Quick, what has 615HP, weighs 3325 pounds, cost some $750,000 to build, does 0-60 in about 3.5 seconds, and could be in
YOUR garage for as little as $100? Why the 2006 ASC Diamondback Viper Coupe of course!
This car made its spectacular debut at the 2006 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. The press release tells the tale:
The American company ASC (American Specialty Cars) showed its creative expertise at the 2006 North American International Auto Show by unveiling a supercar made even more super by the addition of a mostly carbon-fiber body. A 'snake' with an all-new skin, the ASC Viper Diamondback is super-light and super-fast. It's fitting that ASC, which helped the Chrysler Group bring the new Dodge Viper SRT10 coupe to life, would, with the aid of McLaren Performance Technologies, show how the Viper coupe might be taken to an all-new level of 'extreme.'
The 615 bhp Viper Diamondback features a carbon fiber roof, deck lid, rockers, fascia inserts, body trim and a massive OmniCarbon hood that shows off ten unique trumpeted air intakes, with individual port throttles, peeking through - a McLaren Performance Technologies feature reminiscent of McLaren Can-Am engines of the past.
The hood also shows off compression-molded carbon fiber. It's displayed beautifully, with a broad, clearcoated racing stripe down the Arctic White-painted expanse, subtly outlined by 'Viper Blue' and 'McLaren Orange' pinstripes. In all, ASC removed about 85 lbs. of weight from the vehicle - including cutting the weight of the hood by nearly half versus the production model. Taken together with the powertrain modifications by McLaren Performance Technologies, the power-to-weight ratio was increased, resulting in an estimated increase in 0-60 mph time of 3.5 seconds.
Here is a picture of that engine from just a few weeks ago:
Some more details about the car:
<ul type="square">[*]Custom in-hood trumpeted air intakes with individual throttle bodies
[*]"Arctic Ice Pearl" paint job (hint - go look at Harley-Davidson Arctic White)
[*]Suspension lowered 1.25"
[*]Custom stainless-steel quad outlet side exhaust
[*]Custom 3-piece forged and painted 19" aluminum wheels with custom center caps
[*]Exterior racing-type kill switch
[*]Four point racing harness
[*]Carbon fiber interior accents
[*]Custom badging on both rockers and the engine valve covers
[*]Yes, even the custom front chin spoiler is carbon fiber
[/list] Whew! It's already pretty obvious that this is one of the greatest Vipers
ever built. What would be the one thing that could make it even better? HAVING IT IN
YOUR GARAGE!! And now you can:
Beginning in early March the VCA is proud to make this exclusive car available for a 1-of-a-kind raffle
for VCA members only. That's right, you could win this very bad boy for the price of a single raffle ticket. As with our more recent Viper raffles, tickets will be priced at $125 each, or three for $300. Knowing how incredibly popular these tickets will be, we have still kept the available number very low - just
2500 tickets. We are sure this raffle will sell out in a hurry. And to assure that we made the deal even sweeter:
<ul type="square">[*]The custom information display plaque from the NAIAS will be included (the one that shows the car's stats)
[*]Autographed copies of the original design drawings (large) will also be included
[/list]
What? Not enough? No problem, Icing meet Cake:
A few folks have worried that the car couldn't be driven on the streets much with those big trumpets on the top of the engine. And most definitely not in the rain. Worry no more.
Doug Levin Motorsports has agreed to provide a polished factory intake and all the other hardware needed to bring the intake to stock condition (throttle body, filters, etc.) if the winner so chooses. And they will even throw in the labor to do it and tune it - you just have to get it to their shop if you want them to do the work.
Now how about THAT! I think it is very safe to say that this is THE greatest raffle car ever made available from any car club on the planet. Many think that it could cross the Barrett-Jackson stage in Scottsdale for as much as
half a million dollars, or even more if you sat on it for a few years. And while your national officers briefly debated doing exactly that, we wanted to make this available to ALL of our VCA members. And that's YOU!
A few quick notes and then some more pictures to give you an idea of how special this car really is:
<ul type="square">[*]Tickets will go on sale in early March - NO exact date until the raffle license is approved by the state of Michigan
[*]There is NO waiting list or reserve list for tickets - don't e-mail or call Viper HQ or anybody else just yet. Tickets are NOT available as of this writing.
[*]Tickets will only be available to PAID 2007 members of the VCA - if you have hesitated to renew you had better do it FAST
[*]The raffle will run for approximately two months with the drawing around the third week of May
[*]Tickets will be available on a first-come, first served basis. Expect this one to sell out well before the purchase deadline (estimated second week of May)
[*]The vehicle has approximately 50 miles on the odometer (in and out of numerous shows) and is titled to ASC, Incorporated
[*]The vehicle is in good running order, however the VCA will provide no warranty. Chances are good the factory warranty doesn't apply either.
[*]This vehicle may not pass emissions testing in all 50 US states.
[*]Retail value is being established as $120,000 and documented accordingly for tax purposes. If you sell it at Barrett-Jackson for a million bucks seven months later then that is
your "problem"
[*]Winner is responsible for all transportation costs[/list] And there you have it. Now go enjoy some pictures, both from the press kit and from a personal visit we had with the car a few weeks ago:
If you want any more, just go to Google and you will find
thousands of references this car. It has appeared in most major auto magazines, as well as newspaper stories and TV coverage from around the world. And it could be in
your garage for as little as $100. And only if you are a paid VCA member.
Now THAT'S what I would call a member benefit!
