Four years after the unveiling of the production roadster, the closed coupe Viper GTS marked a great leap forward in the evolution of the unbridled American supercar. The second-generation Viper, retaining many of the best qualities from the first, improved on nearly every measurable metric. It’s a car whose charismatic, unapologetic drama and in-your-face attitude had no equal.

Regarded as one of the most iconic cars of the 1990s, the Dodge Viper GTS greatly called back to the sports cars of the past. The closed coupe, with its double-bubble roofline and fastback form, took design cues from Pete Brock’s Shelby Daytona and allowed for helmet usage. Poised for track use, the GTS made for an attractive yet aggressive alternative to the offerings from Europe and Japan. Although as rambunctious as its predecessor, less than 10% of the mechanical components were carried over from the RT/10 roadster. The body, now on a stiffer chassis, weighed in 60 lbs lighter, and its power increased to nearly 450bhp. Steel components were traded for those of aluminum, shedding weight in the process to increase the GTS’s structural rigidity greatly. This allowed for even more impressive performance figures in both handling, acceleration, and top speed, thanks to an improved aerodynamic efficiency. Perhaps the most important development provided by the fixed roof was a dramatic increase in usability and creature comforts. External door handles with locks, powered windows, air conditioning, and airbags all contributed to fleshing out the Viper as more of an actual car rather than a weekend toy.

Today, the Dodge Viper remains as a historic remnant of an automotive era that can no longer be repeated. With its timeless looks and raw American performance, these cars are, and always will be, something truly unique in the collector car landscape. Although overall production numbers of Vipers were fairly high, they remain highly desirable amongst collectors. Overall pricing had languished for many years, hovering around the affordability levels of a 3-year-old compact car, but recently, average sales pricing has jumped by almost 30 percent, bolstered heavily by strong sales numbers in the GTS and later special edition forms. Moving forward, we see plenty of room for growth in these cars as they offer something that really no other vehicle can: an unabashed, pure 90’s, all-American driving experience with no aids to speak of. It is just you, the road, and that glorious V-10 engine, an experience that cannot be matched. 

The 1997 Dodge Viper GTS on offer here, Chassis #1B3ER69E0VV301280, is finished in Viper Red and has just 5,900 miles from new. Originally delivered to Oxnard, California, in October of 1997, it remained with its 1st owner for 16 years while being driven sparingly but serviced regularly. From there, in 2011, it changed hands twice while continuing its stay in California and only adding about 1,000 miles from its first owner. Currently, this Viper presents exactly as you would expect a low miles and very well-taken care of California example should. The paint around the car is consistent and original; the only very minor blemishes appear from general use, are hardly noteworthy, and are contained to the front bumper around the grille. The often scuffed door sills remain in perfect condition, and the painful-to-keep-clean piano gloss black surrounds on the door handle are swirl-free with no issues. 

These early Vipers offer both handsome looks and one of the most exhilarating driving experiences one can find in a street-legal road car. As new collectors are inevitably drawn to Dodge’s iconic performance car, the early Vipers are most prized. This low-mileage car is a wonderful and extremely original example. The laws of attrition have worked favorably for the GTS, and today, there are very few good examples left, providing an excellent opportunity with this GTS to experience the Viper essentially as it came originally from the factory. 

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