1993 Dodge Viper RT/10 | Jethro’s all grins and giggles. Is it delight or delirium?

[@mattabell3657]

This was a dream car for me. I was obsessed since I first “drove” one in Gran Tourismo on PS1. I’ve had my 2000 Viper ACR for almost 3 years now and I love it. Certainly not my first choice for a drive, usually grab the Focus RS or 911. But when I take it out it feels special in a way the others don’t.

[@hemmingsmotornews]

There's something special about owning a car we once dreamed about. Especially when it's one of your favorites from a game!

[@ZondaF355]

I really encourage Jethro to drive a SRII or Gen 2 Viper. They take what you were uncovering to be amazing and turns it way up from Gen 1. Gen 2 Is a lighter, far more rigid, more power and better interior. I would love to see you try one. I find it a very predictable and capable car. Nothing comes close to the ownership experience. Its always a dream to drive.

[@thomashank7971]

I highly agree. The first Viper I drove was a 1992 and I was a bit put off by many nuances of the car. Still, it left an impression. I later took delivery of my 2001 RT/10 and it was EVERYTHING I had hoped for and more. It's not pedestrian by a longshot and SO different from my modified C5 Corvette. I'll forever argue that a late Gen2 car is PEAK Viper as its meant to be experienced. The fastest NA engines, brakes you can use thanks to the Oreca program, a proper frame and gorgeous interior refinement. Its a car I'll keep forever.@@ZondaF355

[@zeusmultirotor8479]

911, Focus and Viper ACR sounds like a very cool garage

[@gnws6]

A product of its time. Analog, raw, loud, and basic. It's not here to be your friend. It's here to tear the pavement part and put a smile on your face. Early '90s American badass.

[@Rttuning]

Is it good? Maybe. Is it cool still? Absolutely.

[@mattrockwell6214]

The way that exhaust pipe pushes it's tip out when it get excited, it reminds me of my dog

[@johnschlaefflin2100]

I was thinking of a turtle, checking to see if those pesky kids had left him alone yet.

[@loveroflife1914]

Lol!!! Thanks for the chuckle

[@accordracin96]

Love the License Plate!! "DIE EV"

[@hemmingsmotornews]

😅😅

[@jimmyholster]

I don't care for EV's but that is pretty cringe.

[@electrikoptik]

@@jimmyholster Teslas with oil joke license like "lol oil" or "no oil" are even cringier. Last I checked Teslas uses a lot of plastic (plastic is made from petroleum) and even funnier is that Teslas uses oil filter (P/N 1095038-00-A) because the drive unit needs oil.

[@kimurawolf]

I still think it is one of the coolest cars ever made... and that bassy 8 liters V10 sound still sounds cool as f*ck!

[@billshoe22191]

Fantastic job Jethro! Love your takes on these modern classics

[@hemmingsmotornews]

😎😎😎

[@seththomas9105]

This car was a unabashed bastard son of the Cobra. Carrol Shelby and Lee Iococa DNA all over it. WTF does anyone expect. It's a pre digital, pure drivers car that won't wipe your ass for you. It's a SPORTS CAR.

[@dandeluca9840]

Great video and i agree with lots of the commentary having owned a gen 1 for 8 years. What surprises me is how many people mistake the basic specs of the car. The first year of the car was 1992 not 91 and the torque of all gen 1s was 465 not 400.

[@hemmingsmotornews]

Thanks for sharing!

[@sandropehmusic]

I owned a RT/10 for 3 years and than traded it in for a second Gen GTS which I have for 10 years now and will never let go again, till the day I die. The RT/10 is on the right day, the right weather, the right moment unbeatable. The rawness and the non sense at all design puts you in the moment of sheer driving experience likes nothing else. But I had days with it, where I would have traded it for nearly everything. The Gen 2 GTS is a totally different experience. It combines every characteristics the Viper is known for and adds a massiv improvement in every aspect over Gen1 cars. For me Gen2 is the perfect car. I also drove Gen3 and Gen4. Not comparable to Gen2. Gen3 and Gen4 are much "better" cars in every aspect but they don't come close to the experience of Gen1 or Gen2. Thx for the video! I really enjoyed watching it. Greetings from Germany!

