Dodge Viper GTS, 1997
Dodge Viper II
Dodge Viper II•
•11 views
Chassis No.: 1B3ER69E0VV301280
Auction: Monterey 2022
Auction date: August 20, 2022
Lot No.: S23
$80,000 | High bid
- Exterior: Viper Red
- Interior: Black
- Odometer reads 5,848 miles
- 8.0L/500 HP aluminum 20-valve V-10 engine
- 6-speed manual transmission
- Viper Red exterior
- Black leather interior
- Bucket seats
- Air conditioning
- Adjustable leather wrapped steering wheel
- Power windows and locks
- 200-watt amplifier
- Adjustable pedals
- Remote keyless entry
- Adjustable gas shocks
- Sport tuned suspension
- Power steering
- Limited slip differential with 3.07:1 gears
- Polished 18-inch alloy wheels
- Michelin tires
The car that shocked even the diehard testers at MotorTrend, the new 1997 Dodge Viper GTS coupe offered a fresh take on what had previously been an exciting but almost nominal supercar, the RT/10. The GTS had arrived late in the 1996 model season, and this example from the following year presently has an odometer reading of 5,848 miles. In a vehicle that was only 68 pounds heavier than the Porsche 911 Turbo, the heart of the matter was under the hood: the 500 HP, 8.0L (487 CI) V-10 engine, a venomously painted, aluminum-tinged powerplant that was impressive in one’s eyes and awesome under one’s foot.
MotorTrend’s writer stated it had “immediate, brutal—almost terrifying—throttle response,” and deft control of the throttle, steering wheel and 6-speed manual transmission handle was called for to keep this snake charmed. Even beneath, the GTS was considered an upgrade from the standard roadster RT/10, and underneath are adjustable gas shocks, the sports tuned suspension, 4-wheel disc brakes with large calipers, power steering and a limited-slip differential with top-end capable 3.07:1 gearing. The body is covered in Viper Red without any added graphics and little exterior notation of the GTS model package. The letters appear in raised relief along with the Viper name on the body panels.
Open the door and the first thing noted is the black leather interior with bucket seats, a console with shifter and brake handle, air conditioning, a stereo with 200-watt amplifier, the adjustable leather-wrapped steering wheel, power windows and locks, and adjustable pedals. Remote keyless entry was also part of this GTS packaging. Beyond a couple of icon emblems, the car’s only true brightwork are the polished 18-inch alloy wheels, which wear Michelin blackwall radial tires. As a true high-performance supercar, the Viper GTS has stood the test of time during the past quarter-century. Here is one that offers an excellent opportunity at low-mileage ownership.
