Help with a little Viper history

[JonB]

Easy ones.......

Dodge produced NO Shelby Series Vipers. Dan Fitzgerald, of Fitzgerald Dodge (1-800-Viper-15) a long-time friend of Carroll Shelby, did a limited series "CS Edition" of the 1995 RT/10 in 1995. ALL were WHITE and often confused with 1996s. Special leather, wheel, and obvious badging. Glove Boxes signed by Carroll Shelby. Rear crescent spoiler. Exhaust mods. Vehicle debuted at VOI-2 in Monterey in 1995. Carrol drove it as pace car (arranged by me and Dan) in the Autoweek Rolling Concours at the historic race weekend. I had arranged for 25-30 Vipers to pace that 250+ car parade, and it made the COVER of the weekend edition of the Monterey paper on the biggest issue of the year. Dodge Marketing was pleased! The Speedvison Viper story a few weeks ago had a few seconds of footage.

As I recall, there were NOT the full 50 sold. Facts blur, and I dont know if Dan F ever confessed the true number. 37? Dan then had 25 more planned in 1997 with RED GTS and a (gaudy) gold package....about 6 (?) were sold? VOI-4 group photo has this car in 2nd row, center. [ I was parked next to him.]

[ CAREFUL: Dan also SOLD many many Shelby-Autographed glove box doors for about $125. Creative owners bought BARE glove box doors for $15 before VOI-1 and VOI-2 had Lutz, Gale, Castaing, and Shelby autograph em. I have a couple. ]

The pin-stamped "last 300 sidepipes" ended up being false, 'cause 2003 resurrects sidepipe Vipers. As I recall, The stamp is on the passenger side black metal splash pan, down low above the sidepipe cover.

 

[GR8_ASP]

If I remember correctly the shelby cars had a unique front fascia with the cross bows removed.

Regarding the last 300 marking it was pin stamped in the frame just behind the heater module up near the windshield surround. I do not see how that feature adds any value to the late 95's. The 95's were the best/most refined of the GenI cars with most of the bugs worked out with or without the pin stamp.

Ron

 

[Jay Herbert]

The "last three hundred" side pipe cars are pin stamped on the toe box, just below the passenger side windshield pillar. The factory did not keep records (that we have been able to find) of the VINS for these cars. We're gathering them one at a time!

Yes, the RT/10 Fitzgerald "Shelby Editions" did have the "Bulls-eye" removed from the front facia. 37 is the number that sticks in my head.

 

[Tom F&L GoR]

Curious - what are the differences between a '94 and '95 that makes the '95 better?

I'll start - the seat cushions have the handy net at the front edge. And the wheels are sparkly gray instead of flat gray. What else?

 

[John ACR]

The first viper that I ever drove was a 95 RT/10-CS which was blue with white stripes the ONLY one made in 95. I also had info that some other ones were made in 96. I thought about buying the one I drove, but it was a real basket case. The car was in Ventura, CA. Many thanks to Chuck Tator and Santa Monica Dodge for the information they were able to supply me. I did not walk away, I ran! I had called Fitzgerald and they faxed me a copy of the sales information about the car. 4 pt belts were added, the car had special badging, the fascia was different as noted earlier. There was also a special white wheel set with CS logo center caps. If I find the literature I will post more details.
I also have many pictures of the one I looked at in CA.