Inventory Listing

Supercharged and upgraded engine with $22,000 worth of modifications. 7907 original miles. Receipts and documents included. Incredible performance with stock look, immaculately preserved.

This 2002 Dodge Viper GTS is the last of the first, the final edition of the first-generation GTS coupe and in my opinion, it’s still the most beautiful of the bunch. As #065 of the final Viper GTS coupes built, this car is already collectable. The coupe would disappear from the Viper lineup for a few years as Chrysler debated whether it should continue to exist (it should and it did, check out the blue 2006 Viper SRT 10 coupe parked next to this GTS), making this one a symbolic period to the Viper’s first chapter. And with just 7907 original miles on the clock, it is still incredibly fresh despite being 13 years old. The Viper Red paint is brilliant and the Stone White stripes were part of a $3000 Final Edition package, making this the ultimate expression of Viper attitude.

The interior remains quite stock as well, which seems like a surprise when you have a car with so many modifications. Deeply sculpted black leather seats grab you like you’re trying to escape and despite the wide side sills, there’s plenty of room inside. When you’re behind the wheel, the controls are all in the right places and it’s clear that the Dodge boys spent their time getting the relationships right. The fat steering wheel is mere inches away from the 6-speed shifter and the gauges are big, bright, and easy to read at a glance. And like the exterior, the interior is virtually unmarked, with only some very, very minor comfort marks on the driver’s chair. Contrasting red stitching on the steering wheel and shifter knob brings it all together nicely and yes, this Viper includes such niceties as A/C, power windows and locks with remote entry, and a powerful AM/FM/CD stereo that sounds great even with the booming exhaust. A special plaque on the center console announces this one as a special edition, the last of the first. And everything works properly, from the gauges to the A/C to the stereo.

The original Viper’s 8.0-liter V10 engine really doesn’t need an introduction. But for many guys, 450 is just a baseline, and that’s exactly what happened here. When the car was still brand new in the wrapper, it was sent to the experts at Viper Specialty Performance in New York, where the burly V10 was given a thorough horsepower injection. The biggest news is a Paxton Novi 2000 supercharger, which is a neat fit there on the nose of the engine. But to make it work properly, it needed more than just a blower bolted on, so they opened up the engine, installed fresh bearings, custom forged pistons with a low-friction coating and a custom camshaft designed for use with the supercharger. A fresh set of ported Viper heads were installed and fitted with a set of gorgeous Jesel Mohawk roller rockers and custom pushrods. It’s all managed by an upgraded computer with a custom blower program running which means it starts instantly, idles perfectly, and doesn’t get cranky under any circumstances. It’s as easy to drive as a stock Viper despite 60% more horsepower. Nice, right?

Externally, the engine also received a set of B&B stainless steel exhaust headers, a set of high-flow catalytic converters to keep it emissions legal, and a full B&B cat-back exhaust system that sounds spectacular. The 6-speed manual transmission is plenty beefy for the upgraded 700-plus horsepower V10, as is the 3.07-geared rear diff, but upgraded Unitrax half-shafts rated at 1000 horsepower were installed just in case. The rest of the suspension remains stock, and that’s OK because the Viper GTS is incredibly well engineered right out of the box. It also includes some huge disc brakes that scrub speed without getting tired and they live behind polished 18-inch wheels that were also part of the Final Edition package. Tires are 275/35/18 front and 335/30/18 rear Michelin Pilot Sport radials, which do their best to plant all that horsepower.

This car is also fully documented with its original window sticker, owner’s manuals, and receipts for the engine upgrades, which total close to $22,000. In the trunk you’ll find a Viper-logo car cover and a programmer for the ECM.

This Viper isn’t a civilized car by modern standards, but for something this fast, it’s simply mind-boggling. Turn on the A/C, drop it into 6 gear, and you can drive to California tomorrow. Or take it to the track and probe its outer limits and you’ll be shocked by how well this brute really works. If you’re a Viper fan, this car is the total package: limited edition, great looks, incredible performance, and impeccable preservation. All at a fraction of the cost of building such a thing yourself. Yeah, it’s safe to say that we love this car. Who wouldn’t?