Time to let this rare car go, 1st Mamba!

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Viper Matt

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Hi All,

Just to let you know I'm not new here but could not get my old account to work. Was Blue GTS Matt.

I have realized it's time to let this unique car go. This is the very first black Mamba!

Clean Tittle, 2003 Dodge Viper Black Roadster, FIRST Mamba Interior! V-10, 6SP, 15K Miles, Very clean! $43K

This car was owned by Ray Evernham, Nascar celebrity. Ray signed the inside of the glove box and have photos of this that go with the car. Back in 03' Dodge wanted to put Ray Evenrham into a Viper at the Detriot auto show. So Ray asked at the end of the show if they would pull out the show car Mamba interior and ship it to him if he bought one, well Dodge said Yes!

So this car comes with a extra interior as well. 2 door panels, center council, steering wheel, short shifter, glove box, emergency brake, Kick plate, all come with the car. The extra interior is really an extra bonus and only 2 ever made for this year! The two Mamba interiors that were made were only available for two Vipers at the Detroit /La Auto Show. Dodge was showing what was to come in the Viper.

This Viper gets attention wherever it goes and has won a few car shows/peoples choice awards.

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Bill Pemberton Woodhouse

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This story is likely wrong in various areas. The first is that I heard via the Grapevine that Ray was looking for a Viper in 2003 , and after some interesting detective work on our part we tracked him down and I happened to sell him a black SRT-10. He did not get the car from Dodge, nor did he have the first Mamba, which came about in 2004. We even sent down our Tech to work on his 1996 GTS. I should be able to verify this just by checking the Vin, as I never heard he acquired a second one, and this car was offered back to us , though we declined - I was told it was signed by Ray.

If this car's Vin ends in 305, this is the Viper we sold Ray back in January of 2003?
 
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Viper Matt

Viper Matt

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Hey Bill,

Very interesting.

I was told by the 2end owner he had gotten the car from Dodge? I have two Interiors for the car. One black and one Mamba both have been Signed by Ray. I do have photos of this with Ray in his garage to back it up.
 

Steve-Indy

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I don't think that anyone doubts that Mr.E. owned the car, but, that alone does not validate the "1st Mamba" claim.

Also, I see nothing in the most recent post that answers Bill's VIN question/statement...for better or for worse.

Regardless, it sounds like a cool car !! Good luck with the sale.
 

Bill Pemberton Woodhouse

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If the Vin ends in 305 it is the car we sent to Ray, and as noted the car did not come from Dodge if that is your Vin number. We even got a set of custom Forgeline rims for the car, though who knows if they went with the 03 SRT10?
 
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Viper Matt

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Sorry guys, I wasn’t very clear in my last post. Yes, that is the vin. We now know it did not come from Dodge. I have the original black interior in a box that came with the car but did not get extra wheels. Bill do you have any photos of it with wheels on? Any other info you can tell me about this car?

So would any of the Mamba interior pieces have a date code on them showing it’s out of a 2003 show car?
 

Steve-Indy

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Matt, thanks for posting the confirmation. I can easily see how the story (stories) got slightly confused over time and in the process of changing ownership.

Again, best of luck with the sale !!
 

Bill Pemberton Woodhouse

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Keep in mind , even if they have a date code , since that interior was done in 2004 ( black and white Mambas ) a model year often starts in the Fall of the prior year, it could have a date code of 2003. The car was not from Dodge, and we may have even sent him the interior pieces later ( will try and check with Mark Jorgensen), but it unfortunately is not the first Mamba, not a show car, but it is definitely the Viper owned by Ray Evernham, and that is a big plus to many I am sure ( especially Nascar fans, etc. ). Doubt Mark has pics with the Forgeline rims , and he may remember what we sent, but that was a long time ago so will try and jog his memory.
 
