2013 SRT Viper VIN #1 on SPEED TV 6-23

Once again proving the Viper is a very niche car and better be damn careful where its pricing point comes in.

Then they announce that the car "Will absolutely be Vin #1" in a way that made it sound like they were discussing how that would work about 30 seconds before the auction and they still weren't sure and the guy was looking around the room for someone to nod in agreement while there is a production ready looking car right in front of them. Absolute incompetence all the way around if you ask me.

72hemi said:

The first 2008 Challenger sold at Barrett Jackson for $400k and the first 2010 Camaro even got $350k. The difference was the Viper was auctioned off at Orange County and not Scottsdale. All the other first production cars that bring the real money go at Scottsdale.

Click to expand...

So you're saying if you really want a car and it's not sold at the preferred auction site, you pass up the opportunity? I don't think so.

Happy for the Charity that it did receive some cash. That had to be the lowest price for a charity auction of a VIN #1 vehicle. Still saying Gen 4 looks more appealing to my eye, but still would not sell my 98 GTS for one..

Can anyone post a video of the auction?

Albert Fatal from the SoCal ViperClub got this up close and personal video at the event.


More info and pictures at the socalviper.com site

They're lucky it went to charity or the bid would have been much lower.

Not a good day for Ralph and co. I have a bad feeling this car will out price the market with its polarizing looks. It seems about 50/50 like it/hate it. Not what one would expect for a halo car. Its a very tamed down car in my opinion. A lot of people were expecting more, not less, with regards to looks. After the build up commentary,the auction for this car was less than 2.5 minutes! Unbelievable!

As it turns out the Viper was the top seller of the auction.

The Vette, Mustang, Camaro, and challenger also all sold at the Scottsdale auction IIRC. That's is where this all went wrong, wrong auction.

Definitely a very weak auction. A serious lack of exceptional cars and the big buyers stayed home. Couple that with the epic fail on what was being sold vs what was on the stage and $300k is actually not all that bad.

It was kind of weird. Seemed like all they were shooting for was $300k and already knew who the Buyer was. IMO would have gone for more, if, that was the actual car you got (vin #1). the buyer now waits until November, December? For vin 1 and then vin #2 or 3 is bought for $125k???

Fun event to be a part of though, glad I didn't miss it.

Ron

Yep totally the wrong auction. If it had been Scottsdale would have hit $500k. Big mistake on SRTs part IMO.

One has to look at the fact that it was a lesser known Barrett-Jackson Auction , so to some degree the Viper received more press than it might has at Scottsdale. Either way it was a lower market , but it got more exposure out there for the new Snake. The proof is in the reaction, since we have already had calls from folks who saw it on Speed and are asking about it ( most are non Viper owners )

No mistake on the timing. The SRT guys explained that due to scheduling and timing, this was the only real choice for the auction. They understood that maybe the best financial outcome was not at this venue, but it was the only one that would work out due to the calendar.

This event formed many other duties, in addition to the auction. They wanted to get some exposure to the very important California market place. I understand that Viper was also being introduced at Jay Leno's garage the day before, and video was shot there also. SRT was presenting at in their centrally located tent, just at the entrance to the auction, and they wanted their crown jewel to be in the tent.

If you look at the bigger picture, I believe this was a huge success. The charity got a big check, SRT got some fantastic exposure, Marketing got a big boost, and the West Coast got their first look at the new snake up close and personal.

The SoCal club had a fantastic time, and we were thrilled to see the new Viper, hear it run, and watch it being driven around.

The SRT video team was doing professional interviews with the VCA membership and the SRT Team members were spending tons of time speaking with club members to get their reactions and input about the future development of the car.

I was amazed, when walking around the Viper Corral, just how much development went into the Gen III. I saw a stock silver 03 parked next to an 08 ACR and saw how the pretty tame looking Vert had been developed to the super agressive ACR. It helped make me understand that the on display 2013 is just the starting point for the next generation development of the Viper Heritage. I think the future is bright.

What you don't get from forum posts and pictures is the incredible feeling and electricity that energized this huge tent when the Viper rolled up on stage and the bidding started. As we slowly crept up, waiting our turn to take the stage, the crowd was pretty tame. But once we were under the lights and the bidding started, it got very loud and the excitment was incredible. People were snapping pictures and there was a definite energy that ignited the entire place.

Here are a few more pictures from the day.





Austin Hatcher Foundation


Mark and Beth with the Gen V

No offense to anyone here, but I just don't like red sports cars. I am sick of seeing the Viper only being shown in this color, however, there is something about it. It is drawing me in. What is happening!!???

I'm not much for red sports cars either, but after seeing that car, in that red, I may be changing. It is absolutely phenomenal in the sunlight.