Rare car to be crushed. :(
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Seems like they should be allowed to sell it (perhaps to Jay Leno, who the article mentions as having been interested in it). $250,000 would go a long way toward purchasing other interesting cars to lure students to the program.
Seems crazy it can't end up as somebodies track toy at least. I was lucky enough to drive one and I won't forget it anytime soon!
I can't really imagine the legal path that would lead back to Chrysler if someone did something dumb with it, but I guess some lawyer on retainer needed some hours...
I can't really imagine the legal path that would lead back to Chrysler if someone did something dumb with it, but I guess some lawyer on retainer needed some hours...
That’s a sad article. It is a shame to destroy a vehicle that is still a fierce and modern super-car over twenty years after it's release.
However, I find the college’s uproar ironic since the article indicates the brought this decision upon themselves. Seems to me if they where that important to the institution to which they where donated that institution would have taken steps to keep two other similar cars form “getting loose and into wrecks”.
However, I find the college’s uproar ironic since the article indicates the brought this decision upon themselves. Seems to me if they where that important to the institution to which they where donated that institution would have taken steps to keep two other similar cars form “getting loose and into wrecks”.
How did they get it to begin with? What a waste!
It's not street legal, and legitimate owners of Vipers with VINs will have diminished value if this one is allowed to be licensed.
If one buys a print that's number 237 out of 500, and then discovers there were really 520, they'd feel a little ripped off.
Not to mention the CAFE snafus etc of revising a motor company's production after-the-fact. Having a donated-loaned $80k car in their hands for 20 years was nice enough.
Didn't Shelby "find" some Cobra chassis way later and (try to) sell them?
These cars were pre-production prototypes and it's a good thing they weren't sold to the public, lest they be unreliable or unsafe and tarnish what was going to be a "halo car". Saturn had some engine block porosity issues so they turned lemons into lemonade by making "cutaway" cars for the dealer sales floor.
If one buys a print that's number 237 out of 500, and then discovers there were really 520, they'd feel a little ripped off.
Not to mention the CAFE snafus etc of revising a motor company's production after-the-fact. Having a donated-loaned $80k car in their hands for 20 years was nice enough.
Didn't Shelby "find" some Cobra chassis way later and (try to) sell them?
These cars were pre-production prototypes and it's a good thing they weren't sold to the public, lest they be unreliable or unsafe and tarnish what was going to be a "halo car". Saturn had some engine block porosity issues so they turned lemons into lemonade by making "cutaway" cars for the dealer sales floor.
Chrysler should buy it if they want it crushed. Or donate to school and take possession of viper,they could put in a museum. Corvette has a museum, underground! But seriously save for car buffs to see for future.
From the article, it was donated to the school's automotive program, and the contract says that Chrysler can demand destruction....which they are doing since two other vehicles from the school's program were taken out on the streets and involved in accidents.
Too bad a couple of troublesome students wrecked it for all.
I agree that Mr. Leno should be allowed to purchase it...but that's up to the Chrysler corporate offices....
Too bad a couple of troublesome students wrecked it for all.
I agree that Mr. Leno should be allowed to purchase it...but that's up to the Chrysler corporate offices....
Too bad it cant at least be parted out.
dont for get chrysler all so crushed 90% of the 50-55 turbine cars. i remember seeing one in person. the chrysler rep had to keep saying over and over and over there is NO list to buy one.
opps i did it again i AM getting old sorry double post
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Originally Posted By: mrsilv04
That car means nothing to Chrysler. Just another one of millions...
One of millions of pre-production, fourth off the line, first generation Vipers?
That car means nothing to Chrysler. Just another one of millions...
One of millions of pre-production, fourth off the line, first generation Vipers?
Originally Posted By: eljefino
It's not street legal, and legitimate owners of Vipers with VINs will have diminished value if this one is allowed to be licensed.
If one buys a print that's number 237 out of 500, and then discovers there were really 520, they'd feel a little ripped off.
Not to mention the CAFE snafus etc of revising a motor company's production after-the-fact. Having a donated-loaned $80k car in their hands for 20 years was nice enough.
Didn't Shelby "find" some Cobra chassis way later and (try to) sell them?
