What are Vipers like to own / run compared to other American

[ViperDave]

Banjo Man said:

I do like the car,

That's all that matters IMHO

As far as i am aware the damage was severe but mainly cosmetic to the interior, body and electricals, so the underlying car should be good and run well and as a viper should.

if your sure, here is a starting point, but grab a well sweetened cup of tea first, and don't hold any comments against us, we are a good bunch really

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=5&a...

Did you join the Viper Owners Association (VOA) or the Viper Club of America (VCA) as there may be more bad news there lol, we (the USA) had a big punch up last year and a new club VOA was formed. Either way your still free to join in anything we do here in the UK.

[fatboy18]

Banjo Man said:

Thanks very much - I think! I was sort of prepared for that reply, sort of. Not sure I will get much sleep tonight. I knew it had "history" and it's good to find out a bit more about it. I will try and track down some previous threads. I have joined the Viper Owners club and will also be at the Wilton Supercar event this year. I do like the car, it has found a home with me, but interior/dash/door cards need some loving/replacing. But it looks good, and goes like stink! Know anybody who is very good at interiors? Thanks again, appreciated. I will start a new thread too.

There must be companies in the UK that could replicate an original dash but reversed, door panels could be sourced from, X Vipers or Viper Parts Larry in the USA. Also keep your eye on eBay.com (USA)

I know a couple of the UK Viper owners have a spare dash, wonder if it would be possible to take a mould from one and reverse it?

Colin (another Viper owner) makes parts from fibreglass, he might be able to help?

[Viper]

mainly cosmetic to the interior Dave i nearly choked from laughing so much

sleepless night yes im afraid if you paid more than 10 grand for it
here's the pics ive posted up quite a times over the years

amazing how that car could possible be HPI clear, as the insurance paid out, a few on here viewed the car after the fire
while it was sitting outside in a compound waiting for an auction date

I have seen the car myself quite a few times as a Rt before the fire, and after the rebuild
last spotted it in January at NEC Autosports show


http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

Edited by Viper on Wednesday 23 April 16:56

[ViperDave]

Viper said:

mainly cosmetic to the interior Dave i nearly choked from laughing so much

sleepless night yes im afraid if you paid more than 10 grand for it
here's the pics ive posted up quite a times over the years

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

Edited by Viper on Wednesday 23 April 16:06

lol i was meaning they were mainly restricted to cosmetic aspects of the car, as in not structural or engine damage. to be fair i did say the damage was severe.

[fatboy18]

This one is in mint condition, Just needs a little bodywork and paint and Wheels and, and
http://london.craigslist.co.uk/pts/4416393688.html

[Viper]

if you want the full history John would put you right, he did the rebuilt/conversion to a GTS after the fire

https://www.facebook.com/pages/John-Hazzard-ta-BRG...

[fishboy]

there is a guy near rudgwick east susses that does interiors and i excellent , if you are interested i can get his number for you .
i know the car as i drove past it for about a year when it was for sale in barns near hammersmith when it sat out side in the snow ,

[Banjo Man]

Thanks very much for all of your replies. Very much appreciated. Thanks to ViperDave I may get some kip tonight. The car was badly burnt, the interior does still need to be restored and indeed a few bits and pieces need a bit of attention, but for me that part of owning a car like this. My cobra wasn't a real cobra, my Caterham was a Caterham/Westfield cross and I converted my Spitfire 1500 into a GT6........and didn't I get some stick for that from some club members. The poor old burnt out, orange SRT/GTS snow drenched and neglected car has found a home. I didn't buy it to sell it, and to be honest buying this car was the only way I was ever going to afford any kind of Viper. I will contact John Hazard for a bit more information on the rebuild, so thanks for the facebook link. I will be at the Wilton Supercar Event (only 20 miles away for me) so come over for a chat, any words of encouragement gratefully received. Give me a year or so and the interior will be better than its ever been. Small steps etc.... Thanks again for the history, the pictures and the various links. I can see this car divides the Viper community, but that's okay, it's always good to have an opinion.......sort of makes the world go around. Cheers once again.

[sonicbloo]

Banjo Man said:

Thanks very much for all of your replies. Very much appreciated. Thanks to ViperDave I may get some kip tonight.The poor old burnt out, orange SRT/GTS snow drenched and neglected car has found a home. I didn't buy it to sell it, and to be honest buying this car was the only way I was ever going to afford any kind of Viper. I will contact John Hazard for a bit more information on the rebuild, so thanks for the facebook link. I will be at the Wilton Supercar Event (only 20 miles away for me) so come over for a chat, any words of encouragement gratefully received. Give me a year or so and the interior will be better than its ever been. Small steps etc.... Thanks again for the history, the pictures and the various links. I can see this car divides the Viper community, but that's okay, it's always good to have an opinion.......sort of makes the world go around. Cheers once again.

