The Dodge Viper had four long generations spanning from 1992-2010. There were actually no 2010 models, only extended 2009 models, and 2011 saw zero production Vipers at all. Dodge is planning on picking up the Viper once again in 2012 with a fresh look and feel.
The Viper came in two different trims: the SRT10 and the ACR. The 8.4L V10 powered Viper delivered 600 HP and 560 lb-ft of torque, and was mated to a six-speed manual transmission. The 0-60mph sprint was done in fewer than four seconds, while the quarter mile came in at 11 seconds. Careful with this one though, it doesn’t come with electronic stability control.
The Barracuda is a two-door car that was manufactured by the Plymouth division of Chrysler from 1964-1974. In 1971, the car was already in its third generation and was offered with three different V8 engine options with power going up to 335 HP. During that time, this amount of power was appropriate, but modern times call for the faster and more powerful. So what do you do with a beloved old school design when the output needs a walker to get through the day? You take your vision to Time Machines in Hudson, Florida where they will turn your dream into an insane reality, like transforming the Barracuda into a 450 HP V10 powered maniac.
At first glance, the product of Time Machines’ hard work looks like a standard Plymouth Barracuda, but under the hood is a Dodge Viper’s V10 engine surrounded by a chassis from a 2001 Dodge Viper. Yes, Time Machines took two very different vehicles and combined them into a melting pot of sheer awesomeness.
Check out how they did it after the jump. Full story
You could say that the driver of the Ferrari 458 Italia was a little too eager in making his rival Dodge Viper eat his dust. You could even say that his heart was a racing a little and the adrenaline got the better of him. But to start a drag race like this with so many people watching? A little embarrassing, if you ask us.
Watch the video and you’ll see the Italian supercar and the American sports car in a nice and friendly quarter-mile race. Everything looks ready to roll except that when the light turned green, the 458 Italia went backwards. As in reverse. As in ’oops’.
The driver’s brainfart caused him to shift his car’s dual clutch auto transmission into reverse, which would have probably been more understandable if he wasn’t sitting behind the wheel of a 458 Italia.
But a car of that stature to start a drag race in backwards fashion is just well beyond humiliating.
Check out the video and watch the drag race folly at the 0:39 mark.
Chrysler may be about ready to unveil the new generation Dodge Viper, but the company isn’t finished with the current generation just yet. Apparently, Chrysler wants to make history by breaking as many records as they possibly can with the Dodge Viper SRT-10 ACR revealed just a few months ago.
A few months ago, the Viper SRT-10 ACR became the fastest production car at Miller Motorsports Park and had already sealed the deal with the fastest lap time in the Nurburgring back in 2008. Now the car is preparing to start an intense attack across the country to stake claim as the fastest production car on as much legendary courses as possible.
The tour is called the Viper Record Tour ’11 and features stops at the Monticello Motor Club, Sebring International Raceway, New Jersey Motorsports Park, and even the Nürburgring Nordschleife where Dodge hopes it will break the Viper’s own 7:22.1 lap time.
The driver for the tour has yet to be announced, but rumors are suggesting that Kumo Wittmer — the driver who set the production car lap record at Miller Motorsports Park with an ACR - will be one of the drivers sitting behind the wheel.
To say we’re excited about Chrysler’s plan of action would be an understatement, so stay tuned and hear all about the Dodge Viper SRT-10 ACR’s success - or lack thereof!
There are times in our lives when all we need is a quick timeout in order to get our stuff together and have the ability to move forward. The Dodge Viper is doing just that and when it makes its grand return, it may extend further than the general market. Chrysler is currently weighing its options to decide if the next generation Dodge Viper should return to the LeMans series.
The original Viper GTS-R was unveiled by Chrysler at the 1995 Pebble Beach Concours and managed to secure the number one position in many events, including the 1998, 1999, and 2000 24 Hours of Le Mans series, as well as many championships in the FIA GT Championship and a couple in the American LeMans series. With such a high rate of success, it seems crazy for Chrysler to not partake in these same events with its bigger and better Viper and we don’t think we’ll have to question their sanity for long. The company has already begun the process for building a race-spec version of the next generation Viper for the LeMans series. The new model will be prepared by Riley Technologies, which has produced the title-winning Grand-Am chassis for the past eight years. Once complete, the racing Viper will have to take on models like the Chevrolet Corvette C6.R, the BMW M3 GT2, and the Ferrari 458 GTC.
Chrysler’s motorsport manager Gary Johnson said: "We are investigating some things and seeing what is out there, although no decision has been made yet. We have to be very careful about what we do."
The Chrysler PT Cruiser is – or should we say, was – a car that you would never mistake for being a powerhouse. Retro-looking, sure. Snorting horsepower? Hardly.
The only way you could give the PT Cruiser some street rep is to take out its four-cylinder mechanical guts and place something akin to a Dodge Viper’s powerhouse V10 in it, which, fortunately, is exactly what someone did to their beloved, little hatch. The result is a vehicle that epitomizes substance over style. On the outside, the first thing you’ll notice is the fact that this PT Cruiser was turned into a pick-up, which is weird enough on its own considering the retro hatch’s unmistakable profile. So without the rear doors and a hatch that has since been replaced with a pick-up bed, the PT Cruiser’s new profile lends itself a curious look.
That is until you pop open the hood.
Where a 2.4-liter four-cylinder, naturally aspirated engine that produces 150 horsepower and 165 lb-ft of torque once resided is now an old 8.0-liter V10 engine that produces 500 horsepower to go with the Viper’s six-speed transmission, rear suspension, and steering rack. The car is said to have been built some years back, but given it’s uniqueness and downright peculiarity – not to mention the insane power under its hood – it’s still something that will catch your attention.
Now is it enough to warrant a bid on eBay for more than the $13,100 price tag currently on display? We say absolutely only because something this weird with that much horsepower is bound to make anyone stand out in a crowd.
