After 15 years of being the original owner of a 1996 GTS Viper … Now I join VCA

[CRUIZER]

Just recently joined this fine group of men and women of the VCA. I first want to say hello to all the viper enthusiast's around the world. Guess I started reading more here in last year or so… Have really enjoyed reading in this forum... everything from custom mods, repair and technical support, group drives, statistics, values, hard to find parts, fancy garage’s ect ect … Then to top it off .. I see many have more than one viper in their stable !!! … However: my favorite ..and best of all .. is reading about the new owners driving their vipers home for the very first time… with their stories and pictures. Reminds me of the same feelings I had 15 years ago. Making me want a second viper right now !

My 1996 GTS Viper has been driven very little (Only 337 miles) and kept pure as it rolled from assembly the day she was born. Only exception is the battery was replaced. I posted few pictures in album of when I rolled it back into storage last time. As soon as I learn more about posting pics here .. Hope to get it back out soon and take some more pictures …. It’s not like you haven’t seen a 96 GTS before. But: thought it would be a great picture sitting next to one of the 50 matching blue and white Viper Club of America 2004 SRT-10 VCA Edition Ram‘s

Some of my thoughts and questions below … will post in the other section of forum later.

Being original owner of a 1996 GTS since new… have wondered if there are any variations.

I have been trying to find source for all the minor detail difference's variations between the 1996 and 1997 GTS viper’s.
I only know of a few things … I am sure there must be many small details. Looking for as much information as possible. US model, Canadian, over sea’s ect.
1. 1997 GTS Viper’s came in more colors.
2. The stripes do not go behind the rear license plate on 97‘s. (The best way I determine 96 from a 97)

Question on the wheels .. Think I read the wheels are cast or forged on some 97’s .. all 96s’s forged or cast ?

Are the camshafts the same ?

I have many more thoughts… However; I should post these and other questions in other section of forum.

Thank You all for reading my first post … and looking forward to making new friends hearing from many of you as I visit the forums here.

 

[BlknBlu]

Congrats and welcome to the VCA. Good to see an original owner.

Bruce

 

[DrTaco]

Congrats on joining and welcome, nothing beats a 96! As for your questions, private message "RevHeat" on this forum. He will send you a 59 or so long page Word document about the history of the 1996s. It's very well done. Let me know if you haven't heard from him and I'll send the most recent version of it that I have.

 

[Mopar Steve]

Welcome!

337 miles, sad.

 

[PDCjonny]

Welcome!

337 miles, sad.

Welcome Cruizer.
I'm very interested in the thought process in buying the car and putting it away for so many years.
Not trying to be a ****, but was it for the potential value someday down the road or are you a collector for your own enjoyment?

 

[v10enomous]

Welcome !

Don't feel compelled to explain why you put so few miles on your car. That's an owner's prerogative... You bought it so you can do as you please.

 

[CRUIZER]

Thank You Bruce for the first welcoming me. I am mostly looking foward to meeting many viper owners and making friends along with the wealth of info on this site.

Thank You "DrTaco" Mark The info is most welcome... will be fun to learn more details of variations of the 96 and 97 GTS's.
And Wow! Love all the mods on your GTS.

For those of you wondering why I have a pure stock low mileage 96 GTS ... All I will say is ... Back around 1971 or 1972, ... in my past done the comeplete opposite to my 69 Z28 Camaro .. I changed gears, headers, camshaft, custom paint, wheels tires (slicks) ... then next started trying to get weight out of the car... sold stock parts off the car to help pay for more mods... next was the tunnel ram dual carbs along with changing out heads... the list goes on and on. I drag raced the piss out of it. About the only things left stock was the body and cylinder block (still have this car in storage) I could tell you about many more of my cars I just went too far with too ... I was much younger then.

Don't get me wrong ... I still modify my cars for the most part... just not to the extreme. I am a car nut for sure ... It is so very hard to not just start modifying this viper. ... and worse not driving it!!! Every time I see a viper driving down the road ... I get that aching feeling for not enjoying the sound and feel of driving a viper. I Hope to someday get a second viper to drive and do mild mods ... and meet and go on a viper run .. ect. One last note ... I do not have the means to buy several vipers ... so if you ask why just one 1996 GTS is sitting not driven. Believe me... I have asked myself that same question more times than all the viper owners combined that have asked me.

 

[NI-KA]

Welcome and enjoy.

From someone who has a 1997 with more modifications and "repairs" than the wife is happy with.

 

[Torquemonster06]

Welcome to the VCA. I look forward to meeting you at one of our runs here in Oregon.

 

[CRUIZER]

Thank You Torquemonster ... Will be fun to meet many of the viper people from around our area this summer. Like your silver stripe on blue viper you have.

 

[RevHeat]

96GTS file sent to Cruizer and a few others per request.

 

[CRUIZER]

Thank You Chris ... This is a must read for other viper owners. Great facts... a few a little alarming. Maybe it's just me... but; I love this stuff .... I am really enjoying reading this information. Also want to thank Mark again for connecting us.

