Chrysler may sell Dodge Viper rather than kill it
#24
I would rather see Ford take a pass.
I'll go so far as to speculate that most interested buyers ho are major auto manufacturers (with the exception of the Chinese) are going to want the basic car and the stuff needed to produce it more than the nameplate. Think of the car that began as the DeTamaso/Qvale Mangusta and then became the MG XPower SV and you'll get my point. I could easily see Kia/Hyundai buying the basic design and the equipment to produce it and respinning it into their 'own' hi-po car. I could also see any of the several limited run companies doing much the same, like Saleen, SMS, or even somebody like Koenigsegg or even Ruff, and I could potentially imagine some of them keeping the Viper moniker intact.
And ultimately, since Shelby has expressed interest in reviving the Cobra, this could be a quick and easy way to get there. But, IMHO, the Viper isn't really a vdery good starting place for a Cobra revival since it fails to capture much of what made the car it is intended to mimic great. The Viper is just too big and too heavy to be a 'real' Cobra.
I'll go so far as to speculate that most interested buyers ho are major auto manufacturers (with the exception of the Chinese) are going to want the basic car and the stuff needed to produce it more than the nameplate. Think of the car that began as the DeTamaso/Qvale Mangusta and then became the MG XPower SV and you'll get my point. I could easily see Kia/Hyundai buying the basic design and the equipment to produce it and respinning it into their 'own' hi-po car. I could also see any of the several limited run companies doing much the same, like Saleen, SMS, or even somebody like Koenigsegg or even Ruff, and I could potentially imagine some of them keeping the Viper moniker intact.
And ultimately, since Shelby has expressed interest in reviving the Cobra, this could be a quick and easy way to get there. But, IMHO, the Viper isn't really a vdery good starting place for a Cobra revival since it fails to capture much of what made the car it is intended to mimic great. The Viper is just too big and too heavy to be a 'real' Cobra.
#25
My guess would be a company like Lotus or Cosworth.
#26
Well, it doesn't sound too bad if that keeps it alive. But HELL NO to a Crapoyota or Slownda Viper, that wouldn't sound right...
Now, maybe BMW, Mercedes or hell, even Ford. That would be good.
Now, maybe BMW, Mercedes or hell, even Ford. That would be good.
#27
I'd love to see Ford buy it, but that's a longshot. GM won't buy it, they have the Corvette. That pretty much leaves it to a foreign buyer. Personally, The best offshore buyer I can think of would be Fiat. But don't be surprised if Mitsubishi buys it.
#29
The Viper was essentially its own little entity anyway, so why not? But too, being so little, and yet bringing such attention to Dodge all out of proportion to production numbers (see "Halo Car"), why?
Actually, I think the Viper might be/have been more interesting if it were more integrated into DC overall engineering and project development rather than being a bunch of guys fooling around in the shed out back. While the Viper does have some interesting technology, it really is more of an old school (great big motor in a smallish chassis), pre-built kit car than a true technology test horse for the rest of the company. While a great, ridiculous hoot of fun, the Vipers gas-swilling broad axe approach to performance is more a redux of the '60's than anything relevant to this millennium.
Personally, I would keep the badge, and perhaps some of its general character, but make it actually more relevant, and thus survivable under the cold eyes of the MBAs and bean counters, by making it a true technology test horse. Maybe a DI, VVT, TT 4.0L magnesium block V10 in a sleek and lightweight chassis would hold more relavence to the rest of the DC family. Sure, you'd likely trade some of its agrarian crudeness, but modern tech cars need not be some soul less, computer guided automatons (see Lotus Elise/Exige).
And it might not be on the sales block.
Actually, I think the Viper might be/have been more interesting if it were more integrated into DC overall engineering and project development rather than being a bunch of guys fooling around in the shed out back. While the Viper does have some interesting technology, it really is more of an old school (great big motor in a smallish chassis), pre-built kit car than a true technology test horse for the rest of the company. While a great, ridiculous hoot of fun, the Vipers gas-swilling broad axe approach to performance is more a redux of the '60's than anything relevant to this millennium.
Personally, I would keep the badge, and perhaps some of its general character, but make it actually more relevant, and thus survivable under the cold eyes of the MBAs and bean counters, by making it a true technology test horse. Maybe a DI, VVT, TT 4.0L magnesium block V10 in a sleek and lightweight chassis would hold more relavence to the rest of the DC family. Sure, you'd likely trade some of its agrarian crudeness, but modern tech cars need not be some soul less, computer guided automatons (see Lotus Elise/Exige).
And it might not be on the sales block.
Last edited by rhumb; 9/2/08 at 04:24 PM.
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