Three offers to buy Viper

SVT666 · February 04, 2009, 09:10:02 AM

Chrysler: Three offers to buy Viper

Chrysler has been quietly attempting to jettison its high-performance Dodge Viper lineup in a bid to raise much-needed cash and, according to the company?s top PR man, co-President Jim Press, the Michigan-based automaker has had three offers to purchase the Viper line.

?We?re doing due diligence,? Press said in a conference call with reporters to discuss the automaker?s January sales.

Ironically, Viper sales were up substantially in January.

Press said that the Viper line won?t likely be sold off in time for the automaker?s March 31 deadline with the federal government. Chrysler must be capable of demonstrating its long-term viability by the end of March in order to retain the $4 billion loan from the U.S. government.

?We don?t anticipate it will be done by then,? Press said.

Sale of the Viper line would likely include the Detroit factory that hand-assembles each Viper. The factory employs 110 workers.

giant_mtb · February 04, 2009, 01:50:58 PM

I don't find it "ironic" that Viper sales were up. Enthusiasts know the end could very well be near...so why not snatch one up before they're gone for good? Makes perfect sense to me.

Sad, either way...I'd hate to see Vipers go away forever or become total crap via some third-party whack-o.

NomisR · February 04, 2009, 02:53:42 PM

Quote from: giant_mtb on February 04, 2009, 01:50:58 PM
I don't find it "ironic" that Viper sales were up. Enthusiasts know the end could very well be near...so why not snatch one up before they're gone for good? Makes perfect sense to me.

Sad, either way...I'd hate to see Vipers go away forever or become total crap via some third-party whack-o.

Don't think of it that way, it may become like what Caterham did with the Seven

giant_mtb · February 04, 2009, 03:14:10 PM

Quote from: NomisR on February 04, 2009, 02:53:42 PM
Don't think of it that way, it may become like what Caterham did with the Seven

I can certainly hope so.

SVT666 · February 04, 2009, 03:17:33 PM

Quote from: giant_mtb on February 04, 2009, 01:50:58 PM
I don't find it "ironic" that Viper sales were up. Enthusiasts know the end could very well be near...so why not snatch one up before they're gone for good? Makes perfect sense to me.

Sad, either way...I'd hate to see Vipers go away forever or become total crap via some third-party whack-o.

I wouldn't mind Viper becoming it's own brand. I just hope it doesn't turn into a Ferrari or Lamborghini. I want it to stay crude and rude.

the Teuton · February 04, 2009, 03:27:39 PM

I want Steve Saleen to buy it.

SVT666 · February 04, 2009, 03:34:55 PM

Quote from: the Teuton on February 04, 2009, 03:27:39 PM
I want Steve Saleen to buy it.

SMS Viper. I like the sounds of that.

BimmerM3 · February 04, 2009, 05:45:34 PM

I could live with a SMS Viper. However, there are few cars in the world that look better than a 1st gen Viper GTS, and that will be a highly sought collectors car regardless of what happens to Chrysler.

SVT666 · February 04, 2009, 05:54:43 PM

Quote from: BimmerM3 on February 04, 2009, 05:45:34 PM
I could live with a SMS Viper. However, there are few cars in the world that look better than a 1st gen Viper GTS, and that will be a highly sought collectors car regardless of what happens to Chrysler.

The Viper GTS is right near the top of my all time favourite cars.

565 · February 04, 2009, 06:49:35 PM

It would be fitting if Shelby bought the Viper, as he had a big hand in its original development and the Shelby Cobra was the inspiration for the RT/10 and the Cobra Daytona was the inspiration for the GTS.

SVT666 · February 05, 2009, 09:05:32 AM

Quote from: 565 on February 04, 2009, 06:49:35 PM
It would be fitting if Shelby bought the Viper, as he had a big hand in its original development and the Shelby Cobra was the inspiration for the RT/10 and the Cobra Daytona was the inspiration for the GTS.

I don't think he has enough money to buy Viper.