2006 DODGE (USA)

Dodge has always been known as a powerful brand; some of the most famous muscle cars of all time have been Dodge cars, think of the Challenger, the Charger and of course, the Viper.

The original Dodge Viper RT/10 Roadster was introduced in 1992 and was a watershed moment in the history of the American automobile, signifying the return of unashamed American muscle, the spiritual son of the Shelby Cobra from 30 years earlier. The striking roadster utilised a 400bhp 8.0-litre V10 engine which Lamborghini (then owned by Chrysler Corporation) helped to design. Over the following years, the Viper slowly evolved, becoming more refined and, when the second generation was introduced in 1996, the world was treated to a new coupé version of the RT/10, the visually stunning Viper GTS. Styling cues came from Zagato, with its ‘double bubble’ roof accommodating the wearing of crash helmets and the iconic Pete Brock-designed Shelby Daytona.

More recently, the most potent Dodge models have returned to using the ‘SRT’ moniker (Street and Racing Technology) which was introduced by the Fiat Chrysler Automobile Group in 2003 and now adorned the third generation Viper model, the SRT-10 Roadster. The new car greatly improved on the performance and handling of the previous iterations and was a sportscar that now properly delivered on the Viper’s striking appearance. The revered 20-valve V10 pushrod engine grew to 8.3 litres (505c.i./8285cc) and now featured an aluminium block and heads, producing 500bhp and 525 lb-ft of torque.

The Viper SRT-10 Coupé was introduced at the 2005 Detroit Auto Show (as a 2006 model) and looked much like the previous highly-regarded Viper GTS, retaining that car's distinctive roof sculpting whilst also featuring the ‘flagship’ GTS Blue paintwork with white stripes (on the initial run of 200 ‘First Edition’ SRT-10 examples), harking back to one of the most popular Vipers ever, the 1996 Dodge Viper GTS. With a revised cam and heads, the 8.3-litre V10 in the coupé generated an increased 510bhp and 535 lb-ft of torque, enabling 0-60mph in a remarkable 3.8 seconds on its way to a top speed of 193mph.

The car presented here is a 2006 Dodge Viper SRT-10 Coupé ‘First Edition’, number 86 of the 200 examples produced. #86 was ordered new in the US before immediately being shipped to the UK where it was registered for the very first time. 20 years and just two owners later it's clearly a much-cherished example, lightly used (less than 8,000 miles) and always carefully dry-stored to ensure the preservation of its incredible condition.

The specification is impressive, including push-button start, A/C, electrically-adjustable aluminium pedals, CD player, Alpine sound system, Xenon headlights, red brake calipers, limited-slip differential, Borla performance exhaust system, BC Racing Adjustable coil-over suspension, plus items such as original Viper floor mats and an indoor car cover.

Within the accompanying history file, the original Viper book-pack and owner’s manuals are all present, along with a raft of invoices, MOT certificates, import paperwork, and the current V5C showing only one former keeper (owned for 16 years). Despite its super-low mileage, owners have ensured its continued maintenance (the original maintenance book is stamped six times); our vendor (the second owner) bought the car since 2022 when it was comprehensively serviced, included all new tyres, spark plugs, fluids and filters etc. In fine mechanical health and presenting in superb condition, there cannot be many third generation Vipers in such an enviable state, especially in the UK.

Arguably the sweet-spot of the model's evolution, this era of SRT-10 Coupés are increasingly hard to find, especially in this specification and condition and, having been in the UK all its life with so few owners, this particular example is undoubtedly a very attractive prospect for any discerning muscle car enthusiast or collector.

Transmission: Manual