Incredible 1992 Viper VIN #001 Goes Up for Sale
Very first Viper ever built was also Lee Iaccoca's personal ride, which makes it worth every penny it garnered at auction.
Holy Grail
The Viper might be nearly 30 years old now, but it's still an incredibly edgy, groundbreaking car by any standard. Few cars have ever caused the stir that the original Viper achieved, and it's unlikely any others will from this point forward. But if you're looking for the ultimate, holy grail Viper, we've found it, and it actually just sold at Bonhams' Scottsdale auction.
Photos: Bonhams
Double Special
For starters, this is the very first Viper to roll off the production line and sports VIN #001. But it was also the personal ride of Lee Iaccoca, an automotive industry legend who also happened to be a Chrysler executive at the time. Yes, the same Iaccoca who famously told Bob Lutz to "build the damn thing" on stage at the Viper concept's unveiling.
Photos: Bonhams
>>Join the conversation about the very first Viper up for auction right here in the Dodge Forum.
Best of the Best
Even better, this Viper remained in Iaccoca's possession from new until he passed in 2019. But he obviously didn't drive it a ton, as the car has only 6,200 miles on the clock as of today. Given the fact that it lived with one of the biggest icons and influencers in the automotive industry its entire life, we can't think of a better Viper to own.
Photos: Bonhams
>>Join the conversation about the very first Viper up for auction right here in the Dodge Forum.
Groundbreaking Machine
It's also worth noting just how groundbreaking the Viper was when it came out, if you don't remember. The early '90s was a rough time in the American auto industry, with manufacturers routinely playing it safe and churning out slow, boring vehicles. The original Viper, however, packed a massive 8.0-liter V10 engine and zero traction control. Heck, it didn't even have anti-lock brakes.
Photos: Bonhams
>>Join the conversation about the very first Viper up for auction right here in the Dodge Forum.
Piece of History
This modern interpretation of an old school sports car was a revelation for Chrysler, helping them completely change their image overnight. Thus, this car is quite simply an important piece of history. Thankfully, Iaccoca was no dummy, and he left his Viper in completely original condition so that it could continue its legacy for many years to come.
Photos: Bonhams
>>Join the conversation about the very first Viper up for auction right here in the Dodge Forum.
Double Trouble
Bonhams called this car "the finest and most desirable Dodge Viper in the world," which is no exaggeration. And it's no surprise that the Viper also smashed its initial auction estimate of $100,000-$125,000 by selling for a whopping $285,500. Whether that was more of a product of being Iaccoca's car or the very first Viper built, it's hard to say. But we're betting it was a little of both.
Photos: Bonhams
>>Join the conversation about the very first Viper up for auction right here in the Dodge Forum.
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