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Chrysler: Viper franchise getting “no purchaser interest”

05/28/2009, 3:15 PM

By Drew Johnson

The Dodge Viper has been poster material since it first launched in 1992, but a downtrodden economy may spell the end for the iconic nameplate. Chrysler has had the Viper and its Corner Avenue production plant on the market for several months with little interest fielded.

According to a new court document, Chrysler has received little interest in the Viper nameplate or the Corner Avenue plant. Chrysler is asking $10 million for the whole package, but hasn’t received any offers approaching that sum.

“We received no purchaser interest,” Chrysler chairman Bob Nardelli told Automotive News. “The market for such assets is extremely depressed at this time.”

The court document reveals Chrysler has only received one offer for the Viper franchise. On May 15th Devon Motor Works offered Chrysler $5.5 million for the Viper nameplate – with no assumption of liabilities – and also made a bid to lease the Corner Avenue facility for one year.

A group led by Polish investors has also expressed interest in Chrysler’ Viper business, but has yet to make an offer.

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05/28, 3:18 PM

posted by:

Borat

“A group led by Polish investors has also expressed interest in Chrysler’ Viper business” – I hate those ethnic jokes.

05/28, 3:36 PM

posted by:

pavlindrom

@Borat

It reads like normal news to me. What reference are you making there?

05/28, 3:55 PM

posted by:

Borat

Have your heard of Polish terrorist who burned his lips trying to blow up school bus?

05/28, 3:58 PM

posted by:

gizmo2

Chrysler I know you are desperate for cash, but hey there may be some light at the end of the tunnel. So just in case you get out of the tunnel the Viper may be one of those thing you can pride your self in. Right now you are going to give it away for nothing and it will not even help you. Do you think GM would sell the Vette even for 10B? I think not. Save some pride even though you are deep in the hole.

05/28, 4:00 PM

posted by:

ahnuconun

Yeah, they’re going to tweek the Viper V-10 to run on all the unbought Vodka in Eastern Europe.

05/28, 4:11 PM

posted by:

johnnycanuck

So an icon like the Viper will die while the unholiest of glorified sh*tboxes like the Caliber will live on. I know they say life isn’t fair but this is ridiculous.

05/28, 4:40 PM

posted by:

A4

$10 Million??? Jesus I bet we could all pool our money and find a few rich car guys and scrap together at least $8M. How bout it?

05/28, 4:44 PM

posted by:

F3INT))AP3X

I got a grand on it, who knows that grand may be worth a whole viper in 10 years.

05/28, 5:13 PM

posted by:

JakeK66

Does anyone realize how much it cost to develop this kind of car from scratch? Plus the nameplate notarity and manufacturing plant would be in the 100’s of millions. I mean, someone has to be interested? That damn GM Futurliner bullsh!t sold for nearly $5 million, this is junk change.

05/28, 5:22 PM

posted by:

Chris C.

The Viper is no different than droppin’ a Chevy 350 on a running board. Massive, unnecessary, unrefined power. The car is/was too brash, rough and expensive to really compete. Face it, the guys who bought this car did so because they’re douche bags with egos needing to be stroked. The only reason the didn’t buy a Vette Z06 or the likes was because they loathed the idea of not being immediately noticed by the girls with fake tits. Good news… they’ll still have the Challenger.

05/28, 5:28 PM

posted by:

Borat

Chris, are you telling me that girls with fake tits will not look at Z06? Here goes my investment……….

05/28, 5:51 PM

posted by:

johnnycanuck

Chris C.= Prius driver.

05/28, 6:17 PM

posted by:

leftwingagenda

damn, johnny, try to keep it civil

05/28, 6:35 PM

posted by:

beatusmongous

What’s funny is that the Prius is the total opposite of the Viper, yet they both seem to be screaming for some kind of attention.

05/28, 7:19 PM

posted by:

AFSOCSARGE

Viper sales were up in December and January. They can keep this line going and with a little help from Fiats Ferrari Division would be a good thing !

BTW I love any kind of Tits

-Sarge

05/28, 7:37 PM

posted by:

shane train

Might be good to let it die with dignity………

Tata Viper Roadster?

Fiat Viper Roadster?

U.S. Government Issued Viper GTS?

VWAG group Viper?

Yeah.

05/29, 2:40 AM

posted by:

1c3d0g

You know, if I had the money, I would buy the Viper nameplate and factory just to save such an iconic car. There will NEVER be another car like it.

05/29, 6:16 AM

posted by:

Hyperion

I can’t believe there aren’t a handful of investors falling all over themselves to own the Viper nameplate, designs and tooling. It’s a class-leading, utterly brutal super-musclecar. 1c3d0g, you’re 100% correct: if no one saves the Viper, there isn’t going to be another car like it again, focused in the same way.

05/29, 6:20 AM

posted by:

Zora

Only 10 million for a car that is faster around the most famous track than ANY Ferrari, Maserati, Lamborghini, Pagani, Bugatti, Koenigsegg, Porsche, Mercedes and BMW?? That’s a steal!

05/29, 10:07 AM

posted by:

idrinorbarsaku

the vnew viper is an ultimate FAIL!! bring back the 1995 vipper and things would be better. You know you are 6 feet under when you ahve to sell the best car you ever made to keep you self from going under even more!

05/29, 12:12 PM

posted by:

A4

idrinorbarsaku, if you think it is an ultimate fail, just read Zora’s comment above yours and put a sock in it. Fastest lap time around the ‘Ring. Enough said.

05/29, 12:13 PM

posted by:

A4

…and yeah Chris C. drives a Prius.

05/29, 6:18 PM

posted by:

impulsive facts

…and yeah Chris C. is probably more interested in dick.

05/30, 1:49 PM

posted by:

jackjimturkey

Sad
I have an Uncle who builds Vipers

 
 
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