The Chrysler Group has announced that when the very first
production unit of the 2013 SRT Viper rolls off of the Connor Avenue assembly
line in Detroit, it will be destined for the Barrett Jackson Auto Auction in
Orange Country California.Like many “first
off” vehicles that head to a high profile auto auction, the proceeds will go to
charity with the beneficiaries of the first 2013 Viper auction being the Austin
Hatcher Foundation for Pediatric Cancer.
The Austin Hatcher Foundation for Pediatric Cancer helps assist
families who have a child battling pediatric cancer and while there is no way
of knowing just how much the first production version of the 2013 SRT Viper
will bring – we can bet that it will be a nice chunk of change.
No details have been provided as to what we
can expect from the first 2013 Viper but if we had to place bets – we would
expect that it would be sporting the GTS package with every bell and whistle
SRT has available for the new supercar.
Aside from the fact that this auction will be for the first
official production model of the 2013 SRT Viper, Chrysler might just do
something special to make this auction car even more valuable.In the past some companies have sent cars to
auction with a unique exterior color (like Ford’s 1-of-1 Grabber Blue Boss 302)
so perhaps SRT will offer the first Viper in a unique paint code to bring more
attention to it but even something as simple as a dash plaque pointing out that
the car in question 2013 SRT Viper #0000001 should be enough to bring in a
great deal of money for this honorable charity.
"Before I was old enough to walk, my dad was taking me to various types of racing events, from local drag racing to the Daytona 500," says Patrick Rall, a lifetime automotive expert, diehard Dodge fan, and respected auto journalist for over 10 years. "He owned a repair shop and had a variety of performance cars when I was young, but by the time I was 16, he was ready to build me my first drag car – a 1983 Dodge Mirada that ran low 12s. I spent 10 years traveling around the country, racing with my dad by my side. While we live in different areas of the country, my dad still drag races at 80 years old in the car that he built when I was 16 while I race other vehicles, including my 2017 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and my 1972 Dodge Demon 340.
"Although I went to college for accounting, my time in my dad’s shop growing up allowed me the knowledge to spend time working as a mechanic before getting my accounting degree, at which point I worked in the office of a dealership group. While I was working in the accounting world, I continued racing and taking pictures of cars at the track. Over time, I began showing off those pictures online and that led to my writing.
"Ten years ago, I left the accounting world to become a full-time automotive writer and I am living proof that if you love what you do, you will never “work” a day in your life," adds Rall, who has clocked in time as an auto mechanic, longtime drag racer and now automotive journalist who contributes to nearly a dozen popular auto websites dedicated to fellow enthusiasts.
"I love covering the automotive industry and everything involved with the job. I was fortunate to turn my love of the automotive world into a hobby that led to an exciting career, with my past of working as a mechanic and as an accountant in the automotive world provides me with a unique perspective of the industry.
"My experience drag racing for more than 20 years coupled with a newfound interest in road racing over the past decade allows me to push performance cars to their limit, while my role as a horse stable manager gives me vast experience towing and hauling with all of the newest trucks on the market today.
The Chrysler Group has announced that when the very first