[@Boatfisherz1]

The only reason I like the gen 1's more is the steering wheel, side dump, 2 spoke wheels. GTS is sweet though, especially in B/W

[@plymouthdie-castreplicas]

Fabulous video👌 Viper, Prowler and Corvette C5 are my absolutely favourite sports cars from the 90s. Can't wait for other great videos!

[@stefanlechner6622]

I drove one for 12 years. This dude has no clue what the soul and spirit of a viper is. Due to personal circumstances i had to sell. However i will get me another RT/10

[@Boatfisherz1]

Viper is one of the best cars ever made imo. Look at that crazy car, it's freaking gorgeous and a pure drivers car. Lovely....though not great at everything, it's great at what it is. As you said...it's a Viper and that's enough.

[@Petrospect]

I think objectivity flies out the window whenever I even so much as think about the Viper. Could never imagine it was "good" but that's what makes it perfect. And look at the stance this thing has, it'd give a meathead dysmorphia. I love it. Needs a straight exhaust though, sounds much better that way.

[@Q_82]

Ein sehr schönes Video über die Viper. Für mich eines der schönsten Autos der Welt und sieht heute noch moderner aus, als viele aus dem aktuellen Jahr :D

[@krallopian]

7:00 is the "real" sound of the Viper that so few videos ever capture!

[@dlmullins9054]

I owned a 94, and it was a beast! As if it wasn't powerful enough, my engine was torn down and rebuilt by a speed shop which brought out 200 more HP. I also owned a 99 GTS at the same time, and there was a world of difference. I loved just going for a cruise with the GTS as it was very fast, but much easier to drive and it had AC! Thanks for the video.

[@hemmingsmotornews]

Thanks for sharing and the support!

[@tysonkunicky3109]

Love this car!

[@wilsonic4274]

It’s interesting how those outside the US consider the Viper to be ‘Americana’ and representative of all things bald eagles. But as a kid in the states growing up in the 90’s, it was exotic. The Corvette was your bread and butter basic slice of Americana, but the Viper was sort of ‘international’ to me. Especially since it had a V10 instead of a V8. Throw in the racing efforts from the French Oreca team and the German Zakspeed team and you could dare say the Viper is a world car. It’s so insane and so much it’s own thing that it’s not contained to the identity of one nation.

[@CarCrazy12804]

It may be over 30 yrs old now but you have to love it for what it is. A raw modern version of a cobra where if you do not respect it and don't know how to handle its power it will become a widow maker in a hurry.

[@racerx9931]

The 1st gen Viper was not some wild horse to be tamed or a bull you tried to ride.. It was not something to be broke-in and brought under control. It was a venomous serpent that wanted to kill you. That's it, that's the appeal. If you got it home in one piece, it was a good drive.

[@charlieryan1736]

Thanks for featuring this amazing American 🇺🇸 icon 👍🏻

[@hemmingsmotornews]

Thanks for the support!

[@dylandurant1058]

I love the license plate

[@obiwan8393]

I was gonna post the same thing 😂

[@DopravniPoradce]

My only experience with Viper is from videogames but I sort of think we would click. It's unrefined and brutal and unassisted in any way and that's what I love most of all. It's not a daily but for a blast on weekend, it's a dream.

[@anthonydurkin6236]

I've had my rt/10 now for 20 years the secret is not to drive it all the time and the next time you drive one take the back window out the wind goes straight over you then thanks for the video and merry Christmas

[@pawelm8658]

I've got one of these beasts.... it's a 24 year old car but wherever I go I still attract people's interest.

