The Dodge (now SRT) Viper may not have the same amount of history as the Chevrolet Corvette or the Porsche 911, but that doesn’t mean the car isn’t steeped in tradition. Previous Viper Coupes, launched in 1996 and 2006, came to market first with a unique and memorable paint scheme featuring dual Bright White stripes, running the length of the car, on a background of GTS Blue paint.
2013 SRT Viper GTS Launch Edition
To mark the release of an all-new 2013 SRT Viper, Chrysler’s performance division has created a Viper GTS Launch Edition model, once again carrying the familiar Viper livery. The car will make several appearances at this weekend’s Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, starting with an unveiling today at the Quail Lodge.
2013 SRT Viper GTS Launch Edition
Launch Edition cars also feature unique polished wheels; “Stryker” badging on a blue, not grey, background; upgraded leather upholstery and trim; an Alcantara headliner and a commemorative dash plaque marking the build sequence. Launch Edition Vipers will be built in a limed quantity, limited to the first production run at Chrysler’s Conner Avenue Assembly Plant.
The commemorative cars don’t get any performance enhancements, but with an 8.4-liter V-10 engine producing 640 horsepower and 600 pound feet of torque in stock trim, we’re pretty sure that most owners will be happy enough.
Kurt Ernst has been passionate about automobiles and driving nearly his entire life. His early years were shaped working in the family service station, though his real passion was auto racing. After graduating from the University of Colorado, Kurt spent a year club racing with the Sports Car Club of America, before focusing on a business career in marketing and project management. Later, his passion for writing and the automotive hobby found him freelancing for a variety of automotive news sites, including Automotive Addicts and Motor Authority, where his work was syndicated and appeared in several national publications. Recognized as an expert in the automotive field, Kurt joined Hemmings Motor News as an Associate Editor in 2013, and in the years since has progressed to Editor, Hemmings Daily; Managing Editor for Hemmings Motor News, Hemmings Classic Car, Hemmings Muscle Machines, and the Hemmings Daily; and now, Managing Editor, Hemmings Auctions. Kurt was instrumental in organizing the Hemmings Motor News Concours d’Elegance from 2013-2019, and has served as a judge at this event and The Vintage Racing Stable Concours d’Elegance. A Skip Barber Racing School graduate and prolific writer, Ernst is also skilled in copyediting, project management, brand development, and public relations.
