The Dodge Viper is
a V10-powered sports car manufactured by the Dodge division of
Chrysler Corporation. Production of the two seat supercar began at
New Mack Assembly in 1992 and moved to its current home at Conner
Avenue Assembly in October 1995. The car, as well as numerous
variations of it, have made countless appearances in TV shows,
videogames, movies, and music videos.
The Viper was conceived as a
historical take on the classic American muscle sports car. While
there are some who insist that the iconic AC Cobra was a source of
inspiration, the final version of the Viper was far too large and
heavy to seriously claim any direct lineage with the compact and
lightweight vehicle. Most saw claims to kinship with the Cobra as a
marketing exercise, although Carroll Shelby was involved in the
initial design of the Viper. Notably, the Viper took many design
cues from the Shelby Cobra Daytona.