Dodge Viper that was on top of Kentucky dealership for 28 years caused a real shock after being brought down and opened up

This Dodge Viper was sitting atop a Kentucky car dealership for almost three decades.

But when it was brought down from its perch and finally opened up, things weren’t as expected.

First hoisted to the skies in May 1996, the car has only touched the ground once since then.

And it certainly caused quite a surprise the second time it came back to Earth.

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Dodge Viper manages to sit 30ft in the sky in Kentucky

Okay – so how exactly does a Dodge Viper end up towering in the skies for 28 years?

Well, it was actually designed as a major marketing scheme, as well as an unofficial dealership mascot.

Back in May 1996, Audubon Chrysler had a brand-new Dodge Viper RT/10 among its inventory…. And decided to try something very different.

Instead of just selling the Viper on the sales lot, the Kentucky dealership decided to use it to attract business in a different way.

So Audubon Chrysler hoisted the Dodge Viper onto a 30ft-high pole outside the dealership.

The car itself, which has just 12 original miles on the clock, came down for a revamp in 2009.

Over the years, the iconic car has become something of a beloved local landmark.

After sitting in the sky for almost three decades, locals had several theories.

To them, it surely must have been a replica model or simply a shell of a car.

Yet the Viper itself is very much the real deal.

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Iconic car leaves people shocked at its condition

November 2024 saw the 15-year mark since the car had last been restored.

So it finally got hoisted down and back onto the ground for a check.

What was found within the car caused a real shock for the dealership.

A man named Scott Harris snapped images of the Viper being removed and shared them on Facebook, where he also revealed that getting it back to its former glory would be a big undertaking. 

“My buddy Larry, having the Dodge Viper brought down off of the Audubon Chrysler sign today so it can be refreshed,” Harris shared.

“It’s going to be a bit of a bigger job than they first thought to revitalize.” 

Unfortunately, Harris was not being dramatic.

The paintwork wasn’t in great shape, and the interior had become mold-filled.

An entire bird’s nest had managed to develop inside the engine bay.

Thankfully, though, the Dodge Viper of the sky could be revived.

It was sent to Keen’s Auto Body and Paint to revitalize the striking red paint finish.

“This landmark vehicle, which has caught eyes from all around, is getting a fresh, professional repaint by our expert team,” the team said.

“It’s not every day you get to bring new life to a car with such history and visibility.”

To the joy of locals in the area, the Dodge Viper has been restored and now looks as good as it did back in May of 1996.