Chrysler to colleges: Crush 93 Viper prototypes

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BudAshes

Lifer
Jul 20, 2003
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Those old vipers were pretty sexy. Nice death trap though, if Obama wants to get rid of Putin he should just gift him one of these.
 

BudAshes

Lifer
Jul 20, 2003
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Can't they just strip the engine out of it and leave the car? Still looks cool. Put one of those old geo metro engines in it. 3cylinder viper ftw.
 

TerryMathews

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Oct 9, 1999
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Can't they just strip the engine out of it and leave the car? Still looks cool. Put one of those old geo metro engines in it. 3cylinder viper ftw.

The body itself is the issue, it doesn't meet NHTSA regs today and probably didn't the day it rolled off the line.

"Makeshift top" especially is a little concerning. I'd be willing to wager the windshield isnt a rollbar like is required of true convertibles.

These probably never should have had VINs issued, then there wouldn't be a problem.
 

thedarkwolf

Diamond Member
Oct 13, 1999
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I went to a vo tech school for auto mechanics and they had a couple donated chevys to practice on. We totally dissembled an 86 chevy caprice wagon with 13 miles on it including cutting the frame up to make chevy happy when the school got rid of it.
 

Gillbot

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Jan 11, 2001
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The body itself is the issue, it doesn't meet NHTSA regs today and probably didn't the day it rolled off the line.

"Makeshift top" especially is a little concerning. I'd be willing to wager the windshield isnt a rollbar like is required of true convertibles.

These probably never should have had VINs issued, then there wouldn't be a problem.

I don't believe they had VINs, some states will issue you one though if they deem it roadworthy.
 

Arkaign

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Oct 27, 2006
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Does anyone else get reminded of the story of the 1983 Vette? Thank god for rebels. And screw you Nanny State BS.
 

TerryMathews

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Oct 9, 1999
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I don't believe they had VINs, some states will issue you one though if they deem it roadworthy.

Article says specifically that #4 had a VIN. Author may have misspoke, but OTOH it would be hard to hang liability of Chrysler if they never gave the "car" a VIN.
 

Gillbot

Lifer
Jan 11, 2001
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Article says specifically that #4 had a VIN. Author may have misspoke, but OTOH it would be hard to hang liability of Chrysler if they never gave the "car" a VIN.

I find it hard to believe any vehicle donated with clause of not being roadworthy would be issued with a factory vin to prevent this type of scenario. All donated vehicles I was involved with never got a vin.
 

Gillbot

Lifer
Jan 11, 2001
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Classy reply....

Yes I read the fucking article, I just don't believe most online articles media outlets because they hype shit up for popularity. There are plenty of other stories about other ones that were properly destroyed. Where are those articles? This one is making Chrysler/Fiat seem like a monster because the current vehicle is in the hands of a school. It should have been destroyed long ago and they shouldn't be using it for promotional purposes either.

Furthermore, the part that you keep fixating on:
So now, to mitigate lawsuits, the mint condition example you see before you with VIN number four is going bye-bye.
How do you know it's an actual VIN number and not a PRODUCTION NUMBER. Then again, I'm sure you and the article writer are an expert on this exact vehicle and how it was delivered. :rollseyes:

Personally, I think Chrysler/Fiat should sue the shit out of them for trying to tarnish their name. I was taught not to look a gift horse in the mouth, unfortunately it seems many today abuse that privilege then sue when the gift stream runs out.
 

Zenmervolt

Elite member
Oct 22, 2000
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It's pretty clear that, despite what the auto shop professor says, the car does not have a true VIN. What the professor, and the reporter, are referring to as the "VIN" is simply a production number. This is a car from 1992 that was used as a test mule for the Viper GTS Coupe, a car that did not enter production until 1996.

Also, the car is from 1992. The technology on it is not current and according to Chrysler this is just a routine culling of their donated fleet. Chrysler also said that they have, “no record of any legal proceedings involving pre-production Dodge Viper vehicles donated to education institutions being involved in accidents and product liability lawsuits.”

Chrysler's position is that the equipment on the 22-year-old cars is now out of date and the educational purpose the cars were intended to fulfill (presumably education on higher-end engineering) is now not possible to fulfill with those cars.

Makes sense to me.

ZV
 
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