1999 Dodge Viper

Description

The second-generation SR II Viper refined the brutal, 'hang on for dear life' nature of the first iteration and tapped into desires we'd all but forgotten we had. Big horsepower, a removable hardtop roof, and creature comforts actually befitting a sports car, it was the modern embodiment of the original Cobra. This 1999 Dodge Viper, like many of its kind, has been cherished since new and remains a monument to an era when Chrysler reinvented itself on the back of the snake. With only 14,779 actual miles on the clock, a powerful 8.0L V10 humming underneath that big clamshell, and a six-speed manual gearbox managing the shifts, it's one of the cleanest, best-preserved Vipers on the market today.

There's probably nobody on the road who doesn't recognize this nasty black Viper as something remarkable. The swoopy body was rendered in various plastics, not aluminum like the Cobra, but the resemblance is definitely there. Perhaps there are only so many ways to clothe a giant engine and a minimalist chassis, which in this generation was actually 60 pounds lighter thanks to several aluminum pieces replacing the old steel from the previous SR I. Anyway, the long hood, short deck look totally works here and has been washed and waxed so carefully throughout its life that it still has a showroom shine. Sure, it's been driven and enjoyed with a giant, toothy grin on the face of all who dared get behind the wheel, but with only 14,779 miles on the clock it's in excellent shape, and there is no evidence of abuse or track use anywhere on the car. Like any black car, a couple light imperfections can be seen from car washes and the like, but we're talking really minor stuff that could easily be buffed back into a great shine. Even things like the chin spoiler and rocker panels remain in good order with no road rash, and if this car has ever seen rain, I'd be shocked. Black paint is always hard to maintain, but this one shines up beautifully and really shows off the clean lines of the early Viper with a minimum of styling add-ons and no stripes. It's just brutal.

Inside, the minimalist approach paid serious dividends with a pair of deeply bolstered buckets and a solid list of amenities. By 1999 you could actually get options in you Viper, including A/C, power windows/locks/mirrors, keyless entry and alarm, tilt wheel, and dual airbags – making the SR II the sensible generation to own. Other than that, there aren't a ton of frills, because if it didn't make the car go faster, it was not available. The bucket seats were wrapped in custom diamond-patterned, tan leather hides within the last year and provide a super-cool, updated look that's shared with the exotics of today, but if you're a purist at heart the original black leather seat covers can also be included with the sale. The wide center console straddles the 6-speed manual transmission, and all the white-faced instruments are all individually nestled into their own round openings in the dash. The original stereo was a 1999-spec Alpine unit that's become a little dated, so it's been upgraded to an Alpine AM/FM/CD/AUX unit that sounds worlds better thanks to two amplifiers and an array of thundering speakers stashed inside, and it can be heard even over the sound of the throaty exhaust. Chrysler listened to complaints from Viper fans about the somewhat cheesy nature of the first generations cockpits (many bemoaned the fact that interior of the original Viper shared WAY too many parts with that of a Chrysler mini-van), and they transformed the interiors to get them in line with sports cars of the day. The results speak for themselves inside this this super-clean and well-maintained '99, where even the trunk is beautifully outfitted with an original Viper mat.

The Viper's whole reason for existing in the first place was to showcase Chrysler's new V10 truck engine. Never mind that the all-aluminum engine in the Viper didn't share even one component with the truck lump and that the work was farmed out to Lamborghini instead. For 1999, that incredibly powerful V10 motor benefited even further from a revised camshaft and redesigned exhaust manifolds (finally ditching the previous cast iron components), resulting in a power increase to 450 horses that ushered in blistering off-the-line responsiveness and speedometer-breaking top speeds. The torque monster catapults the roadster forward at any speed, in any gear, and with the addition of dual airbags and better creature comforts inside, the driver isn't terrified pushing this car to its limits. Under the big clamshell hood, the bright red intake manifold is a work of art all by itself, and the spotless engine bay is more proof of a dedicated and conscientious owner. The chassis looks like a fabricated piece, which it pretty much was, but it came built for combat with an A-arm suspension, power rack-and-pinion steering, and massive power disc brakes at all four corners. The mechanicals are virtually bulletproof and have demonstrated over the years that Chrysler over-engineered their halo car because they knew nobody would be taking it easy with the loud pedal. Finishing the look, this one wears flashy 18-inch chrome wheels and sticky 275/35/18 front and 335/30/18 rear Continental performance radials, which were as big as tires got in 1999.

The Viper is still the king of the hill, and even after 23 years, this one will still break hearts. With lots of recent maintenance performed, this dialed-in, ultra-low mile Viper is a bonafide collector's piece that will only increase in value while it's being enjoyed. Doesn't that sound like fun? Call today!