Finally, A Dodge Viper RT/10 You Can Afford

Photo: Facebook Marketplace

By any metric the first-generation Dodge Viper is an absolutely fantastic car. Fast, loud and ostentatious, it’s the perfect American vehicle. Unfortunately, everyone else knows this, so early Vipers are often ruinously expensive. Not always, though. Sometimes you come across a Viper like this one, where the seller out in Maine is asking just $12,000 for America’s favorite son. It just needs a little bit of work to get it shipshape, but it’ll be worth the work. Maybe.

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This Viper, as with many of its ilk, has seen better days. The rear end is cracked and missing tail lights, the paint looks rough, and overall body panel fitment seems even worse than factory. The Viper also sports a “rebuildable” title, which certainly goes to show how much rebuilding it’ll need.

The seller says a new rear tub is included, but makes no mention of the tail lights, rear body panels, or also-absent front bumper. At full asking price, this would be a travesty, but this Viper is so cheap. It’s worth a shot at rebuilding it, at least.

Or, for that money, go wild. Take the car, strip off the remaining body panels, and run it around as a Viper go kart superleggera. Imagine how good that engine would sound without any sound deadening at all. C’mon, you want to try it.