I remember the '97 Vipers very well. Quite possibly my favourite model year after '96. The '97 carries sentimental value to me as well:
My first Viper brochure/catalog among other things:
I was 10 yrs old at the time in a wheelchair for a few months due to slipping on black ice, and permanently messing up my back. I was at a chiropractor and he'd tipped my folks off that the local ChryCo dealer had two '97 Vipers in their showroom. They were a matching pair B/W GTS and RT/10 We went to see the cars. The staff were super hip with us checking out the two cars. Manager came out with the keys to both, unlocking the two cars to let us see inside, and MIND BLOWN: let us sit in their GTS. The true shock came when the manager opened the door and had me fire up the GTS... "Just give'er a couple little revs. Okay, rev'er right up, and shut'er down." The first GTS I've ever seen in the flesh, was the first Viper I've ever heard.
Another rare '97 I saw a few years back: was a '97 red GTS. 1 of 7 with the gold 5 spoke rims. Never seen the red RT/10 with the complete gold package in person before. Partially due to the fact that there were only 3 built with that package.
To this day though its the RT/10 that I lust after...in B/W. Never seen another again. Congrats on the '97. Use it well.