Steve

 

[Brent]

Thanks Chris!

Welcome CRUIZER! Amazing you've had the restraint to put so few miles on the car and that's cool. I put around 370 miles on my '96 the day I bought it and drove it home. When I think of it in that way for me it's like... dang!

 

[CRUIZER]

Brent

Thanks for the welcoming. I was so busy with work and family that the car was covered in back of storage building .. out of sight and out of mind... for years. It was'nt until I went back of shop and seen it sitting there... then joined vca to learn more ... opened up a renewed interest to drive one again. Now the weather here is starting to get sunny.... all the street rods motorcycles and viper now and then. The restraint is getting harder to contain as I read about all the other viper owners enjoying theirs. Then to make it worse when I heard the sound of DrTacos viper in another thread... Damn ... almost pushed me over the edge... LOL. I have had a few drag race cars. Nothing like the sound of a well built mean motor. Makes my heart pound. I have seen some beautiful vipers on this site... making drool. By the way Brent.. you have great looking viper! Now I need to go sell some of my toys...

 

[killerviper]

Brent

Thanks for the welcoming. I was so busy with work and family that the car was covered in back of storage building .. out of sight and out of mind... for years. It was'nt until I went back of shop and seen it sitting there... then joined vca to learn more ... opened up a renewed interest to drive one again. Now the weather here is starting to get sunny.... all the street rods motorcycles and viper now and then. The restraint is getting harder to contain as I read about all the other viper owners enjoying theirs. Then to make it worse when I heard the sound of DrTacos viper in another thread... Damn ... almost pushed me over the edge... LOL. I have had a few drag race cars. Nothing like the sound of a well built mean motor. Makes my heart pound. I have seen some beautiful vipers on this site... making drool. By the way Brent.. you have great looking viper! Now I need to go sell some of my toys...

Woah prolly the first time someone's ever said that in here lol "Wish I had a viper...Oh yeahhhh I DO have a viper, forgot about that one"

Congrats on joining! I'm guessing you have a stable of cars

 

[Mopar Boy]

First off welcome! Welcome officially to the Viper nation even though you have been here indirectly longer than most!

Cool beans on the low mileage! Beyond awesome! I totally get it. While many in this site are drive the snot out of their cars, other find enjoyment in having them sitting there in factory condition. I know many people that have Vipers still in MSO with 3 miles. Everyone enjoyed their cars differently. Heck, dad has a 300 mile 78 Chrysler 440 New Yorker. It is beyond mint. Has a few miles from a wedding on it but that's it. But he loves that car......

My compliments! Green with envy. Too cool. Enjoy how you like it!

Again welcome and have fun here! Great place to learn and hang out.

Robert

 

[CRUIZER]

Thanks killerviper and Mopar Boy

My car is also on it's original MSO document ... no factory updates or warrenty ... it is just as it came from factory.

Yes... great place to learn and hang out. I have enjoyed all the info I can soak up from all the threads on here... learning all the time. and meeting all of you ... Looking foward to the time I can cruise along with some of you sometime.... should be great fun.

Wow Robert ... sounds like your dad has all of us beat... a 1978 Chrysler with 300 miles.. not to mention used in his wedding .. very cool indeed.... then he certainly knows how hard at times it is to keep from driving it.

Thanks Again
Steve

 

[Stretch]

Welcome to the VCA!!!! Love those blue/white GTS's, they're my favorite.

You should come out to the Viper Owners Invitational (VOI-12) this September in Charlotte, NC! It will be a great way to meet other Viper nuts from all over the world.

 

[Mopar Boy]

Steve,

Did not want to leave you too green with envy.

It was not his wedding sadly. Was a friends wedding back many years ago.

 

[Brent]

CRUIZER, Thanks Man. I think if I was in your shoes and I had room in the stable I'd pick up another nice GTS with some mileage to drive and enjoy and leave this one as is.

 

[CRUIZER]

Stretch, Thank You for the compliment and invite to VOI-12. Would love to attend... just not in stars right now for me ... I have family and business commitments that I need to take care for now. If things change ... I will jump on plane and attend. Then I will be like a little kid looking through the window at a toy store.... wanting every toy.

Robert, The fact your father shared with a friend.... shows what kind of man he is. In mybook... that is worth just as much or more.

Brent, I have thought about that often. I find it hard to choose over all the variations of vipers... between improvements and colors. Then again... I am partial to the body style and color of the 96 GTS's. My best friend passed away last year ... In his collection of toys... is a 2004 SRT-10 VCA club ram. (1of50) and it would match my viper... then there is the same problem of sorts as I already have. It is sitting here in the same building with only 575 miles on it. I feel like I am back to square one.... or is it square 2. If you think it is hard to look at one car in the shop.... just imagine looking at 2. I really want another viper so I can enjoy and drive it.

Hope in the future I can meet many of you
Steve