In 1992, the legendary Shelby Cobra got a spiritual successor in the form of the Dodge Viper RT/10. The 1990s analog sports car quickly became a worthy competitor to the likes of Ferrari and Lamborghini, but 10 years later it was due to be replaced by what is known as the least-desirable Viper of all – the third generation. With that said, there’s a pristine, 2002 example of the American legend finished in the most appropriate for an RT/10 color – Viper Red. The venomous snake is currently listed on Garagekeptmotors.com and all things considered, it represents a good value for money (for now). More importantly, it is the last of its kind.

If you are a Viper guru, you would know that, among other things, 2002 was the last year of the second-generation Dodge Viper. The car with internal designation SR2 is, essentially, a more usable version of the original Viper RT/10, internally dubbed SR1. The second generation is also the only one that does not have the side-exhausts tips. The pipes are still routed through the door sills, but they now exit in the back. The third generation went back to the iconic side pipes.

Some enthusiasts would point out that generation two Vipers after 1999 do not come with forged pistons and the lumpy 780 camshaft. That said, the 8.0-liter, pushrod, 90-degree V-10 is still rated at 450 horsepower although dyno tests have shown numbers of around 420 wheel-horsepower, which comes up to roughly 488 crankshaft-horsepower on these late-second generations. Torque, meanwhile is around 490 pound-feet (664 Nm), although some suggest it’s between 500 and 510 pound-feet (678 Nm). The more important thing is that you get most of that at 2,000 RPM.

A Tremec six-speed manual is (as it should be in a Viper) the only way to send power to the massive rear wheels, which measure 335/35 R17. Being a 2002 model, it also means that the example here has ABS – an option introduced to the Viper in 2001. Traction control wouldn’t be standard until 2010. The car is advertised as completely stock, which should mean it has the stock, 3.07 rear gears. Get it right, and 0 to 60 mph (97 km/h) should happen in around 4.0 seconds, which in 2002 was comparable to a Porsche 911 Turbo and a Lamborghini Diablo.

We cannot go without mentioning the Viper Red exterior finish over a black interior. According it is a Texas car and, so far, has done 37,563 miles (60,451 km). The asking price is $58,500, which sadly, isn't like the sub-$40,000 prices from a few years ago. Still, if analog sports cars and zero safety are your forte (which, in this case, I completely understand), and if you want an appreciating American classic that's also the last of its kind, feel free to check out the listing.