“Viper was a major part of my education in the automobile business. I worked at Chrysler in the ’80s and ’90s, and the Viper’s development – indeed, its whole story – was critical to Chrysler’s revitalization and comeback into credibility. The Viper program was done on a shoestring. It came to life as the result of four incredibly strong personalities agreeing on a single vision. It was a car no consumer research would ever support. It was a car one no one else would ever think of building. Yet, it became the flame that started the fire of belief in the next life of Chrysler.” Tom Kowaleski, Chrysler PR-manager.
People
Chrysler Chairman Robert Eaton gets some practice waving the green flag 5/24 in preperation for the Indianapolis 500. As Eaton drops the flag to start the race Chrysler President Robert Lutz will be driving the pace car, a Dodge Viper GTS Coupe. (Source: PRNEWSPHOTO)
The Dodge brand announces “Legends of Rock — Legends of Roll,” a summer promotion that puts Aerosmith and Dodge vehicles together on movie screens nation-wide and awards 500 Aerosmith fans a private concert. (Source: jbisanz)
Interesting pre-production version of Viper. It looks similar to VM-02 concept, but has already another (as in production) head and fog lights, wheels, front bumper and mirrors. Only one photo of this known. But it is not real pace car of 1991 Indy 500.
Viper Defender: Dorian Harewood, James McCaffrey and Joe Nipote pose with a 1994 Viper, a “revolutionary” sports car that transformed from cruiser to steel-armored pursuit vehicle in the 1990s TV show, Viper. Credit: theglobeandmail.com
Designer Tom Gale in Dodge Viper RT/10
Chrysler president Bob Lutz driving Viper GTS pace car, which modification was made exclusively for Indianapolis 500, 1996.
Luigi Colani and his Viper-based Colani Mamba, 1999
Lee Iacocca and the first Viper Prototype, 1989