Filed under: Aftermarket, Tuners, Sports/GTs, Supercars, Chrysler, LLC., Dodge, Earnings/Financials, Saleen, ROUSH
Saleen, Roush potential buyers for expandable Viper range
While sales of the Dodge Viper may be down, Chrysler President Jim Press insists that buyers have been lining up to buy the entire operation. Among those potentially interested are American powerhouses Roush and Saleen. The latter, it's worth noting, is already involved in making the Viper, painting the cars off the assembly line. Whatever company ends up buying the Viper operation, Chrysler expects to make anywhere from $50 million to three times that before it vacates its Conner Avenue plant by the end of 2011, and has hired financial firm Lazard Limited to handle the sale.
Potentially of equal interest will be the opportunity, as Press sees it, to expand the Viper line-up. We're not sure what else you could make on the V10 sportscar platform, considering that convertible, coupe and hard-core track-day versions are already in line-up. But we'd sure be interested to find out.
Gallery: First Drive: 2008 Dodge Viper ACR
[Source: Car and Driver]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
P.V. 12:52PM (9/14/2008)
Saleen Viper? Roush Viper? Or just ... Viper? (like GM has spun off the Corvette as its own sub-brand in Europe)
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Austin 1:12PM (9/14/2008)
Wow that would be weird for a Ford engine to be in a Viper.
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That One Person 2:04PM (9/14/2008)
Or a Viper engine in the Mustang? F-150? Or maybe the Sport Trac??????????? Hell, even the Focus (hey you can fit Cammer 5.0s in them?????????
Ah, I can dream, can't I??
No Welfare for GM 1:16PM (9/14/2008)
Yes, keep the brand alive, and keep it American.
I much rather see Chrysler stay alive than worry about Viper.
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styleguy 1:24PM (9/14/2008)
We should do what Matt Farah and Mike Spinelli siad and sell the Viper to Henessey.
http://www.garage419.com/episode/419_20080902
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styleguy 3:53PM (9/14/2008)
I mean Chrysler...sorry
Hike15 1:25PM (9/14/2008)
Yes for keeping it american, but whoever buys it better keep the monster v10 in it
but they could also us the brand to make like mini vipers, say like the dodge demon kind of car to compete against stuff like the porsche cayman
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Soccer Mom 1:32PM (9/14/2008)
I guess the probable scenario is:
1. 2009 - Chrysler sells Viper to XYZ for $50M
2. 201x - Chrysler fixes its operations
3. 201x - Chrysler buys the same Viper back from XYZ for $5 billion to compliment its products with an established performance car
4. 202x - Chrysler sells Viper to ZYX for for $50M as sales did not meet expectations
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Reader 3:23PM (9/14/2008)
If I had 50 million I'd totally be XYZ. Maybe I could get a loan...
Artie Lange 11:30PM (9/14/2008)
Chrysler isn't selling it because it doesn't make them money, but because CAFE regulations will soon make it impossible for a major auto maker to build it. It has nothing to do with its profitability or popularity.
cxv 1:58PM (9/14/2008)
I believe the viper name is owned in the UK by another comapny and the car is sold under the STR-10 name. Bad times for Chrysler!!!
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TriShield 2:26PM (9/14/2008)
The strip and flip of Chrysler by Cerberus has begun.
Chrysler is dead. They're simply going to get a return on their investment by selling the parts they can and then using the dealer network and plants as a K-Mart outlet for other cars.
Whomever purchases the Viper (if this news is true) will be getting everything, including Chrysler's V10 engine.
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Tim 2:38PM (9/14/2008)
I am seriously considering buying a new Challenger Se for my dad. Should I be concerned if Chrysler does go bankrupt would this car drop in value quickly?
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El Norte 4:59PM (9/14/2008)
"I am seriously considering buying a new Challenger Se for my dad. Should I be concerned if Chrysler does go bankrupt would this car drop in value quickly?"
Of course it'll drop in value quickly if you buy a new Challenger. As soon as it hits the street, in fact. It'll be MSRP + some ridiculous amount the dealer will extort which will cause the drop to be even greater.
5.9dakota 5:23PM (9/14/2008)
ok relax chrylser is not gunna go bankrupt dont listen to trishield hes just another chrylser hater
fixitfixitstop 3:20PM (9/14/2008)
I can already imagine the ugly Saleen body kits on it.
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Crackberry Addict 3:24PM (9/14/2008)
Make a viper version SUV, like the Porsche Cayenne...... jk sarcasm lol
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thomas 4:41PM (9/14/2008)
don't you ever talk like that again!!! EVER!!!!
IK47 11:22AM (9/15/2008)
they already made a viper pickup
a viper SUV would have made more sense
JustJoe 5:26AM (9/17/2008)
1. Viper Sport Wagon
2. Viper Panamera
3. thru 1,762. Variations demanded by Marketing in order to catch up to those put out for Mustang