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Bill Pemberton Woodhouse

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Checked with Mark J. and he was not sure if the rims were for the 03 or the 1996 GTS Ray had. Inderstandable, as this was the first year Mark Jorgensen came to work for us. He also does not remember us selling Ray a red interior ,though we did do this for another famous client of ours , years later.
 
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Viper Matt

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All very interesting! Thank you for your help on this. I do NOT want to misrepresent this car, I’m not that guy. Still have to figure out this red interior. I’ll pull a panel and see if there is a date code to at least start in a direction. Do you know what a good one is to pull to have a look?

This Viper has been a fantastic car and a lot of fun to drive. I loved my 97’ GTS but this being a convertible has taken the drive experience to next level. :)

Thanks again all, the power of the internet hard at work here!
 

steve e

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Bill just a heads up Bob W said I was his favorite customer.:D
 

Bill Pemberton Woodhouse

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Great !! You do realize Bob has not been affiliated with the Stores for almost 10 years, right, ha?
He lives inTexas now, and folks have gotten to see his technical genius with the cool asp Hot Rod he built with a Snake motor. He still runs his legendary World Challenge Comp Coupe in some NASA Time Trials , and he still wheels that beast around a track quite quickly.

For those going to the Viper Rendezvous in June ( Hastings , Nebraska ) , rumor has it Bob W. will be giving a fun talk about the early racing days of the Viper, as well as info on the Blancpain GT World Challenge Series that he still has an interest in!
 

Mamba#001

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Actually, Mamba #001/200 resides in Canada, at Gill Stables; 2004 with original black paint.

Please let the SRT Technicians know that we found the rattle in the engine bay; it was just an “extra” coil cover that was sitting on the crankcase...

I will put up a picture of Mamba #001 in the next couple of days...

For the record, ALL Vipers are Beautiful


Best regards,
Mr. Gill
 

steve e

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Great !! You do realize Bob has not been affiliated with the Stores for almost 10 years, right, ha?
He lives inTexas now, and folks have gotten to see his technical genius with the cool asp Hot Rod he built with a Snake motor. He still runs his legendary World Challenge Comp Coupe in some NASA Time Trials , and he still wheels that beast around a track quite quickly.

For those going to the Viper Rendezvous in June ( Hastings , Nebraska ) , rumor has it Bob W. will be giving a fun talk about the early racing days of the Viper, as well as info on the Blancpain GT World Challenge Series that he still has an interest in!
Yes Bill I knew that, you probably forgot who I am, You sent me some cool stuff for my 99 GTS silver with blue stripes, which I bought from Bob and he shipped it out to me and a few other cars at different times, I kept in touch with you when you were under the weather, I was one of the first people to test out the HP ECU for the gen 2s , since I had a shop with a Dyno back when I had a shop in NJ I could give him feed back on the ECU, with the recommended mods needed to get the most from the ECU, remove Cats , Rockers, intake,ect Had great memories and lots of fun, I say it all the time the best Dealer on the planet by far is Woodhouse, all great people that work there, especially you, and boy time flies, seems like yesterday:)
 
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Bill Pemberton Woodhouse

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Boy do I agree that time flies ...................

It helped that Bob W and I were both Viper sickos ourselves , and then we hired old friend Mark Jorgensen who got one himself and totally understood the Snake sickness. He is the GM of our new Bentley Store , now.
 

Bill Pemberton Woodhouse

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Thanks, and I need to change over my title , and boy is it a long one now, ha,ha.

Concierge Coordinator for Luxury and Performance Vehicles
Woodhouse Auto Family

We have 19 Stores so I can help friends and old customers at any of them, though of course I am partial to the FCA brands -- we have two Chrysler, Dodge , Jeep, and Ram Stores , along with an Alfa Romeo and Maserati Dealership.
 

steve e

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Well now that I am retired and spend lots of time sitting on one of the branches in a big tree in my back yard, I am known to all as the Branch Manager.
 
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Viper Matt

Viper Matt

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Haha, everything I have seems to be for sale. However, she is the best thing that has happened to me and is priceless!
 
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