19 Years Ago Today

[George Farris]

Yep .. got my first Viper 2/24/1994.

It was a late 1993 .... #796.

Bought it at Raymond Dodge just outside of Philly ... under sticker!!!!

The deal took less than 20 minutes ... figuring out the top took about an hour!!

The drive back to Northern Virginia will never be forgotten. People went absolutely NUTS!!!!!

There were not that many Vipers on the road back then and you can just imagine the reaction it got on the New Jersey Turnpike, through Baltimore, DC and back home. It was also a very cloudy day, in between two snow storms and the red color was so brilliant against that background ....

The big story was the top could blow off at speeds over 50MPH .. VERY scary thought, so the drive home was quite slow.

Later we all found out those tops blew off because they were attached properly.

Did my own test years later at Monument Valley, UT ... 155+mph ... top did not fail ...

Getting older now .. 50th HS reunion coming up. So next year will be 20 years of Vipers. Would not trade the experiences and most of the people for anything.

20 seems like a good number. Glad SRT will still be making some alternatives.

Will pick one and turn the Viper over to the younger bunch.

That is THE PLAN ...

 

[Y2K5SRT]

Congrats George! Saw you looking for Gen 4 related stuff, what are you driving now?

Remember those lunatics from the Jersey VCA at the 2008 Barrett-Jackson auction? They even got us up on stage with the #1 SRT8 Challenger that sold for $400K. As my DVR was finally biting the dust yesterday I did a couple lousy screen captures from the broadcast that was still on there five years later...

Here is to another fun-filled 20 years!

 

[Mopar Boy]

Wow! That's amazing! Congrats!

 

[93VIPERBOY]

Still have my early 93 and love it.

 

[George Farris]

Chris, Have a 2002 GTS ... local friend has two 2008 coupes.

I work on them for him and get to drive whenever - good deal.

Remember that Barrett-Jackson event well. Especially when one of the "Buyer's Assistants" wheeled around and pointed at me as the bidding was topping $200K.

I froze!!!!

 

[swexlin]

Yep .. got my first Viper 2/24/1994.

It was a late 1993 .... #796.

Bought it at Raymond Dodge just outside of Philly ... under sticker!!!!

The deal took less than 20 minutes ... figuring out the top took about an hour!!

The drive back to Northern Virginia will never be forgotten. People went absolutely NUTS!!!!!

There were not that many Vipers on the road back then and you can just imagine the reaction it got on the New Jersey Turnpike, through Baltimore, DC and back home. It was also a very cloudy day, in between two snow storms and the red color was so brilliant against that background ....

The big story was the top could blow off at speeds over 50MPH .. VERY scary thought, so the drive home was quite slow.

Later we all found out those tops blew off because they were attached properly.

Did my own test years later at Monument Valley, UT ... 155+mph ... top did not fail ...

Getting older now .. 50th HS reunion coming up. So next year will be 20 years of Vipers. Would not trade the experiences and most of the people for anything.

20 seems like a good number. Glad SRT will still be making some alternatives.

Will pick one and turn the Viper over to the younger bunch.

That is THE PLAN ...

Great story George! I live in West Chester, only a few miles from Raymond (now David) Dodge. He is still a large SRT dealer, and always has some nice cars on the lot. That winte of'94 was HORRIBLE with the ice storms...it's what prompted my to get my first 4wd vehicle - a 94 Wrangler. You're lucky you were able to drive it home.

 

[01sapphirebob]

Great story indeed indeed!!!

 

[Allan]

I guess I am still a newbie at only 6 years of being a Viper guy.........

 

[Matt M PA]

I got my first Viper...a "leftover" '96 GTS about this time in 1998. Hard to believe its been 15 years.

 

[swexlin]

I guess I am still a newbie at only 6 years of being a Viper guy.........

I'll be 3 years in April!

 

[SLViper]

18 Years ago we took delivery of a new 1995 Blk/Tan RT/10. Dealer delivered to our home on a roll back! 18 Years, 10 VOI (drove to em all) on our 4th and Best Viper so far and Still loving every minute of it!

