The Viper's Fangs - Review of 1997 Viper RT/10

1997 Review of Dodge Viper RT/10
From Road & Track
By Andrew Bornhop

Great News : Dodge's 1997 Viper Roadster now packs the potent V-10 of the GTS Coupe beneath its long hood. That, though, isn't the real power of the car. The real power is this: Anytime I've had a Viper in my driveway, it has drawn people to my house like bees to honey. Neighbors I've never met, complete strangers, wanting the big guy to give 'em a thrill ride.

Indeed, no other car draws people like the Viper, and judging from their grins, the car has yet to disappoint. Sorry, guys, those short rides pale in comparison to the thrill of my last laborious assignment - picking up a brand-new Viper Roadster on a glorious spring day in San Francisco, then driving it across the Golden Gate Bridge and heading up to Sears Point International Raceway where I'd drive the Viper like it's meant to be driven. Hey, somebody's gotta do it...

On the drive up I noted the changes to this second-generation Roadster. In addition to the more powerful V-10, the Roadster gets the GTS's doors (replete with power windows and external door handles), tires, brakes, gearbox and slightly softer suspension. The dual-airbag dash also comes from the GTS, as do the lighter seats and adjustable pedals. The reason for all this commonality? Coupe and Roadster alike are now built simultaneously on the same Conner Avenue line.

When photographer Allan Rosenberg and I arrived early (no surprise) at Sears Point, we admired some vintage Formula 1 cars on hand for the Wine Country Classic, an event aptly described as "the Monterey Historics of 12 years ago" by one driver. Many of these classic F1 cars, I learned, were powered by Cosworth V-8s producing about 450 bhp - exactly the same as the Viper.

Now, I'm not saying the Viper is a street-legal Grand Prix car. At 3,320lb., it's a heckuva lot heavier, but the new Viper Roadster does weigh 50 lb. less than the GTS coupe. And, in my book, no other American car can match the fun of a Viper on the track.

While lapping the upper part of the road course at slow speed to re-familiarize myself with the layout, I was impressed with the docility of the Viper, how easy it was to drive. In no way is this some finicky high-strung Italian steed; it's an American horse, an it gets the job done in straightforward style by transmitting nearly 500 lb.-ft. of torque to its massive rear tires through a positive clutch. It's just about impossible to stall the Viper, and the shifter is robust and precise.

And the visceral thrills? Simply put, they're dished out in abundance any time you snap open the twin throttles and feed the aluminum V-10 all the air and fuel it can devour. On full boil, the Roadster launches with authority and hits 60 mph in only 4.4 seconds. Triple digits arrive in less than 10, and soon the amount of air rushing past your head equals that being expelled out the twin tailpipes.

When it's driven like this, the Viper Roadster's spiritual legacy comes to the fore. It's still a throwback to the Sixties and, as such, is very much like a driver's car. Which is exactly why I like it. Brake a right-hander, and you'll lock the inside front wheel because there's no ABS.

Apply a bit too much power when exiting a tight corner, and the back end will snap out because the only traction control is at the tip of your right foot.

So is the Viper an exotic? It's hard to say "yes" because the car is crude in comparison to cars like the 911 Turbo S. But the Viper looks great, and it's delectable mix of earthmoving torque and monstrous rubber makes it the quickest car built in America.

Anybody wanna go for a ride?

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