2,701 Original Miles

 

Manual Transmission
8.0L V10
450 hp @ 5200 rpm*
490 lb/ft torque @ 3700 rpm*
Capable 0-60 MPH: 4 seconds
Top Speed: 190 MPH
*Base Price in 1997: $66,000

 

*Seller Asking:

$64,750

1997 Dodge viper sparkle gold for sale
 
 
Fast Facts:

  • Inspired by the Shelby Cobra, the Viper was designed to be a raw, simple sports car. The early Vipers were the most crude – they featured no exterior door handles or key cylinders, as well as no air conditioning (A/C wasn’t offered until later). The roof was made from canvas material, and the vinyl windows required zippers to open and close (similar to the Jeep Wrangler of the time)
  • The Viper’s engine was so massive that the windshield wipers couldn’t use a conventional single wiper motor (too large). Each wiper had to have its own tiny motor, borrowed from the back window of Chrysler’s minivan. Relying on two different motors meant the wipers weren’t always synchronized – the driver side will go through a full stroke at startup before the passenger side even starts. Some customers thought their wipers were loose
  • The large V10 also meant there wasn’t enough room for a typical V10-sized radiator. This meant a smaller, super efficient radiator was required. Viper Team’s solution was to utilize coolant tubes featuring dimples (like a golf ball) to increase heat transfer from the water to the cooling fins. Without the dimples, a boundary layer of water clings to the sides of the tubes, insulating the rest of the water from the fins. The dimple solution meant a smaller radiator could be used without sacrificing cooling
  • The intake system utilized NACA ducts in the hood, which were located in a great place for air induction. However, it was also a great place for rainwater to get in. As a solution, Dodge designed a water separator in the intake (similar to the baffles of a muffler). The incoming air can maneuver through the baffles easily, while any water will ram straight into the baffles (like sound waves). The trapped water is collected and drained downward, where the weight of it forces a trap door to open. As the water escapes, the trap door closes once the weight of the water disappears, keeping outside air from entering
  • The Viper’s 6th gear is a very tall .501:1 in order to help it meet EPA highway mileage standards. This means the transmission output shaft spins at twice the speed of the engine while cruising on the freeway in 6th. This isn’t an issue with the Viper, as the low end torque of its 8.0L engine means it can pull away at any RPM
Key Model Year Changes:

  • First year of Viper Red, and the only year of the Sparkle Gold, which included gold wheels and emblems
  • First year of power windows, as well as a newly mandated passenger airbag
  • 1997 featured minimal changes

Seller Notes:

  • 1 of 7 “Sparkle Gold” optioned cars, only available on red GTS models
  • One of these 7 cars is reported to have been wrecked. The remaining 5 have been modified or accumulated lots of miles
  • One owner with 2,781 original miles
  • Zero paint work and 100% original
  • Includes every piece of paperwork from the purchase back in 1997, including original window sticker, pre-delivery inspection checklist and more
  • Museum quality

 

  • Location: Fort Meyers, Florida – (more photos below)
  • Update: car has sold
 
 
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For more photos, please see seller’s ad HERE.

To list your own car, contact us HERE.

 
*SAE rated from factory. May not reflect current output
*Performance numbers pulled from reputable automotive road tests
*Base price when new does not reflect original MSRP of this particular car, nor does it reflect what the original owner paid for it
*Advertised price at time of posting. Sellers can raise or lower prices on their original ad at any time. Click on the original ad to view current price/availability

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