These cars were pre-production prototypes and it's a good thing they weren't sold to the public, lest they be unreliable or unsafe and tarnish what was going to be a "halo car". Saturn had some engine block porosity issues so they turned lemons into lemonade by making "cutaway" cars for the dealer sales floor.
I don't think a pre-production car would be labeled 520 of 500. As a pre-production car, I don't think it would even be numbered, kind of like an artist's pre-painting sketches or pre-sculpture miniature. And I'm willing to bet that Viper owners understand that Chrysler made pre-production models and didn't promptly load them up with TNT and blow them away. It's not even in the same realm as a production Viper, even if it's just because it doesn't have emissions controls and a speed limiter. The fact that it's not street legal makes it that much more special and collectible, not less.
It's not street legal, and legitimate owners of Vipers with VINs will have diminished value if this one is allowed to be licensed.
If one buys a print that's number 237 out of 500, and then discovers there were really 520, they'd feel a little ripped off.
Not to mention the CAFE snafus etc of revising a motor company's production after-the-fact. Having a donated-loaned $80k car in their hands for 20 years was nice enough.
Didn't Shelby "find" some Cobra chassis way later and (try to) sell them?
These cars were pre-production prototypes and it's a good thing they weren't sold to the public, lest they be unreliable or unsafe and tarnish what was going to be a "halo car". Saturn had some engine block porosity issues so they turned lemons into lemonade by making "cutaway" cars for the dealer sales floor.
I don't think a pre-production car would be labeled 520 of 500. As a pre-production car, I don't think it would even be numbered, kind of like an artist's pre-painting sketches or pre-sculpture miniature. And I'm willing to bet that Viper owners understand that Chrysler made pre-production models and didn't promptly load them up with TNT and blow them away. It's not even in the same realm as a production Viper, even if it's just because it doesn't have emissions controls and a speed limiter. The fact that it's not street legal makes it that much more special and collectible, not less.
While they have Chrysler on the phone maybe someone could mention the $ the taxpayer is still owed??
Seems like nothing is sacred to Fiat-Chrysler? I understand wanting to take it out of the hands of the students at the school, but it seems there would be many other ways to do that besides destroying it.
I get that it's normal for pre-production vehicles to be crushed, but this one has survived over two decades and is in nearly pristine condition. Plus, it's a pre-production super car that was a symbol of the company's "new" image in the 1990s.
There are plenty of museums and other places where it could be displayed and preserved without destroying a symbolic car that has an important place in automotive history. Putting it on display somewhere would keep it off the streets and keep it from being a liability.
I get that it's normal for pre-production vehicles to be crushed, but this one has survived over two decades and is in nearly pristine condition. Plus, it's a pre-production super car that was a symbol of the company's "new" image in the 1990s.
There are plenty of museums and other places where it could be displayed and preserved without destroying a symbolic car that has an important place in automotive history. Putting it on display somewhere would keep it off the streets and keep it from being a liability.
Originally Posted By: 01rangerxl
Seems like nothing is sacred to Fiat-Chrysler?
I read something recently where manufacturers will donate these vehicles to schools because they have issues or a "history". For instance, buy backs since it was a lemon, corporate vehicles that car magazines tested, corporate cars that the public can drive and flog it, corporate cars that were test mules, early production models etc. Plus it's all souped up and not emisions compliant. No way they donate a perfect car that could go in one of their museums. Plus they can write it off. Just another unit to them.
The remarks by one of the instructors that it's not another "donated" minivan shows the ambivalence of the management there. Which probably ticked them(corporate) off enough to yank some funding.
Seems like nothing is sacred to Fiat-Chrysler?
I read something recently where manufacturers will donate these vehicles to schools because they have issues or a "history". For instance, buy backs since it was a lemon, corporate vehicles that car magazines tested, corporate cars that the public can drive and flog it, corporate cars that were test mules, early production models etc. Plus it's all souped up and not emisions compliant. No way they donate a perfect car that could go in one of their museums. Plus they can write it off. Just another unit to them.
The remarks by one of the instructors that it's not another "donated" minivan shows the ambivalence of the management there. Which probably ticked them(corporate) off enough to yank some funding.
ls1mike
$50 Site Donor 2026
I just thought is was sad because it is wasteful and the Lemay car museum is a mere 30 to 40 minute drive north. Seems a shame to crush it.
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