Filed under: Supercars, Chrysler, LLC., Dodge
REPORT: Chrysler may sell Dodge Viper rather than kill it
by John Neff on Aug 27th 2008 at 11:27AM 
Click above for high-res gallery of the Dodge Viper ACR
The Dodge Viper has been Chrysler's halo car since it was introduced back in 1992, but times are tough. Faced with the fact that it might not be able to continue making the brutish sports car, the Auburn Hills-based automaker is reportedly considering doing something that's never been done before by a domestic automaker (as for as we know): selling the Viper's future to a third party. Automotive News quotes Chrysler CEO Bob Nardelli saying, "We have been approached by third parties who are interested in exploring future possibilities for Viper." Nardelli claims that whatever happens, his company will work to make sure the best interests of Viper fanboys are served and that Chrysler would continue to offer "operational and financial" support for the car if a transaction takes place. We're honestly a little stunned that Chrysler would consider such a drastic action, though if it means the Viper won't be sacrificed at the altar of economic woes, we're all for it. On the other hand, how does one separate Dodge from the Viper? Can you imagine Ford selling the Mustang to ROUSH or GM selling the Corvette to Lingenfelter? Chrysler has not identified any of the Viper's suitors, so rather than a familiar tuning house, it could also be a conglomerate of investors or another automaker. Is a Viper sold by another brand still a Viper?
Gallery: First Drive: 2008 Dodge Viper ACR
[Source: Automotive News, sub. req'd]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
Frylock350 11:33AM (8/27/2008)
A Viper not powered by a giant pushrod V10 is not a Viper. Sell it to Henessey.
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geo.stewart 1:12PM (8/27/2008)
maybe this is really just about outsourcing rather than a 'sell off' in the traditional sense.
Instead of just outsourcing the build, outsource the entire design and production.
still sold as a Dodge but by Karmann/ Hennesy/ Roush/ McClaren...
sanimalp 3:05PM (8/27/2008)
I don't know, I mean, a $20k Tata Motors viper might be awesome..
700hp through 10 inch tires FTW..
azzo45 3:20PM (8/27/2008)
What's a McClaren? Maybe it could be a McLovin'??
McLaren perhaps???
JayP 11:35AM (8/27/2008)
Could you imagine the unfiltered horror of a Chinese-built Viper?
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thomas 8:13PM (8/27/2008)
yes....
http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/01/chinese-companies-selling-1-400-dodge-tomahawk-knock-off/
Torrent 12:55AM (8/28/2008)
ewww.
Tourian 11:35AM (8/27/2008)
I guess its possible if they sold the factory, the tooling, everything. Viper is almost a brand on to itself. Corvette guys don't brag about owning Chevys and Viper guys don't brag about owning Dodge's, they just say they own Vettes and Vipers.
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Corey W. 11:48AM (8/27/2008)
uh no, Corvette owners are VERY proud of the Chevrolet brand.
- A Vette wouldn't be Vette if it wasn't a Chevy!!
Russell 12:01PM (8/27/2008)
I would not have bought a Vette if it wasn't a bowtie.
Tourian 12:37PM (8/27/2008)
@Russell
If GM spun the Vette off as its own brand (which has been discussed) and didn't call them Chevys, you would no longer consider owning one?
Just a question, I realize whats being discussed here is different since it wouldn't be Chrysler building the car at all, I am just wondering.
I still believe Viper owners are not as loyal to there being "Dodge" on the hood. I admit Chevy heritage is much stronger and not the best analogy, but still applies to some.
rypt 1:05PM (8/27/2008)
Sell it to Toyota! Maybe then they'd finally have a sports car.
P.V. 6:34PM (8/27/2008)
The Corvette is sold on its own as its own brand in Europe (it is not considered a Chevrolet there).
Could someone tell me how well it is selling there (versus in the US)? This could be an indicator of how well the Viper would sell on its own (not considered as a Dodge).
John Levy 11:36AM (8/27/2008)
Didn't Studebaker do the same thing with the Avanti?
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jim 2:35PM (8/27/2008)
The Avanti brand and tooling was purchased after the bankruptcy as part of the liquidation of Studebaker, so this is not the same thing. But who knows with Chrysler it could be.
Ken Stamper 5:18PM (8/27/2008)
What it IS similar to is the Lotus/Caterham Seven. Lotus sold them the tooling, and it has been rolling ever since. Seeing how I have never heard anyone say a Caterham is not a real Seven, maybe this could work!
why not the LS2LS7? 11:37AM (8/27/2008)
Does this mean some company will still be making the Viper 40 years from now, like the Lotus/Caterham 7? I guess that would make Lutz happy.
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Mike 11:43AM (8/27/2008)
If it keeps the Vipers coming, then I'm all for it. I wouldn't be bothered at all by a different badge on the car, so long as the car underneath retains its crude bad-assedness.
Really, it doesn't seem like that radical of an idea to sell off the Viper. The Ford GT assembly, IIRC, was handled by Shelby, and the Mercedes SLR was put together by McLaren. I don't think the Viper's tie to Dodge is strong enough to preclude a sale, and these other examples show that smaller players are certainly up to the challenge of carrying the torch.
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why not the LS2LS7? 11:51AM (8/27/2008)
Ford GT assembly was handled by Saleen. Autoblog article on it a few pages back.
BigMcLargeHuge 2:19PM (8/27/2008)
Ooooooo, you actually just gave me something else to wish for:
What if Ford sold the rights to the GT to Saleen! That car isn't even cold in the grave yet. They are after all, the principle designers/builder of the thing. They could call it the Saleen GT40 or something.
Oh well... back to reality.