About this time last year, we wondered just how much longer the Dodge Viper would last. Arguably, the Viper has lasted a lot longer than anyone on the hybrid AMC/Chrysler Corporation team in the late 1980s would have ever suspected. It was originally a Mopar homage to the Shelby Cobra, packing a V-10 that Lamborghini helped create, and had attitude for miles. But that was in 1992. Twenty-three years ago, a V-10 powered, six-speed equipped two door roadster with 400 horsepower was the stuff dreams were made of. Now, the car can crank out 640 horsepower, is still backing up the power with a six-speed, yet that is only middling territory. FCA has the Hellcat Hemi that has pretty much taken the crown as the top engine, so much so that no matter how often they try, FCA engineers cries of “It doesn’t fit!” get shouted down by the masses that want a Hellcat-powered Viper. The Chevrolet Corvette has gone from a gold-chainer’s joke in 1992 to something wicked, Ford’s Mustang has taken aim, and that isn’t even counting what the Euro and Asian markets have for sale right now.

So what will happen to FCA’s venomous king? According to the proposed FCA/UAW contract (which The Detroit News covered) , the Viper will be “built out” in 2017 and that there is no future product in the works. The Connor Avenue assembly plant, home of the Viper, has been on the deathwatch for some time now, so killing off the snake will be the option FCA needs in order to close the factory down. “No future products” is the part that isn’t sitting well with us. The Viper would need a massive, ground-up redesign to find a buying public, because the current car hasn’t sold like the company has hoped. Sadly, all good things must come to an end, and it appears that the Viper is about to be the next one to go.