25,000 Vipers Loose on the Streets
 

http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/st...4772805&EDATE=

Why do I remember 94 as the year they went into production?

[quote]25,000 Vipers Loose on the Streets

Kurt Busch, driver of the No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge in the NASCAR Sprint Cup
Series, is awarded the 25,000th Dodge Viper to roll off the line
- 25,000th Dodge Viper rolls off the line at Chrysler LLC's Conner Avenue
Assembly Plant
- Ultimate American sports car hand-built by Dodge craftpersons since 1992
- All-new 2008 Dodge Viper SRT10 is powered by an 8.4-liter V-10 engine
producing a ground shaking 600 hp and 560 lb.-ft. of torque

AUBURN HILLS, Mich., March 12 /PRNewswire/ -- Chrysler LLC's Conner
Avenue Assembly Plant reached a manufacturing milestone today, building its
25,000th Dodge Viper. The new owner of the milestone 2008 Viper SRT10 is
none other than Kurt Busch, who received the vehicle in a ceremony held at
the Detroit facility in recognition of his racing accomplishments as the
top Dodge driver in the 2007 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.

"This is one of the biggest thrills I've ever experienced, and I am so
grateful to Bob Nardelli and all of my friends at Dodge for presenting such
a cool gift," said Kurt Busch, driver of the No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge. "To
be an active part in celebrating the 25,000th Dodge Viper to roll off the
assembly line is an extraordinary honor and one I'll remember for the rest
of my life. To be honest with you, I feel like a young child anticipating a
special Christmas gift. I am just that excited and so pleased that I have
this opportunity. I'm proud to be a Dodge driver on the NASCAR circuit and
appreciate the opportunity to meet all the employees at the plant and
personally thank them for the tremendous job they do," said Busch.

Chrysler Chairman and CEO Robert Nardelli presented the keys to Kurt
Busch after the vehicle rolled off the assembly line.

"Reaching this milestone is quite an achievement considering the Dodge
Viper SRT10 is a hand-built performance vehicle," said Nardelli. "This
unique manufacturing facility has allowed us to produce a true American
legend."

"Members of UAW Local 212 take enormous pride in every hand-built Viper
we deliver to our customers," said General Holiefield - UAW Vice President,
who directs the UAW's Chrysler Department. "We're very proud to team up
with a proven winner like Kurt Busch. He knows world-class quality and
craftsmanship when he sees it, and that's exactly what he's going to see in
his new UAW-built Dodge Viper," said Holiefield.

Since its introduction as a concept car at the 1989 North American
International Auto Show in Detroit, the Dodge Viper has captured the
imagination and passion of performance enthusiasts around the world. The
new 2008 Dodge Viper SRT10 offers consumers bold exterior styling, a
race-inspired interior, world-class ride and handling, a standout
powertrain and benchmark braking.

Dodge Viper production began in May 1992 at the New Mack Assembly Plant
and was moved to Conner Avenue in October 1995. Viper V-10 engine
production transferred from Mound Road Engine to Conner Avenue Assembly in
May 2001. In 2008, Dodge introduced the all-new, fourth generation Dodge
Viper SRT10. With more horsepower, more torque and more than 30 exterior
and interior color combinations, the latest Viper gives enthusiasts the
performance they expect on the track and off, with more factory
customization options than before.

"The Dodge Viper SRT10 is the ultimate Dodge and the ultimate American
sports car," said Mike Accavitti, Director - Dodge Brand, SRT and
Motorsports Global Marketing. "It has a bold, in-your-face exterior with a
purposeful race-inspired interior, including the legendary push-button
start. But it's not just a pr

RE: 25,000 Vipers Loose on the Streets
 

They came out in 1992 ;)

RE: 25,000 Vipers Loose on the Streets
 

I'm gettin' old (relatively) but the memory shouldn't be this bad already. Dargh!

Maybe, it was the fact they were still very rare and the first one I saw was in 94.

RE: 25,000 Vipers Loose on the Streets
 

The funny thing is my memory said the same thing. I don't think they became very well known throughout the country until 1994.

RE: 25,000 Vipers Loose on the Streets
 

I remember seeing a yellow one in the showroom as I was buying my wife a new Intrepid in 1995. Still amazed at the size of the
sneakers on that car. They are 1 awesome ride.

RE: 25,000 Vipers Loose on the Streets
 

Thanks RLSH, I could have cheated and googly-ed (sic or atleast phonetically represented as to how I mispronounce it)....but I like to keep it organic, daddio! :-)

I sat in one in '94. It was not overly comfortable; but the fact that the exhaust would burn your leg if you weren't careful upon exiting the cockpit, made up;) for the lack of comfort!