Final Edition (hot off the press)

GTS Jeff

Enthusiast
Joined
Oct 2, 2000
Posts
193
Reaction score
0
Location
The Motor City
2002 GTS Final Edition


Auburn Hills, Mich., Feb 6, 2002 - Dodge today announced that it will produce a special GTS Final Edition model to commemorate the last 2002 Viper Coupes to roll off the line later this year at DaimlerChrysler's Conner Avenue Assembly Plant.

The coupes, which will represent the last 360 cars built on the 2002 Dodge Viper platform, will be the first production Vipers to wear a Viper red with dual stone white striped paint scheme. The white over red theme was the same one that carried the Viper GTS-R/T race car to motorsports acclaim with an outright win at the 2000 Daytona 24-hour sports car racing event and consecutive American Le Mans Series manufacturers championships.

The Dodge Viper GTS Final Edition is expected to hold special appeal to sports car enthusiasts and Viper collectors as a landmark in the product's history. The car is making its public debut this week at the Chicago Auto Show.

"This is the high water mark for the Viper Coupe," said Jim Julow, Vice President - Dodge Global Brand Center. "The GTS Final Edition, the last of the production Viper coupes, is a response to loyal owners who have asked us to do something special to close this

chapter of the Viper's history. Our other limited-availability models, such as the GT2 Championship Edition, have been resounding successes among enthusiasts looking for a piece of American sports car history."

In addition to the special paint striping, a number of other details distinguish the GTS Final Edition. Inside, red-stitched, black leather steering wheel and shift knob are unique to the model, with a sequentially numbered dash plaque (e.g. No. 1 of 360) recognizing each individual car from the series.

Customers may order the Final Edition model with or without the optional American Club Racer (ACR) performance package.

Production will begin in May and run until the start of 2003 Dodge Viper SRT-10 production later this summer. Next year's Viper SRT-10 will be available exclusively in convertible form. Dodge recently offered owners of current model Vipers first chance at placing orders for the new SRT-10, and the initial year of production sold out immediately.

Dodge Dealers will begin taking orders for the Viper GTS Final Edition in mid-April, 2002.
 

Jeff Torrey

Enthusiast
Joined
Jul 15, 2001
Posts
2,020
Reaction score
5
Location
Plaistow, NH USA
To bad they did not decide to put the new SRT10 engine in these last Gen 2 GTS cars. But I understand that the engine would not fit.
 

Snakester

Enthusiast
Joined
Dec 4, 2001
Posts
1,775
Reaction score
0
Location
Morgan Hill
I think that red with white stripes is a striking combo.

I think that it would have been cool to have used the special candy red paint of the last 350 Chrysler Prowlers, with white stripes, but I guess that they don't want to upstage the '03 SRT.

-Dean.
 

Mike Brunton

Enthusiast
Joined
Oct 3, 2000
Posts
3,047
Reaction score
0
Location
N. Andover, MA
MarkO,

That's caveman talk!...

"Ugh... Gork say new Viper make him go WEEEEEEEEEEEEE!"

"Mark O say new Viper not make up for bad teeth like old Viper do"

hehe
 

Bill Pemberton Woodhouse

VCA Member
Supporting Vendor
Joined
Jul 25, 2000
Posts
5,212
Reaction score
6
Location
Blair,Nebraska,USA
Way to go PVO !!! I think all of us Viper Owners are pumped at how much the new performance arm is listening to what we would like. I applaud their efforts and am excited about all the new vehicles coming down the pike from them.

Tbanks !!!
 

RonC

Enthusiast
Joined
Jan 23, 2001
Posts
201
Reaction score
0
Location
Tucson Arizona
Oh great... If my wife gets wind of this, I am sunk! She keeps buggin' me for a red viper with white stripes... You see if I were to buy this one, I would never see the darn thing, she would be driving it. sigh..

Ron
 

Mike Brunton

Enthusiast
Joined
Oct 3, 2000
Posts
3,047
Reaction score
0
Location
N. Andover, MA
MarkO,

Was your last post directed at me???
confused.gif
 

DEVILDOG

VCA Member North TX
Joined
Jan 23, 2002
Posts
2,444
Reaction score
0
Location
VENOMVILLE, TEXAS, USA
IMHO a red car with white stripes looks like a candy cane. Stripes should be black! Steve, before you remind me that the Lemans Oreca Vipers were red with white stripes...I know that... just like I knew where Bob Lutz was. Sarcasm again. I wonder what those stripes, stitching, and plaque will cost...$$$$
redface.gif
I would rather have more HP to commemorate a Lemans winning race car! Evidently, don't even get the +10 HP from the smooth tubes/K&Ns on the GT2.
frown.gif
 

Jason Heffner

Enthusiast
Joined
Dec 29, 2000
Posts
382
Reaction score
0
Location
Sarasota, Florida
It gives me goosebumps just thinking about it. I am very sad to say that I probably can't afford one. It also saddens me to see the end of an era. The GTS coupes are the most beautiful cars made in America today.
 

Viperrick

Enthusiast
Joined
Oct 8, 2000
Posts
469
Reaction score
0
Location
Illinois, USA
J McG you are correct that there is no shortage of GTS' in red w/ white stripes roaming the streets (or calendar)but, the differance is that these will have come from the factory in this scheme. The ones you speak of are modified by owner and thus will never be considered original. To some, that means that CHEAPER to buy, because it's not original. That's the differance.
 

Members online

Forum statistics

Threads
153,663
Posts
1,685,351
Members
18,254
Latest member
Puntacanaviper
Top