VLF Force 1 Is a Goofy Viper Offshoot With a Huge Price Tag

Designed by Henrik Fisker, this bizarre VLF Force 1 V10 shares its major components with a fifth-gen Viper and costs way too much.

Over the years, there have been plenty of high-potency versions of already powerful cars. In addition, there’s no shortage of startups using existing vehicles and chassis to gain a foothold in producing performance vehicles. With few exceptions (see Tesla and its early use of the Lotus Elise chassis), those companies wind up a piece of forgotten history and a topic for automotive websites to bring to light when they find one for sale on the internet. Any guesses as to which route the Viper-based VLF Force 1 V10 went?

Currently listed for sale on Exotic Car Trader with an asking price of a cool $299,999, this VLF Force 1 v10 is certainly a unique purchase for anyone with the dough to pick it up. It’s designed by Henrik Fisker (that’s Henrik, not Henry, as it appears on the Exotic Car Trader listing), best known for penning the legendary BMW Z8 and the Aston Martin DB9. You’re likely also familiar with his name because of the Fisker Karma, the car that drove Fisker into bankruptcy. Or, perhaps, the Fisker Ocean. The car that drove Fisker into bankruptcy the second time.

A True One-of-One

Exotic Car Trader highlights that this is a one-of-one supercar. While it is technically one of one, calling it a supercar feels a little heavy-handed, if we’re honest. In addition, it’s one of a kind because the planned production of fifty units fell through, and only five examples were made. This is the only convertible one. This car made its debut at the 2016 North American Auto Show. Evidently, it didn’t generate a lot of pre-orders.

The car uses the Viper’s 8.4-liter V10 engine and Tremec TR-6060 six-speed manual transmission. VLF bumped the power output to 745 horsepower and 638 pound-feet of torque. Perhaps the most substantial upgrade compared to a Viper is the fact that it has an active suspension system. It was designed in conjunction with Ben Keating, an American racing driver and Viper enthusiast. It’s no secret that the Viper’s power is a bit hard to use effectively in many cases. So, a substantial upgrade to the suspension system is a big plus.

Is it kind of cool? Sure. Is it $300,000 cool? We don’t really think so, but hey, Exotic Car Trader reports that the highest offer they’ve received for it thus far is $295,000. So, evidently, someone thinks it’s damn near $300,000 cool. We’re no professional financial advisers, but we think declining that offer might be a terrible mistake. The market for this thing is about as niche as it could possibly get.

On our end, though. If we were going to drop that kind of money, it’d be hard not to turn to a nice low-mileage Viper ACR.

Photos: Exotic Car Trader

Braden Carlson

Braden Carlson is an automotive enthusiast from Boise, Idaho. At 19 he quit his day job to pursue a career in automotive journalism, launching his Youtube channel in his own name. Today you can still find him producing DIY video content, reviews and writing for an amassment of automotive websites. His work is most frequently found on Rennlist, The Mustang Source and Corvette Forum. When not writing or driving, he's likely to be found covered in grease and oil undoubtedly from one of his gratuitous collection of questionable project cars.