New viper may not become a classic, not enough swoopy curves

[Joel]

I read somewhere that as a general rule, only cars which have curvaceous curves become classics. I'm not sure that I'd agree entirely, but when a classic car comes to mind its usually pretty swoopy and doesn't have too many sharp edges and creases as these really start to date a shape, ie the countach, whereas the E-type is always a beauty. Does this put the current viper into instant classic status and rule out the new viper with its sharp angled side vents and nondescipt styling. Anyone like to disagree

. I'm glad I've got a classic, think I'll keep it in my attic !

 

[Lidquidsilver]

Viper will become classics they have style and power and the is alot of drooling on the streets evertime one drives by some of it's mine.

 

[garolittle]

I tend to agree with you Joel. It is hard to imagine that a '92 - '02 RT/10 or '96 - '02 GTS will not be very collectable 20 years from now. I think it is a good investment .... really, I believe many of the Gen I and II cars could appreciate dramatically at some point.

 

[Craig 201 MPH]

Then I guess that doesn't make the GTO a classic right? How about a 300 series chrysler of the 50's? The person that made this "definition" up is on crack, design alone does not designate it a classic car, seems to me that to obtain classic status it is how the car is perceived by the people who own and aspire to own them. The gen III not a classic? sure not now, but give the car a chance, whose driven one? I bet this car will do everything better than the current Viper (though I don't think it looks better) because it's supposed to. It's the "new and improved" and I welcome the change, they are all Vipers to me, and anything with that badge, to me, is a CLASSIC.

Craig

 

[Joel]

Craig, thanks for the reaction, your absolutely right that shape and design alone do not a classic make. A car will become a classic through its cultural perception, its publicity during its lifetime, the political feel at the time etc. But that crack taking philosopher did soothsay some truth. Glad you agree that the "old" viper looks better. Maybe the new one will grow on me, I'm quite sure it will perform better and thats gotta make it really good.

 

[genXgts]

have to agree Joel, the curve into classic thing is debatable, but the lack of passion in design in the GenIII compared to I and II is evident to even non-car people, I showed some shots to various people and no one had much positive on the new one in comparison to the old, hope that changes for all of our sake, through either time or some tinkering on dodges part.........
Ryan

 

[Paul Fischer]

When you first see the current GenII GTS you think "race car", and a beauty at that. When you first see the Gen III car you think "big sports car". I imagine we'll see performance/quality improvements in succeding generations regardless of the emasculated lines the car is subjected to. But which will be the classic? Look at what happened to Mustang. The new car is better built and easier to drive for sure but I don't see it ever achieving the status of an early Pony. Without the eye candy factor a marque's price over time will sour.

 

[Jay Herbert]

From a design standpoint the Viper still looks great and "original" after ten years. How many designs can hold up to ten years of production and still draw the looks a Viper does.... based on that, I say long term, the Gen I and Gen II cars will be classics.... Like I aspired to owning a Cobra when I was 20, todays 20 year olds seem to be aspiring to own Vipers.... a good sign.

This is going to sound a little silly, and may be considered a different topic. With the direction that many auto makers are heading (Hybrid power), I feel even stronger that our cars will for sure be classics.... boy I hope that the we can get gas for our Vipers though!

Honda is claiming they'll have a 50mpg, 400 HP Hybrid car out soon. This is going to be interesting... why?, because electric motors can deliver torque we only dream about right now. If fuel cells end up delivering the power for these motors, then we all better start praying that the fuel cells run on gas and not hydrogen or propane!

With that said, and if it occurs, big thumpin' V-10 monsters will be what people dream about when the cars they are driving are completely "silent". My dad just bought a Honda Insight, it is very "Eerie" when you pull up to a stop light, and it turns itself off (like a golf cart). The engine is so small you really do not even notice it is running.... when it is running. If all cars are like that in twenty years rest assured, Vipers will be collectible classics

 

[Joel]

In my opinion the GTS gen II is one of the most handsome and charismatic cars of current times, maybe not beautiful in the way of a Ferrari but very attractive in a can't get enough of it way . I just can't feel the same about the gen III. I'd be delighted to own one but maybe not enough to put it before a dozen or so other great cars. It just doesn't have that indefinable character, that charisma that the gen II has in abundance. I wanted a GTS from the first time I looked at and sat in Venom Lovers 97 GTS at Carlsbad in Oct '00