That's the spirit BanjoMan, I really felt for you after reading the earlier posts. It's easy to say 'should have done your research etc' after the event, it only makes matters worse, but at least you now know the full story so no more nasty surprises further down the line. Take some comfort in knowing you own one of the most famous Vipers in the country, that has had a lot of money and time spent to save it from extinction. Nobody complains when an E type is dragged out of a field and rebuilt so that virtually nothing remains of the original car, and the same will apply to the Miura that publicly got burnt out last year.

There is currently another Viper for sale that was rebuilt in the US, but I wouldn't hesitate buying it at the right price. For some of us it may be the only way to own our dream car.

Enjoy your new pride and joy.

[ViperDave]

Banjo Man said:

Thanks very much for all of your replies. Very much appreciated. Thanks to ViperDave I may get some kip tonight. The car was badly burnt, the interior does still need to be restored and indeed a few bits and pieces need a bit of attention, but for me that part of owning a car like this. My cobra wasn't a real cobra, my Caterham was a Caterham/Westfield cross and I converted my Spitfire 1500 into a GT6........and didn't I get some stick for that from some club members. The poor old burnt out, orange SRT/GTS snow drenched and neglected car has found a home. I didn't buy it to sell it, and to be honest buying this car was the only way I was ever going to afford any kind of Viper. I will contact John Hazard for a bit more information on the rebuild, so thanks for the facebook link. I will be at the Wilton Supercar Event (only 20 miles away for me) so come over for a chat, any words of encouragement gratefully received. Give me a year or so and the interior will be better than its ever been. Small steps etc.... Thanks again for the history, the pictures and the various links. I can see this car divides the Viper community, but that's okay, it's always good to have an opinion.......sort of makes the world go around. Cheers once again.

That's a great attitude, not unlike another member who got a similar welcome many years ago and very much enjoys his car and the club. I felt bad having to break the news to you, and must admit when i saw your post my first thought was "oh no, here we go again" but you have taken it well and sound like just the person this car needs to love it, keep it for the long run and restore it to the viper fold, so please don't be a stranger.

Hope you managed to get some sleep.

[ViperDave]

A few less disturbing threads, your car was noteworthy even before the fire

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

[Banjo Man]

Thanks for the warm welcome, its really good of you. I did a bit of research on this car but probably not enough, but it's kind of cool owning the runt of the litter! It has risen from the ashes (literally) and will rise a bit further and one day be "that car" - and I'II still own it! I havent got involved in many clubs scenes with the previous cars I have had as they have never been "standard" and so I have been slightly shunned which sort of peeved me, still I take a few knocks and don't mind a bit of abuse, so I will try and tow the car to as many events as time + toddler permits. And I know that you all would have paid the £7.67 for this car that I did!! Okay I lied.....it was a tenner!

[Viper]

vprman (Colin) can tell you about the roof section, as my memory serves John brought a GTS roof section at some expense over from the states, and Colin a fibreglass expert made a copy of it

no doubt some modifications would be needed for it to mate onto the RT body

[oxam]

fatboy18 said:

here must be companies in the UK that could replicate an original dash but reversed, door panels could be sourced from, X Vipers or Viper Parts Larry in the USA. Also keep your eye on eBay.com (USA)

I know a couple of the UK Viper owners have a spare dash, wonder if it would be possible to take a mould from one and reverse it?

Colin (another Viper owner) makes parts from fibreglass, he might be able to help?

welcome onboard! the viper dash is symetrical and the mid section is flat which makes the lhd to rhd conversion possible. Try to borrow a spare dash and give it to somebody who can make a mould switching the instrument panel to the right. won't be a super easy job but nothing that complicated for somebody who is used to work with composites (plus I can imagine that he would be able to sell couple ones to Australia). Then make it out of carbon and you are good to go. You can mould carbon fibre door panels and centre console as well - have seen pics on the viperalley and they looked awesome.

good luck

[oxam]

btw make sure you get smooth tubes and K&N panel filters - you gonna love the induction noise plus they are good for 15ish hp

[ViperDave]

Neil, have you not got a massive 3d printer yet? That would be the simplest way to make a RHD dash, scan in a LHD one flip it in software and print it out. simples

[Viper]

i can get my hands on a massive printer, but it's not 3D, though would of been handy for knocking out blue body panels

i did see yesterday the chinese are now 3D printing houses !
http://www.gizmag.com/china-winsun-3d-printed-hous...

Edited by Viper on Thursday 24th April 18:38

[oxam]

fatboy18 said:

This one is in mint condition, Just needs a little bodywork and paint and Wheels and, and
http://london.craigslist.co.uk/pts/4416393688.html

I have heard that this one is on the way to london this weekend next question is what to put on top of it...very tempted to do a resto mod of something american - the viper chassis is straight and comes with everything (ecu, fueltank, brakes, suspension, gearbox, diff, servo etc etc...) looks like I will be able to even start it this weekend (very tempted to just put my spare set of wheels on it and do some serious go karting hehe)

[fatboy18]

You could always try something like this ......
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aWfCczHfYSQ&li...