[@oler777]

4:29 you mean the Dodge truck that was labeled as having a viper engine because no semi ever used this engine. It has an aluminum block there is a difference. It's why I get mad when people come up and say I have an LS 6.0 when in reality they have an LQ4 based on an LS because it has an iron block. It is a truck motor i as it weighs more and can take more of a pounding

[@Come-What-May]

I've got a Gen 2. Definitely not for everyone. Simple, far from refined. An absolute blast to drive. My wife drove in it once and promised to never get in it again.lol

[@gmain1977]

Proper car!! Dodge did not go out to make the best cars in the world. This why I love American cars ,they do things their way and they have character. Euro cars are very very pricey, and not built properly , many Euro cars have build quality problems even though they cost 2 or 3 x as much. Today they charge big money for small engine cars, but are more refined. TVR Cerbera ,build bad but awesome and to me Viper and Cerbera are my fav cars of 90s

[@pauldaniel4358]

I have the running gear in a Ram truck called the SRT10 nut ironically I'm originally from Aberystwyth Wales not far from where he is driving lol

[@t3hgir]

The Viper is the Most Awarded international track car in the history of the world. It was production dropped straight onto a barge to Germany from dealership...then straight onto the track at green hell track, plastic covering still cover dash, stereo, gauges, seats. The Italians and Germans laughed at it in 1996, said it was a bad American joke, then they all got scared in June 1996 when it made it's first trial run. Porsche supposedly regrouped that night and changed out at least one driver and modified suspension specifically, for heading into the hole at turns. The viper was inspired by Carl Shelby while he was earlier working with them before contracting with Ford again. His greatest regret was not developing an all American (no British AC car) production Shelby (Cobra/Daytona). The GTS is a New Shelby Daytona.... Period. Look up the side by sides. The viper is 100% handmade, hand painted, hand assembled, etc. No factory line. The viper was never made at dodge....made by less then 75 individuals working at Team Viper 70 Miles from dodge plant. They made more corvettes in 2014 then every single viper built from 1992-2017. Still today, In an almost 30 year old viper GTS can take-on on most every single production sports car made today, especially on a true track. They are geared totally differently and the torque produced works with it. The Viper is Americas Ferrari. Time will tell this to be true only when it is over sadly. They only make so made a handful of Ford GTs, even those were out of reach of a normal American to own. The viper is not cheap, but still can be easily afforded. And best of all ...as Jay Leno says...they are absolutely bulletproof and need very little servicing. I have owned 5 vipers, I still have my 2000 GTS steel grey stripe delete with factory optioned brown "Connelly" importer Italian hand sewn for the handmade seats, by humans, right here in the United States. Search for "Viper at green hell" on KZbin. At the end of the day... the viper struck fear and pushed performance of every single European track car. In short, Europeans laughed until the fear transitioned to the tears. Merica' made a car to hit the corners at gforce speed and enough torque to escape the hole coming out. Porsche had turbo lag and corners were not the strongest. The viper had 355 tires that stuck the turn with a mammoth engine, slammed into a snake head design car that weighed as much as a new beetle, and high gearing to bypass shifts. If you could hold on to the steering wheel, the viper could make any turn at higher speeds. Trick to vipers, they are rigid frames and geared differently. You can't rpm match and downshift to 3rd gear on highway ...or downshift while in the turn itself. If you want to burn rubber downshifting while cruising at 80 mph...she will let you. Like a good bad girlfriend, her answer is always yes and how much more. --- I didn't even write this comment, saw it on another video on Vipers. :D

[@sarahdell4042]

The Viper got really good towards the end. These early ones are very hairy

[@hemmingsmotornews]

Couldn't agree more

[@Fatboymk]

