Do you remember the Corvette that Hot Rod hacked up a couple of years ago for the sake of proving that any weight removed from a vehicle can improve performance? Did you look at the finished result and think that in some ways, somehow a C4 Corvette was suddenly cooler? Have you looked at an Ariel Atom or KTM X-bow and sighed, loving the idea of a minimalist take on a badass car?
Well, have we got the solution for you! Currently up for sale on Craigslist is this body-less 2003 Dodge Viper. At some point in it’s life this poor Viper got hit in the nose, but not hard enough to hurt any of the black metal. The car’s body was then removed for parts and the remainder was bought on an Ohio salvage title. The owner says that the car runs and drives straight, which means that at least one person knows joy of driving a lightened Viper, and with a little over 55,000 miles on the clock, the 8.3L V10 is just getting broken in.
The price might seem a bit high at $14,900 but honestly, you’d be in far more for all of the parts separately. Plus, this is your opportunity to re-body the Viper however you see fit. So if the actual Viper didn’t look Cobra-ish enough for you, here’s your chance! Go for any body you chose, or build your own! Half the battle of building a car is done, just finish up the looks and be done with it. Or just hook up lights and throw in a windshield and go mess with some heads.
CLICK HERE to see the Craigslist ad for what’s left of this Viper!
(Courtesy: Bring A Trailer)
This would be hella fun if money was no object. I would try to stretch a small car body like a 240z, s2000, or Opal Gt over it. Heck with enough work you could almost drop any body over it. Maybe even something ridiculous like a 61′ Valiant.
What about a replica Jaguar XKE body – I think the proportions may be similar. Base the look on the Group 44 V12 racers and you’d have one hell of a car! A TVR body also springs to mind even an MGB – in fact the only barrier is your imagination.
I’ve just built a Dodge Viper based on an MGB using a body in the States – D’oh
you know the very first late 60’s Celicas, that have vague looks like a 1st gen Camaro ( or even the next model that looks a bit Mustang ish) ? That. put one of those on there…..
I don’t know about stretching “any” body over it. Possible, yes. But then you’d just have a “???” bodied Viper. Tell you what, though, if someone here buys it, I can build you ANY type body you’d like out of carbon fiber, and my team is very capable of starting from zero and building awesome stuff…
This would be a great project for a custom body. While I’m spending money I don’t have, I’ll have my body built in magnesium…
I’m sure it is a lot faster and is certainly an improvement over the ‘made from play-doh’ looking body they usually carry – I’d rather have that cool looking ‘Gladiator J-10’ parked on the street
Replace windshield, add some nylon mesh “doors” (like a UTV), done.