Chrysler Mulling Sale Of Dodge Viper!

August 27, 2008 by MattK
Filed under: Chrysler LLC, Dodge 

Model #25,000 of the Dodge Viper just rolled off of the assembly line to great fanfare. Kurt Busch, Driver of the No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, is the recipient of the hand-built sportscar, a model which was first introduced in 1992.

Model #25,000 of the Dodge Viper just rolled off of the assembly line to great fanfare. Kurt Busch, Driver of the No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, is the recipient of the hand-built sportscar, a model which was first introduced in 1992.

The Hand Built Dodge Viper

Chrysler’s beautiful, hand-built sportscar, the Dodge Viper may be up for sale. No, I’m not talking about individual models, rather the entire model line. Parent Chrysler LLC said earlier today that they are exploring “strategic options” for the iconic Viper as part of its effort to focus on its core business. Chrysler, wracked by a huge drop off in sales for 2008, is looking at the Viper’s sale as one way to stoke its business.

Chief Executive Bob Nardelli spoke to Reuters today who reported that the company has been approached by investors interested in purchasing the Dodge Viper line. Chrysler LLC, which is owned by privately held Cerberus Capital Management, is looking for ways to raise cash to ride out the current economic storm. The company says that outside interest in the sportscar is behind the company’s decision to entertain offers.

From 1989 Concept To 1992 Production Car

First introduced at the 1989 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, the Viper went into production in 1992.  Currently, the car and its engine are built at the company’s Conner Avenue Assembly Plant, where as many as 11 Vipers are produced daily. Year to date sales are just 682 models, but Chrysler says that this number is 111% improvement over 2007.

No Other Car Lines Being Considered For Sale

Nardelli insists that the review of the Dodge Viper is a stand-alone decision, one that doesn’t include other makes or models. Earlier this year Chrysler LLC reached several agreements with Nissan including to have the Japanese automaker build a small car for Chrysler’s Latin American market while Chrysler agreed to supply the platform to underpin the next generation Nissan Titan pickup truck. Nissan is also expected to supply a midsize sedan to Chrysler in the near future, building the car at its own Tennessee factory.

(Source: Reuters)


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Comments

12 Comments on Chrysler Mulling Sale Of Dodge Viper!

  1. SEO Blog on Wed, 27th Aug 2008 11:13 am

    2. Waow. This car looks so hot. There was a tv show named Viper a few years ago. Since then, i love vipers.

  2. Matthew C. Keegan on Wed, 27th Aug 2008 11:41 am

    3. SEO, the Viper is hot. I don’t remember the TV show, but if it featured Dodge Vipers, then it couldn’t have been half bad!

  3. Ben on Wed, 27th Aug 2008 5:17 pm

    4. This is the single biggest problems with domestic car companies. They only focus on the bottom line this quarter. So the guy in charge sells off as much as he can to make his money then leaves the problems for the next guy to deal with.

  4. bjames105 on Wed, 27th Aug 2008 5:22 pm

    5. Man, this is one sexy car!

  5. mpger on Wed, 27th Aug 2008 7:09 pm

    6. another tired gas sucking american musclecar. ho-hum.

  6. sima constantin on Tue, 16th Sep 2008 6:35 am

    7. i am not happy to hear this kind of news… i am a fan of this car and its such a shame that they want to sell it… it just doesnt seem right i mean how will it be called? renault viper or nissan viper or whatever? no! this is an american sports car, a brand for speed, a musclecar with personality and many other words can tell its beauty! i wanted one for myself i just dont have the financial power to get it, but if they sell it… wont be the same…
    its very sad…

  7. Matthew C. Keegan on Tue, 16th Sep 2008 6:42 am

    8. Sima, it would be quite a move on Chrysler’s part to sell the Dodge Viper, almost like cutting out the heart of the Dodge brand in a bid to save the rest of the patient.

    Chrysler is in the most desperate position of all three US automakers, too dependent on the US market and too top heavy with big trucks and SUVs.

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