Found the Video a bit odd to be honest, Not sure on the car year either 1992 and 1993 cars had an external aerial on the rear wing, Gen 1 Vipers also had Steel wishbones, Later Gen 2 models featured aluminium upper and lower wishbones and also the factory dialled in a little more understeer in the Gen 2 Vipers to provide more driver feedback. As for the car being driven, well if a plastic door handle trim breaks loose you have to remember the car is over 30yrs old, the dash and centre console had clearly been modded with some carbon look film or hydro dipped. So who knows the cars past! One thing I will say about the car is the size of the rear tyres 335 wide on 17" rims if you hit surface water the car will lift! Simply put the water cant be dissipated from the tyre fast enough! You also have to look at the other cars around at the time to give this car a fair comparison. I had the pleasure of shared ownership of a Gen 1 viper back in 2001 in the UK, took the car to Le mans and we were treated like film stars, French Police moving barriers for us so we could park in the main square etc, Great times. Not many cars have that sort of effect!

[@Boatfisherz1]

That car is over 30 years old, not 20.

[@Fatboymk]

@@Boatfisherz1 Edited, thanks.

[@Pistolspete82]

I know they are terrible but a blue with stripes GTS is still in my top 3 dream cars

[@hemmingsmotornews]

What are the other two cars in your top 3?

[@Pistolspete82]

@@hemmingsmotornews 1) 964 turbo S.. 2) viper gts. 3)2004 vauxhall (holden) monaro or known as a pontiac Gto.... At long last, last year I got one my top three.... The monaro.. And I love it

[@lundfamily816]

The photography of the shoot is over the top. Wouldn't matter what he said during the video, the car looks fantastic. I have a gen I and I'd kill if my kids could capture me driving like that. What other 90's car would you prefer??

[@hemmingsmotornews]

How long have you owned your gen I for?

[@lundfamily816]

I bought the viper just as the pandemic started. The seller was the son of the original owner. He had a large collection of high end muscle cars that his dad collected over the years. He had other interests and needed to sell as he thought the pandemic was going to ruin his business. Needless to say I got a bargain of a deal. The all original car was driven 25k miles and is an excellent driver. Just what I wanted as I planned on driving it as much as I could. I'm around 34k miles now. Clutch bushings and a small radiator leak are the only issues I've had. Pretty solid car. Enjoying your videos. Thanks Randall

[@adrianlukestylist]

Go jethroooooo!!

[@jethrobovingdon1375]

👍👍

[@driverjamescopeland]

3:05 - hearing posh boy description of canted driving position roadster 🤦‍♂️😂

[@Pokoyo-v5o]

Well Jethro, the smile on your face before to launch video says everything...xD I have the same smile on my face when I drive my 1994 RT/10 😂 Many thanks for that wonderful images and fantastic review. It's been long time I was waiting for such a review ! I also agree with most of it ! Making dreams come true keeps alive. That car is totally useless and is a nonsense in many ways, but that's exactly for that I bought it xD

[@hemmingsmotornews]

How many times a year does it come out?!

[@Pokoyo-v5o]

I try to drive it out once a month BUT, I live in Normandy and the weather is roughly the same or even more crappy than where you made your test drive 😅. I also happen to have other toys and only one at a time 😅😅😅

[@killer101viper]

It'd be great if Jethro drove the 90s GTS to see how it compares in every way to the RT/10 which, really, was the most basic and raw.

[@AleksandrHalas]

I always liked and watched video with Jethro

[@jethrobovingdon1375]

Thank you! What a mad thing the Viper is.

[@ac24z]

My dream car is a contraption?😢 That's the dream over, thanks.

[@That_ViperDude]

I love my 1993 gen 1 Dodge Viper :) I'm actually gonna supercharge my car soon.

[@hemmingsmotornews]

Keep us updated on it! Sounds like it'll be a monster.

[@LongIslandMopars]

Why aren't today's automaker CEOs making commercials like that?

[@johnschlaefflin2100]

They make too much money to bother.

