The Chevrolet Corvette and Dodge Viper have got to be two of the most important American performance cars of all time. The Corvette has always been seen as a sports car as opposed to the muscle cars America is known for while the Dodge Viper was the first exotic sports car. Both models are desirable in any generation with older vehicles appreciating and becoming collector-grade cars. But what do you do when you want not one, but both of these cars, and you can’t afford them? Well, you build your very own. Which is exactly what's happened here.
A Viper Replica has popped up for sale in Germany. American cars are not readily available in Europe and have to be imported at a premium which would make them more expensive than they already are. This is not the first Viper replica but this one has taken a bit of a different route in achieving its goal. It is based on a Chevrolet Corvette like some replicas but some design cues are unique to this car.
The Donor Car Is A 1995 C4 Chevrolet Corvette
The C4 Corvette was produced between 1984-1996 and was the basis for this Viper conversion. This car is based on a 1995 chassis which had an updated design from the early cars but that doesn’t matter because it doesn’t look anything like a Corvette anymore. But to be honest it doesn’t pull off the viper look very well either. It looks more like an impersonator than a replica and there are better replicas out there.
For starters, the design is a dead giveaway that it is not a viper if you know what you’re looking for. The bumpers are similar but the headlights do not even look OEM, although they have a similar shape. Aftermarket lights have been used in front and at the back, they are circular lights with black surrounds which no Viper has. The hood is convincing until you get to the front fenders where huge vents reside where the original car had a smooth curve upward merging with the mirrors.
This viper has glass on the windows which the originals never had, they made use of vinyl materials with a zip which didn’t look great when installed. Credit needs to be given for the roof, it looks better and cleaner than the Viper’s roof. Original Vipers didn’t have a roof but had a canvas top which didn’t do much when it rained. Later versions of the Viper did get an optional hardtop. The aftermarket wheels on this car do not look as good as the original Viper three-spoke wheels.
At the rear, you are not fooling anyone with those lights, bumpers, and quad exhaust. Step out of the viper carelessly and the side exhaust will leave a mark. The Viper had a stacked light design with brake lights on top and smaller lights for the reverse and turn signal lights. Adding a little flare is the spoiler which the R/T 10 did not have. This car makes a decent attempt from the front but falls apart at the rear.
The Interior Is Still A C4 Corvette
Being a ’95 model year, it has the updated interior of the Corvette. If you are familiar with this interior then it would feel like being inside the 'Vette. You have amenities like leather air conditioning, power windows, power steering, and central lock which the Viper didn’t need since it didn’t have glass windows. Later models of the Viper got air conditioning but it was available for the Corvette. Anyone would be more comfortable in this car than the Viper. One thing that stands out with this particular car is the matching silver interior with the exterior which may be a bit too much.
The Viper has a unique interior setup with the four circular dials in the middle and a simple dashboard setup. A manual shifter is present in the center console, there was no automatic option as all Vipers had a manual transmission. Interior features were scarce but you at least got a radio and had manual seat adjustments and no window controls since you did not have any windows.
It Does Not Pack A V-10 Under The Hood
The Viper had an 8.0 liter V-10 which produced 400 horsepower and 465 pound-feet of torque paired with a six-speed manual transmission. Here we have the original 5.7 liter LT1 V-8 with 300 horsepower and 340 pound-feet of torque sending power to the rear wheels via a four-speed automatic. It’s not as powerful as the Viper but it's plenty considering the Viper had a huge engine with two more cylinders. But the corvette's engine is also well known with replacement and modification parts easily available. Extra power and engine response can be gained with a few light modifications.
Unlike the Viper, the Corvette won’t immediately try to kill you if you make a mistake. It also won’t try to burn your legs if you’ve just finished having some fun. A lot of early Vipers were crashed since many owners had never had access to so much power at the time with no safety systems to keep them in check. Inexperienced drivers would simply floor the car, lose control, and crash, this made people see the Viper as a dangerous vehicle just like the Porsche Carrera GT.
The Corvette has traction control and anti-lock brakes which added a layer of safety the Viper didn’t have. Airbags were also present in the Corvette but the Viper does not have any, so you should always use your seatbelt. Since this replica is based on the updated C4 chassis, it would also handle better.
A Dodge Viper R/T 10 Costs $50,000
Dodge Vipers continue to appreciate value since they are no longer in production. If you want this all-American icon, you have to be ready to shell out $50,000 or more. Alternatively, you could get a C4 Corvette for an average price of around $20,000. Both cars are becoming collectible and may not remain at this price for long with the current craze for collector cars.
These vehicles have a loyal fan base which consists of mainly older guys who are purists. They were not in favor of the Corvette C8 since in did not have the classic layout they know and love. Just like the Porsche purists, they do not want their beloved cars being messed with or modified. This attempt to merge a Viper with a with Corvette would be frowned upon. To make matters worse, you wouldn't even be able to fool the Viper enthusiasts. because the details are all wrong. A decent attempt but most car enthusiasts would spot the changes immediately.
At the time of this writing, you could have this not-so-convincing replica for (€15,500) $16,600. It has 95,000 miles and is a later model which has the updated interior and drivetrain. It is a deal if you appreciate kit cars and the effort made on this car since there aren’t many out there. The other conversions were based on the C3 Corvette instead of the C4 and do a better job of showcasing the marriage of two American icons.