Two Big Secrets of the Original Dodge Viper
The original Dodge Viper is unarguably one of the most iconic America supercars ever. Almost three decades later, some of the best kept secrets around it are revealed.
After the Mustang Shelby GT and the Corvette began making a name for themselves on American roads, Dodge decided to make their own entry into the hot segment in the form of the Dodge Viper. With a 8.0 liter V10 co-developed by Lamborghini that churned an insane 450 horsepower and could go from 0-60 in less than four seconds, it was not a car to take lightly. Despite the many safety issues that came with this kind of power, the Dodge Viper moniker still holds significant weight in the performance world.
In an interview with Roy Sjoberg, the lead designer of “Team Viper,” Automotive YouTuber Four Eyes found out that the headlights used on the Viper were originally designed by BMW for the Z1 — a car that never made it across the pond. Though, BMW scrapped the design in favor for a boxier design, and ended up giving it to General Electric (GE) for free. Though, only after having swindled the company to manufacture the headlights at GE’s cost for a while.
Sjoberg scored a cheap headlight supplier once the design was canned, but that meant the team had to redesign the hood and from bumper around the design. In the headlight, BMW had a tube filled with yellow liquid that acted as a level during installation, and Sjoberg called for the tube to be removed. Though, upon discovery that it would cost $1.50 per headlight, decided to leave the liquid filled tube.
Omission of Comfort out of Spite
Despite Chrysler basically inventing the cupholder alongside the creation of the minivan, the Dodge Viper lacked cupholders due to a grudge that Lee Iacocca had with Road & Track.
“[Lee] Iacocca hated Road & Track,” said Sjoberg. “Because they were the ones that gave Chrysler the world-renowned cupholder award — not for anything else. Not for engines, not for chassis, for for styling — just the cupholder. Iacocca wasn’t really happy about that, he wanted more significant awards. So, that’s why the first generation of Viper didn’t have [cupholders].”
