Believe it or not, the Dodge / SRT Viper has only been with us since the early 90s, yet we can’t help but look at it as one of America’s iconic nameplates.
The first model, dubbed Phase SR I, was built between 1992 and 1995 and featured a massive 400 HP (405 PS) 8.0-liter V10 engine, mated to a 6-speed manual transmission. While it wasn’t much of a daily driver, the fact that it could get from 0 to 60 mph (96 km/h) in just 4.6 seconds put the whole world on notice.
In its footsteps followed the Phase SR II, which showed up in 1996 with a slightly more powerful engine (415 HP / 421 PS). While many call this the 2nd-gen Viper, technically it was more like gen 1.5.
The SR II also saw the launch of the GTS version, which had 450 HP (456 PS), as well as the upgraded RT/10 in 1997 and the ACR Package the following year.
The second-gen Viper, also known as the Phase ZB, came in with a larger 8.3-liter V10 engine, producing 500 HP and a whooping 525 lb-ft (712 Nm) of torque. This was the first Viper that could, on paper, hit 60 mph (96 km/h) in under 4 seconds flat – the Roadster was rated at 3.8 seconds, and the stiffer Coupe model at 3.7 seconds.
For the Phase ZB II model, Dodge went with a 8.4-liter V10, good for 600 HP and 560 lb-ft (760 Nm) of torque. This car would endure until the unveiling of the all-new 2013 SRT Viper, at the 2012 NY Auto Show.
Dubbed the Phase VX, the last generation Viper was the fastest and most powerful Viper ever. Its most extreme version, as you probably all know, was the infamous ACR, known for breaking records at the Nurburgring.