Dodge Viper that's been on top of dealership sign for 28 years was brought down and what had happened to it was a real shock
- A first-generation Dodge Viper was sitting atop a US car dealership
- It acted as a landmark but wasn’t a shell as locals had believed
- However, something shocking was found when it was lowered to clean
Published on Nov 11, 2024 at 3:42 PM (UTC+4)
by Amelia Jean Hershman-Jones
Last updated on Nov 11, 2024 at 8:22 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Tom Wood
A real first-generation Dodge Viper was mounted atop the Audubon Chrysler dealership sign in Henderson, Kentucky, in the US in 1996.
On top of being used as an advertising tool, it’s also become a local landmark for 28 years as drivers enter from Highway 41.
As it became part of the scenery, the scenery and nature have embraced it too.
The condition it was left in when it was brought down for cleaning left the dealership owners shocked.
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The dealership Dodge Viper
For years, locals assumed the iconic Dodge Viper was merely a body shell or had no powertrain.
That’s until Henderson native, Jacob Schreiber, posted photos of the Viper being brought down on the Viper Club of America Facebook group
Surprise, surprise: when it was recently brought back down to Earth for a clean it turned out that it was actually a fully functioning car – albeit weathered and battered by the elements.
Sadly, its once stunning red paint was peeling, and its cabin was so full of mold that the driver’s side window looked like a terrarium.
Perhaps the biggest surprise was the bird’s nest that shocked everyone when the engine bay was opened.
In better condition, this well-loved first-generation Dodge Viper has done 206,000 miles.
What’s next for the muscle car?
Owners are paying to clean, repaint, and refurbish the iconic American muscle car.
Plans are to return the car to its spot atop the dealership in around a month after its restoration.
However, muscle-car enthusiasts argue that a drivable and legendary car deserves a more active life on the road.
What do you think they should do?
This man took everyone by surprise and turned his Dodge Viper into an off-roader to give it more muscle.
This 10-seater V8 Dodge Viper limo is another love-it-or-hate-it modification.
All Supercar Blondie contributors undergo editorial review and fact-checking to ensure accuracy and authority in automotive journalism. After gaining her BA Hons in French and English at the University of Nottingham, Amelia embarked on a vocational diploma from the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ). This led to numerous opportunities, from interning at Vogue to being on the small team that launched Women’s Health magazine in the UK, which was named the PPA Consumer magazine of the year for three years running. As Health, Beauty and Fitness editor, Amelia personally received a Johnson & Johnson Award and was shortlisted for both PPA and BSME titles. Since then, Amelia has created content for numerous titles and brands, including the Telegraph, 111 Skin, Waitrose, Red magazine, Stylist, and Elle, as well as being Head of Content at Vitality and Editor in Chief at INLondon magazine. “My superpower is translating technical jargon about the mechanical workings of a supercar into a relatable story you’ll want to share with your friends after you’ve read it.” After joining the SB Media family as a senior journalist in September of 2023, Amelia’s role has evolved to see her heading up the SEO output of the editorial team. From researching the most ‘Google-able’ key terms to producing evergreen content - it’s been a time of hard work, growth, and success for the editorial team and the Supercar Blondie website. “I like to think of myself as a ‘method journalist’. In other words: I live and breathe whatever I am writing about. When writing about fitness, I trained as a personal trainer, and as a beauty editor, I completed an ‘expert’ in scent diploma with the Fragrance Foundation. “During my tenure at Supercar Blondie, however, I did something I never thought possible: I passed my driving test at the age of 36. One day I’d love to train as a mechanic to better understand what happens under the hood, too. “My sweet spot is providing readers with a ‘takeaway’ (read: something new they didn’t know before) after reading every one of my stories. While I don’t claim to be an expert in the automotive world, I know the experts and bodies in the field to rely on to provide our readers with an informative and thought-provoking story every time they visit the site.”