 

[Gus Strakes]

I remember that car George, you had it when I bought my '96, and I'm working on 15 years, not far behind you. Memories of meeting you in Carlisle, then our trip to CAAP, and hanging out at Biff's house will always be with me. Here's hoping for another 15.

 

[Allan]

I'll be 3 years in April!

As long as you stay out of jail, it only gets more fun.

 

[George Farris]

I remember that car George, you had it when I bought my '96, and I'm working on 15 years, not far behind you. Memories of meeting you in Carlisle, then our trip to CAAP, and hanging out at Biff's house will always be with me. Here's hoping for another 15.

Gus, can't forget those events.

For another, how about our perfectly timed meeting at the Naval Academy football stadium for the first Crab Fest??

 

[Bonkers]

While twenty years of ownership is nothing to shake a stick
at, I am more impressed with those who buy a car (not
exclusively vipers either) and never let them go. That is
love. So my question is - who here still has their first Viper
and for how long? I celebrated 10 years on my GTS last
month and while I (literally) dream of someday buying back
my 2nd, it looks like me and my girl are STILL in for the long
haul!

 

[ViperSmith]

While twenty years of ownership is nothing to shake a stick
at, I am more impressed with those who buy a car (not
exclusively vipers either) and never let them go. That is
love. So my question is - who here still has their first Viper
and for how long? I celebrated 10 years on my GTS last
month and while I (literally) dream of someday buying back
my 2nd, it looks like me and my girl are STILL in for the long
haul!

My father in law had a Rolls in his 30's in London while he lived there.

He is now 70 and was able to trace it back to the states. Now owned by a collector - guy wouldn't part with it if he wanted it back.

My FIL has told all his friends I am getting a Viper - I am trying to convince him to get one himself!

 

[snakebitdave]

In 5 days I will have had my early '93 for 20 years. I have had the '96 for 17, the '98 for 15 and the '03 for 10 years. Yah, I tend to hang on to stuff. To get a 2013 one will have to go but the decision will be difficult as each has some significance.o

 

[JAY]

It's nice to see guys who are in for the Long Haul !!!

 

[VardaMan]

I have been in the Viper World since the begining. The 1991 Indy Pace Car Party with Dodge, our 20th Birthday Party for my 1992 Viper last fall and the 20th Anniversary of the delivery of my 1993 Viper yesterday(2/26). What a ride! I had a great relationship with the Team Viper guys with visits to the Plymouth Road shop and the New Mack Ave. Plant. It was very exciting to be a part of the early days for our beautiful Gen 1 Vipers. I am ready for another 20 years and I am still running at my Red Line!

 

[PeterMJ]

Neat. As long as you do not think old, you are not old.

Yep .. got my first Viper 2/24/1994.

It was a late 1993 .... #796.

Bought it at Raymond Dodge just outside of Philly ... under sticker!!!!

The deal took less than 20 minutes ... figuring out the top took about an hour!!

The drive back to Northern Virginia will never be forgotten. People went absolutely NUTS!!!!!

There were not that many Vipers on the road back then and you can just imagine the reaction it got on the New Jersey Turnpike, through Baltimore, DC and back home. It was also a very cloudy day, in between two snow storms and the red color was so brilliant against that background ....

The big story was the top could blow off at speeds over 50MPH .. VERY scary thought, so the drive home was quite slow.

Later we all found out those tops blew off because they were attached properly.

Did my own test years later at Monument Valley, UT ... 155+mph ... top did not fail ...

Getting older now .. 50th HS reunion coming up. So next year will be 20 years of Vipers. Would not trade the experiences and most of the people for anything.

20 seems like a good number. Glad SRT will still be making some alternatives.

Will pick one and turn the Viper over to the younger bunch.

That is THE PLAN ...

 

[GTS Dean]

I'm about 6 months away from 20 years of continuous Viper ownership. Black '93 #771 was my first. I once drove it to my parents' house with my oldest daughter while my wife and other kids followed in the 'burban. She said it was turning heads everywhere and reflected the world around it in its sinister gleaming black finish.

The Viper is a part of my soul and I will never be without one.