The Last Dodge Viper Rolls Off The Production Line In Detroit
Aren’t you sad? We are. The final Dodge Viper has rolled out of the FCA’s Conner Avenue Assembly Plant in Detroit. We’ll miss you, Viper.
FCA Global Head of Design, Ralph Gilles was around when the final Dodge Viper made its way out of the production floor at FCA’s Conner Avenue Assembly Plant in Detroit. The facility – called the “Home of Viper” – is shutting down along with the demise of one of America’s greatest cars.
The Conner Avenue Assembly Plant in Detroit where Dodge Vipers were being hand-built will shut down permanently on August 31, 2017. All employees who were involved in the construction of Viper will be moved to other plants. That’s a thoughtful gesture which needs to be applauded during these days when every CEO is trigger-happy in firing employees.
There are two Dodge Vipers which will be getting their respective places in the history books of the legendary sports car. One is the yellow Viper ACR with black racing stripes which is the last customer car and it got completed right before the final copy of the Snake. The latter, finished in red and wearing polished alloys will be added to the carmaker’s heritage collection.
Courtesy: Dodge FCA US Media
Courtesy: Dodge FCA US Media
Courtesy: Dodge FCA US Media
Courtesy: Dodge FCA US Media
Ralph Gilles has updated his Instagram account with ample images from the factory floor, which will bring a tear or two to the eyes of all Viper fans. He was instrumental in reviving the Viper after it was put down back in 2012. One can understand his emotional attachment to this car and after going through the gallery below, every Viper enthusiast will feel the same.
Will there be another instance of a proper resurrection for the Dodge Viper?
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The Viper had an eventful run during its five generations and went through lots of ups and downs during its years of existence. It had to fend off competition from various models of the Chevrolet Corvette and also hold fort against the invading forces from Italy and Europe.
While the Dodge Viper SRT in its latest (and last) generation did evolve a lot from its previous form, even mirroring the C7 Corvette in many aspects, it still couldn’t set the sales chart on fire. But Ralph Gilles says that it wasn’t the low sales which made FCA take the painful call to axe the Viper. An Autoblog report on the news, quotes the Design Chief’s words,
"Not really, as it sold well over the last couple of years at a great mix of mostly ACRs in the last 15 months. It has more to do with a new ejection mitigation regulation airbag that simply won’t fit in our package."
Next: THE LAST VIPER Short Film Says Goodbye To Dodge Viper
While the overall mood was one of gloom, Gilles made a statement which celebrated the iconic car that the Viper has always been and the incredibly memorable production run that it had.
"The Gen5 had a great 5 model year run and the Viper platform which has not changed that much over the years had a great 25-year run!"
Goodbye Viper. We’ll miss you. (Grabbing tissues)
Source: Autoblog