Dodge reportedly has one lowball bidder for Viper franchise... but is it enough?
Devon Motor Works GTX rendering - Click above for an image gallery
According to court documents filed by Chrysler, there is but one lone official offer for the firm's Dodge Viper automotive business, and it is well under the $10 million asking price that the bankrupt automaker has been seeking. If a suitable buyer isn't found, it's likely that the Connor Avenue Assembly plant where the Viper is manufactured will be closed down this December.
The sole $5.5 million bid came from Devon Motor Works, a small boutique coachbuilder based in Grand Rapids, Michigan that has plans to launch a new supercar of its own called the Devon GTX, which we presume is based on the underpinnings of the Dodge Viper. The GTX is scheduled to make a run at the Nürburgring lap record for a car currently in production (currently held by a Dodge Viper ACR) sometime in July, after which it will be officially debuted at the 2009 Pebble Beach Concours.
Chrysler first started putting out feelers for its Viper line last August, and the automaker still claims that it "has been approached by a number of parties interested in purchasing the business," though it's now clear that it's rather short on actual realistic offers. At this point, Chrysler is said to be looking into Devon's offer to verify that the small company has sufficient resources to close the deal.
Gallery: Devon Motor Works GTX renderings
[Sources: Detroit Free Press, Devon Motor Works, Wall Street Journal]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
2004m3driver 2:29PM (5/28/2009)
Looks nice, except the two tone is a bit too distracting/ugly.
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Dondonel 4:52PM (5/28/2009)
To me it looks awesome, an worthy succesor.
Randy 3:09PM (5/29/2009)
FORD SHOULD BUY THE RIGHTS!!!
Back story!!! I knew I remembered this for a reason! Back before the Viper was the Viper a man in Peabody, MA made a car called the Mongoose which was dubbed the "Next Generation Mustang". Well, this guy pitched the car design to Ford, they declined. Then to GM, they declined. Then to Chrysler, they declined.
Then, years later a car came out that look like a 99% clone of the Mongoose, its name was and is "Dodge Viper". When I say clone, I really mean it! There were local newspaper pictures of them side by side. The man filed a lawsuit against Chrysler and I never heard anything after that.
So the original concept by the man in Peabody, MA was to have it be a Ford Mustang so why not make it a Ford! I think they'd get a SHHHHHT load of PR for buying it that would make it well worth the investment. They can slam the Ford GT engine etc in it. Imagine the headlines across the board???
Then Ford would have an on-the-level competitor to the vette... Instantly!
And for anyone that says "that's just not right in any way" consider that Cadillac was Henry Ford's first car company!.... :-)
Here are my posts from years ago if you REALLY want to read them!
http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/04/video-autoblog-talks-design-with-ford-director-peter-horbury/comments/12473994/
http://www.autoblog.com/2008/11/27/top-ten-things-autoblog-is-thankful-for/
bakka 2:30PM (5/28/2009)
What can anybody say?
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13enS 2:32PM (5/28/2009)
"beggers can't be choosers"
...?
13enS 2:37PM (5/28/2009)
Looks like somebody's been using Bunkspeed!
The parting line on the hood is interesting. I agree with 2004m3driver, the two-tone needs to go. And maybe move the greenhouse back just a bit too to give it a longer hood. Like it overall though. But seems more Vette'ish than Viper'ish.
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MemphisNET 2:41PM (5/28/2009)
Chrysler : Keep Viper/Corner Ave and just mark up the cost of the car. Because Viper buyers will keep buying.
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Dtown 2:42PM (5/28/2009)
Looks cool, but how are the doors going to open? The two tone has to go because it's only time before somebody makes that into wood paneling.
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meshies 5:55PM (5/28/2009)
uhhh i dont ever see that happening
miataguy94 8:22PM (5/28/2009)
it looks like they would either tilt or lambo the way they r cut out
ACURA23CL 2:56PM (5/28/2009)
Wait a minute...is that the Paulin concept??? I guess they changed their name from Paulin to Devon Motor Works, massaged the initial concept a bit, and added tasteful bodykit. It still looks great.
If it's not the Paulin Concept, is a BLATANT knock-off of it. Even more blatant than the Chinese BYD Design Team AKA Xerox machine.
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Protzenegger 10:14PM (5/28/2009)
Holy sh!t, good eye!
alfaBAT9 2:48PM (5/28/2009)
Can somebody explain to me why it's necessary to find a 'suitable buyer?' I fully realize that some companies have built lasting reputations and the buying public therefore has certain expectations for future products, but does it go beyond that? And do you think it really applies to Viper? It's a meek selling performance arm of Dodge – it's not like it's the Challenger who's history stretches back decades.
Or am I completely missing it, and 'suitable buyer' is just another way of saying 'somebody willing to pay what we're asking?'
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Nick Martin 3:04PM (5/28/2009)
I really like the looks of that head unit. It looks like an old McIntosh amp with blue meters.
http://woofersetc.amazonwebstore.com/shared/viewProductImage.html?http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41G06Lt%2BbaL.jpg
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letstakeawalk 11:57PM (5/28/2009)
Kudos for mentioning McIntosh, but why not put up a shot of the latest ear-candy? They still have the pretty blue meters...
http://www.mcintoshlabs.com/products/mcintosh-mc2kw-2000-watt-reference-power-amplifier.asp?action=imagePopup&imageId=pd_t_img1
http://www.mcintoshlabs.com/products/mcintosh-mc2kw-2000-watt-reference-power-amplifier.asp
"The MC2KW Monoblock Power Amplifier is designed to exceed those demands, delivering 2000 watts of continuous power and 8000 watts at the peaks."
Nick Martin 12:17PM (5/29/2009)
I had no idea they still existed. That's awesome!
Who 'Dis? Who 'Dat? 2:55PM (5/28/2009)
I kind of hate the idea of Chrysler letting the Viper go, but if it can find a good home with Devon Motor Works, then so be it.
Besides, that GTX is not a bad looking car.
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Cougs 2:55PM (5/28/2009)
I still think that keeping the Viper would be a good idea...get rid of the Sebring, that doesn't sell its yearly allottment ;-).
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Kumar 2:55PM (5/28/2009)
At this point, you may as well consider the sale of divisions of Chrysler as real-estate short-sells. The owners are hurting badly, and the creditors are looking to recoup some of the investment before it's lost too much value or is worthless.
Yeah, the viper division has a storied past, but automakers are worth little right now.
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MoeJoe 2:59PM (5/28/2009)
Chrysler is billions in debt, whats 10 million. Keep the Viper franchise, it will be worth it in the long run.
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