I just read that the last Dodge Viper will be built on July 2nd and that the plant will be idled indefinitely.
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Re: Another Corvette contender to bite the dust?
I know I have 10 more coming into our Dodge store and most are all in built status waiting final inspection, so I wouldn't be surprised if this info is correct.Tom Hendricks
Proud Member NCRS #23758
NCM Founding Member # 1143
Corvette Department Manager and
Specialist for 27 years at BUDS Chevrolet. -
Re: Another Corvette contender to bite the dust?
....and I thought about 3 months ago I read where they will be continuing the Dodge Viper. Things change quickly anymore.
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Re: Another Corvette contender to bite the dust?
Too bad, I always enjoyed having a "domestic" rival like the Viper. I feel like the Viper pushed the Vette to continue evolving and not rest on its past laurels.Comment
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Re: Another Corvette contender to bite the dust?
Yup, it was a great run from 1992-2010, and it ends on Friday; I was the Plant Manager from 1995-2001. Lots of really great, hard-working folks in that workforce who built about 27,000 Viper "torque-monsters".
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Re: Another Corvette contender to bite the dust?
John:
Am I correct that you will be "on site"? Has to be a somewhat emotional exercise involving variations of "Well, it they had only.....".was
Was it the same "forecasters" that built the 60K Prowler....Comment
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Re: Another Corvette contender to bite the dust?
Nope, I was there a couple of weeks ago to see the troops - didn't want to be there the day the lights go out.
Actually, the Prowler program was a success; it was originally projected as a 5-year program, and we got it extended for a sixth year as the orders continued to flow; sure enough, at the end of the sixth year, everyone who wanted one had one, and we shut the Prowler line down.
Some day I'll tell you the story about hiring "Dr. Ru", a local pinstriper, to come in once a week and stripe the "Woodward Editions", and paying him in cash. Finance and Purchasing are still trying to find the (non-existent) paper trail.
You do what you gotta do....
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Re: Another Corvette contender to bite the dust?
End of an era for sure. Too bad.
Long live Corvette!
Chris Enstrom
North Central Chapter Judging Chairman
1967 Rally Red convertible, 327/350, 4 speed, Duntov @ Hampton in 2013, Founders @ KC in 2014, family owned since 1973
2011 Z06, red/redComment
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Re: Another Corvette contender to bite the dust?
Here's the last one coming off the line on Friday(with custom House of Color bronzed metallic gold paint and copper striping); the guy on the right with the shaved head is Ralph Gilles, the President/CEO of the Dodge brand and Senior Vice President over Chrysler Design (Styling). The car was built for D'Ann Raugh, the lady with him - she and her husband have 40 Vipers in their collection.
Last edited by John H.; July 4, 2010, 12:54 PM.Comment
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Re: Another Corvette contender to bite the dust?
so what will become of the plant and all the workers? its sad to see a car end production but it would be more sad to see all those people loose there jobsComment
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Re: Another Corvette contender to bite the dust?
Keith -
They'll be placed on layoff, and will draw both state unemployment and supplemental unemployment (SUB) until they get picked up to fill another opening at a Chrysler plant based on their corporate seniority.Comment
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Re: Another Corvette contender to bite the dust?
John
I had a drink with a Viper peer of yours at Amelia Island in March before the Saturday night dinner (black tie optional). I believe he had a red suit with a Viper head pin with the eyes lit (battery?).Roy H. Sjoberg was easy to spot in a crowd. He said he like you had key responsibilities with Viper. He was a concours judge the next day.
Regards
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Re: Another Corvette contender to bite the dust?
John -John
I had a drink with a Viper peer of yours at Amelia Island in March before the Saturday night dinner (black tie optional). I believe he had a red suit with a Viper head pin with the eyes lit (battery?).Roy H. Sjoberg was easy to spot in a crowd. He said he like you had key responsibilities with Viper. He was a concours judge the next day.
Regards
Yes, I know Roy very well - he was the Chief Engineer on the original '92 Viper program; I had Chrysler head-hunter Roy out of GM in 1987, about a year after they did the same to me, to run my composite vehicle program at Project Liberty. He enjoys the same status as "The Father Of The Viper" among the Viper nation as Zora does for all of us.
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