passenger injury. |
| | | | Performance came first, creature comforts |
| The first prototype was tested in December | | | | last (if at all). |
| 1989. It first debuted in 1991 with three | | | | |
| pre-production models as the pace car for the | | | | Performance: |
| Indianapolis 500 when Dodge was forced to | | | | |
| substitute it in place of the Stealth, and | | | | 0-60: 4.6 sec. |
| went on sale in January 1992 as the soft | | | | |
| roofed RT/10 Roadster. | | | | 0-100: 9.2 sec. |
| | | | |
| The centerpiece of the car was its engine. | | | | quarter mile: 12.5 sec. @ 112 mph |
| Originally designed for a truck platform and | | | | |
| based on the Chrysler LA design, a division | | | | top speed: 180+ (confirmed by Road and Track |
| of the Chrysler Corporation revamped Dodge's | | | | magazine / 1992) |
| cast-iron block V10 for the Viper by | | | | |
| recasting the block and head in aluminum | | | | 700 ft slalom: over 65 mph |
| alloy. Some within Lamborghini felt the | | | | |
| pushrod two-valve design, while adequate for | | | | skidpad average g: .96 |