Buy My Childhood Dream Car – A Dodge Viper
Still to do
Eight litres, ten cylinders and almost no electronic help, the Viper is the poster car that grew up to be a legend.
The adventure
Pull open the door, drop into a low seat with the pedals offset towards the middle of the car, and look out over that endless bonnet. Turn the key and the V10 barks into a lumpy, truck-like idle that sounds like nothing from Europe. Then press the throttle, and the whole car squats and surges forward on a tidal wave of torque.
The Viper was never subtle or refined, and that's the point. Early cars had no exterior door handles, no proper windows and no traction control, and the side-exit exhausts could scorch the legs of careless passengers. Later generations added a roof, more power and eventually some electronic safety nets, but they never lost the raw edge. Owning one means warming the oil, respecting the throttle in the wet and turning heads everywhere you go, because nobody mistakes a Viper for anything else.
Why it’s epic
- Production ran from 1992 to 2017, and every Viper used a V10 of 8.0 litres or more.
- Lamborghini, then owned by Chrysler, helped develop the original aluminium V10.
- The blue-and-white-striped GTS coupé of 1996 is the classic poster car.
- The final ACR set lap records at several US circuits in 2017, including Laguna Seca.
What it is
The Dodge Viper is an American sports car with a huge V10 engine.
How to do it
Look for a well-documented example from a specialist dealer and budget for insurance and running costs.
Top tip
Have a specialist inspect it before buying.
Need to know
- Vipers were built in left-hand drive only, so most UK cars are imports; check the import paperwork and whether it's been converted to UK specification.
- Insurance, tyres and fuel are expensive, and specialist servicing is a must.
- Prices for early and special-edition cars have been rising, so a specialist inspection before buying is essential.
Make it happen
Why it’s on my list
The Dodge Viper – very much a love it or hate it car, it’s very American, doesn’t corner well, but has a thumping 8 Litre Plus V10 engine sending it in a straight line very quickly.
I LOVED this car as a teenager, I had posters, models (which I still have), even a remote controlled one, they just look epic with that massive hood (or bonnet if you are from anywhere else in the world, but I thought I should use the correct term with it being an American car), giant engine and fantastic noise!
It was originally dreamed up in the late 1980’s and went into production in the early 1990’s. Since then many versions have been created but it has always retained the mighty V10. Unfortunately, production was stopped in 2017 by Chrysler so I will never be able to own one from new.
I had a chance to drive one in 2006, unfortunately it was not the best version as it had been used for many many track days, plus on the day I got to drive it, it was pouring with rain! This did not dampen my spirits or put me off this incredible car, in fact I think I like it because it not the perfect sports car, it is a beast that needs taming!
It would complement the Lamborghini on the bucket list perfectly in my ideal car garage!
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