As emissions rules grow tighter and buyers demand more from their cars, Dodge is laying to rest one of the brashest, boldest, roughest cars on the road. Production of the Viper will come to an end in 2017, but it won't be going gently into that good night, with five special editions designed to celebrate 25 years of V10-powered madness giving it a send-off.
With only the above image of four of the five 25th anniversary limited-edition models currently available, we've used photos of the cars that inspired all but one of the special editions below.
1:28 Edition ACR
Based on the production-spec ACR, the 1:28 Edition is designed to celebrate the car which achieved a production lap record around Laguna Seca at the hands of Randy Pobst.
Mechanically the special edition is standard, although the option boxes for carbon ceramic brakes and the extreme aero package have been ticked. Instead, you'll be able to tell the first limited-run Viper ACR apart by its black and red exterior finish and unique decals, red interior stitching and a car cover matching the exterior paint job.
No more than 28 examples will be built for 2017 in a nod to Pobst's 1:28.65 lap.
GTS-R Commemorative Edition ACR
Anyone who's ever drooled over a Viper will know exactly where the inspiration for this special edition has come from. Launched in 1998, the Viper GTS-R GT2 Championship Edition will be one of those cars that's instantly recognisable as a Viper.
As you might imagine, the modern Commemorative Edition draws heavily on the 1998 GTS-R for inspiration, which means the exterior will be finished in the same pearl white paint job with blue pearl stripes, while the Stryker emblem on the bonnet will be finished in red.
USA decals will also be included on the b-pillar, and the interior will be kitted out with red stitching, red seat belts and a uniquely numbered instrument panel.
Just 100 examples will be built.
VooDoo II Edition ACR
Dodge's third special edition Viper has a slightly shorter memory, drawing on the 2010 VooDoo Edition for inspiration. By now you've probably worked out the formula on these 2017 special editions: the VooDoo II will be finished in the same black paint job and metallic stripe as its 2010 namesake, while the interior will be reworked to include silver accent stitching and a uniquely numbered instrument panel.
As is the case on the previous two limited editions, carbon ceramic brakes and the extreme aero package will be fitted to all 21 examples.
Snakeskin Edition GTC
This is another special edition drawing on more recent inspiration in the form of the 2010 Snakeskin ACR. Unlike the aforementioned cars, the Snakeskin isn't based on the ACR, meaning it's got a smaller aerodynamics package, and the interior is finished in GT black. Just 25 examples will be built, although 31 examples of the original Snakeskin were made in 2010.
These four cars, along with another special edition to celebrate the best-performing Dodge dealerships in the country, will be produced for 2017. All are powered by the same 8.4-liter V10 as the standard cars, and no pricing details have been released.
Source: Fiat Chrysler USA
