1992 DODGE VIPER RT/10 ROADSTER 1ST YEAR PRODUCTION #50 NO RESERVE AUCTION

Description

The first prototype was tested in January 1989. It debuted in 1991 with twopre-production modelsas thepace carfor theIndianapolis 500when Dodge was forced to substitute it in place of the Japanese-builtDodge Stealthbecause of complaints from theUnited Auto Workers, and went on sale in January 1992 as theRT/10 Roadster.

The centerpiece of the car was its engine. TheLamborghiniCompany, then owned by Chrysler Corporation, designed theV10for the Viper by recasting the block and heads in an aluminumalloy, and was based on the Chrysler LA V8 engine. A major contributor to the Viper since the beginning was Dick Winkles, the chief power engineer, who had spent time in Italy.

The engine weighs 711lb (323kg) and produces 400bhp (300kW) at 4600rpm and 465lb·ft (630N·m) at 3600rpm, and thanks to the long-gearing allowed by the engine, provides fuel economy at aUnited States Environmental Protection Agency-rated 12mpg-US(20L/100km; 14mpg-imp) city and 20mpg-US(12L/100km; 24mpg-imp) highway.[6]The body is a tubularsteelframe with resintransfer molding(RTM)fiberglasspanels. It has a curb weight of 3,284lb (1,490kg) and lacks modern driver aids such astraction controlandanti-lock brakes. It completes a quarter mile (402 m) in 12.6 seconds and has a maximum speed of over 150mph (240km/h). Its large tires allow the car to average close to one lateralgin corners, placing it among the elite cars of its day. However, the car proves tricky to drive at high speeds, particularly for the unskilled.