How the Dodge Viper Became America’s Wildest Supercar

The Dodge Viper was never supposed to be sensible. It had a massive V10, rear-wheel drive, a manual transmission, almost no electronic protection in its earliest form, and a reputation for punishing drivers who didn’t respect it. And somehow, Dodge actually built it. In this episode of Driven Past, we explore the complete story of the Dodge Viper — from the wild 1989 concept and the influence of the Shelby Cobra, to the first RT/10, the legendary Viper GTS, its success in endurance racing, the SRT-10 era, the brutal ACR, and the final generation that pushed the Viper further than ever before. The Viper was loud, hot, uncomfortable, intimidating, and completely unnecessary. That was exactly the point. While modern sports cars became safer, easier, and more sophisticated, the Viper remained one of the last machines that demanded everything from its driver. So how did Dodge create one of the wildest American performance cars ever built? And why did it eventually disappear? This is the story of how the Dodge Viper became America’s wildest supercar. Welcome to Driven Past. Every car has a story. Subscribe for more documentaries about the cars, brands, and machines that shaped America — and the automotive world. #DodgeViper #Viper #Dodge #Supercar #CarHistory #AutomotiveHistory #DrivenPast