[@LongIslandMopars]

@@johnschlaefflin2100 sad but true

[@TheOnlyMrDinoHenry]

Lee Iacocca was special in this way, speaking directly to the customer during his time at the helm of Chrysler

[@curtisbell1707]

U Know How To Drive it 👍 Viper

[@hemmingsmotornews]

You know it!

[@tmnt3998]

I might have missed it, but where in UK is this location?

[@jeffpriem4888]

SRT-10 RAM for me. Hello from Wisconsin

[@obsidian00]

This was when the boys and girls at DODGE decided that "sanity" was overrated...

[@Terraceview]

Nice review of saying you can't stand it from the start.

[@leegiovanni8933]

they talked so bad about this car in the beginning but what it became and what it could have become is unimaginable. It's too bad Mercedies killed it so they could push the black wing which could never compare to the viper ACR

[@dct124]

Better than a Countach.

[@sethlover1211]

its my first car unless i have to transport people. i have a gen 2 gts

[@RS-uo2nd]

10:50. Same. I’ll sum it up for you, you don’t have an appreciation for the Viper. It’s just another car you’re judging 30 years after the fact.

[@iluvcakes19]

Sounds like dude couldn't wait to neg the thing. But in the end even he was bitten by the snake.

[@jethrobovingdon1375]

Not at all. Was excited to drive one properly. Has its faults, that’s for sure, but a lot of fun, too.

[@alanscott8067]

Love my 95🫵😎

[@phillipwatters3752]

The Viper is a very flawed car, as everybody likes to point out, but then you take another look at it and those flaws don't matter. You just want to jump in drive it.

[@hemmingsmotornews]

Sounds about right! 💪💪

[@FlyingStuff]

Honestly, The flaws are what makes them truly exciting. They are terrifying, outlandish, and so full of character. The work I do has allowed me to drive hundreds, If not into the thousands of some of the most legendary, bizarre, spectacular, and rare cars- the most alive I’ve ever felt behind the wheel-of them all- was a Gen V. Viper with an extra 200hp over stock for good measure. That car was a punch in the face, but endearingly so- if that’s possible haha. Love them. They are like a feral animal that has the ability to control its behavior, but rarely chooses to.

[@dfend451]

I don’t get it at all. Why is it bad?

[@jeffchecchio5026]

I still think it was a lot of car for the money.

[@iluvcakes19]

Same

[@MarkCalica]

Love the plate. “Die EV” lol

[@hemmingsmotornews]

😅😅😅

[@ellgwapo.1754]

That's! Ass-head drive my first dream car.

[@jordangagat]

John astor ride this car

[@tonyd842]

He’s English and he has nerve to talk about poorly engineered cars? Look at the automobile your country of origin produces. Enough said?

[@iluvcakes19]

Lol, FACTS!

[@jethrobovingdon1375]

There’s a whole section on how the engineering is really good and just what enthusiasts wants. The basic layout, suspension configuration etc. But it doesn’t matter if your from England, the US, Australia or Japan… the interior etc is hilariously bad. Doesn’t mean the car isn’t a fun thing.

[@gmain1977]

​@@jethrobovingdon1375it is bad but people who buy those cars do not care about the interior , I have 94 Trans Am , interior is crap but , I bought for the smiles per miles, modern cars are easy to drive , all computerised so 90 year old woman can drive it. This is like a Cerbera , no help from computers

[@Alejandro_Palomo]

POWEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEER. hahaha

[@henryallaway4767]

Poor research Jethro, the engine has nothing to do with a truck 🙄

[@gmain1977]

To be honest, when I was a kid rumour was truck engine

[@penrithautoelectrical1942]

Bahahahhaa No such thing as a great American sports car...

[@hemmingsmotornews]

What sports cars are more to your liking then?

[@etmccaus]

@@hemmingsmotornews don't feed the trolls

[@JavierPerez-pf7ub]

you need to drive it on dry roads and a track...the moist sh__ty... roads will break much easier....

[@garyhenry487]

4sale 45357miles supercharger2000rt10. much 2list