One-Owner 12k-Mile 1992 Dodge Viper Hennessey Venom 500
Vehicle Details
- Year: 1992
- Make: Dodge
- Model: Viper RT-10
- VIN: 1B3BR65E9NV100230
- Mileage: 12,504
- Transmission: Manual
- Title Status: Clean
- Color: Viper Red
- Seller: SBerastequi
- Seller Type: Private Party
- Location: Las Cruces, NM 88007
- Lot #: V-0014793
It is our pleasure to present this 1992 Dodge Viper finished in Viper Red over a grey leather interior. One of the most iconic sports cars of the 1990s, the original Dodge Viper is a visceral analog two-seater featuring a striking design, manual transmission, and a naturally aspirated V10 engine designed in collaboration with Lamborghini. This early example was purchased new at Huffine’s Dodge of Lewisville, Texas in December of 1992 before it was turned over to Hennessey Motorsports as the first Viper to receive the Venom 500 package including ported and polished cylinder heads, upgraded intake and exhaust manifolds, larger throttle bodies, a 3” exhaust system, revised gearing, and more. Reportedly the first Viper to compete in a sanctioned road race event in the United States, this example was campaigned in the Viper Invitationals up until 2005 and was also featured in various automotive publications during the early 1990s. Now showing just over 12,500 miles on the odometer, this remarkable Hennessey-tuned 1992 Dodge Viper is being offered for auction by its original owner out of New Mexico.
This first-generation Viper features a tubular steel frame with composite molded fiberglass bodywork finished in Viper Red (RN) with white top stripes, a black canvas soft top, and zip-up vinyl side curtains. Exterior details include dual side-exit exhaust pipes, integrated front fog lights, black painted brake calipers with white Viper script, and chrome 17” aluminum alloy tri-spoke wheels sourced from a later 1994 model. These wheels come dressed in new Michelin Pilot Sport tires and the original set of wheels is also said to accompany the sale. A sticker affixed to the windshield shows the first event this Viper competed in, the BluBlocker 100. The seller describes the car to remain in excellent condition overall, noting the front fascia was refinished for cosmetic purposes at the conclusion of its motorsport career in 2005. A small chip is also reported near the front hood latch as well as a scuff mark below the rear license plate. Detailed images are provided in the gallery along with a clean CARFAX report.
The spartan interior is equipped with two manually adjustable sport seats trimmed in grey leather with a matching center console. dashboard, and door panels. Racing equipment includes a three-spoke MOMO steering wheel, red five-point Simpson safety harnesses, and a fire extinguisher located below the passenger seat. A three-spoke leather-wrapped steering wheel sits ahead of white instrument dials including a 180-MPH speedometer and a 6k-RPM tachometer flanked by auxiliary gauges spanning across the center of the dash. The seller notes the original acoustic speakers have deteriorated over time, while the radio, clock, and cassette player remain fully functional.
The original Viper features an 8.0L V10 developed in collaboration with then-Chrysler subsidiary Lamborghini. This naturally aspirated engine can produce up to 400 HP and 465 lb.-ft. of torque stock, which is delivered to the rear wheels by way of a 6-speed manual transmission and a limited-slip differential. In February of 1993, this example was modified by Hennessey Performance with the Venom 500 package including ported and polished cylinder heads, honed and extruded intake and exhaust manifolds, stainless steel roller rocker arms, larger throttle bodies, a 3” exhaust system, 3.73 gearing, and a short shifter assembly. Hennessey claims an output of 500 BHP, 550 lb.-ft of torque, and a 0-60 time of 3.9 seconds while covering the quarter-mile in 12.3 seconds at 118 MPH. The seller notes a leaky passenger-side inner tie rod boot that will eventually have to be replaced and states that the car has only ever required standard maintenance over the past 30 years. The seller adds that the car has been taken on short drives once per month since 2005 for routine mechanical exercise.
This sale will include the original window sticker, a set of two keys, a parts manual, featured publications, a commemorative framed photo from Hennessey, and a clean title. One of the most celebrated American sports cars of all time, this one-owner Hennessey-tuned Viper presents a very special opportunity.
Auction Results
- Sold for: $51,009
- Auction End: Dec 08, 2021 09:09:47PM UTC
- Number of Bids: 41
Comments (53)
@Harleys3 you have a car that is very dear to me and I never thought about selling until recently. Lots of things I can show about this Viper. You can call me or I can call you.
Stephen
Well I fat fingered the last bids I’m very excited to own this car.
Sold for $51,009
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car is too cool, I am goin again!!!
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@Breck After almost 30 years, Breck, I have LOTS of stories from the race tracks especially the preparation for the BluBlocker 100 and the race itself. Thanks for considering the car, it’s always great talking with another Viper owner.
Stephen
@SBerastequi I have found that if you can get your hands on Viper parts, the car is usually fairly easy to work on. I have some noise coming from the blower motor on my 95' and it only took four bolts to access it, but I cannot find a fan anywhere. Fortunately, I know a technician at my local CDJR dealer who is Viper certified & I have a handful of shops I know that can help out with other things.
Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions & let me know if you have any other cool Viper stories. Good luck with the Auction! (I will be watching closely!)
@Breck Breck, two things—I bought this car while still in my mid 40’s. I had just returned from the Elf-Winfield Racing School in France and knew what I wanted to do, I just needed the right car. What is the right car in your mid-40’s isn’t necessarily the right car for you in your mid-70’s.
I hate to give this car up but maybe it’s just time.
Secondly I moved here (Southern New Mexico) from Dallas, where I could find the parts and expertise quickly and fairly easy. This is the a very remote and backward place that I live. The Dodge dealerships in El Paso basically offer no help or parts for my car. That is why I’ve been collecting extra parts—water pump, alternator, thermostat, radiator hoses, etc. for the past 4 years and fortunately have been able to do basic things myself. This car has never broken down on me but it has never been restored and is almost 30 years old. I hope I’ve answered your questions. You live in or close to a great car city you won’t have problems.
@SBerastequi not at all! This is the type of stories that make cars like this. It says a lot to hold onto a car for 29 years. I tend to ramble on and on when I tell car stories myself. And although the Shelby may be worth more, the enjoyment & stories you get out of cars like this are what owning one is all about.
What has made you finally decide to part ways after all this time?
@Breck Thanks for the interest and the nice recognition of the ‘92 model year Viper. A very close friend of mine lusted after one of the Shelby’s I owned and he was also in tight with the sale’s manager of Huffines’s Dodge. He offered me cash and his buying position for the Viper if I would sell him the Shelby. And I accepted. Thirty years later you can see who made the better deal but I knew what I wanted to do with the Viper and that was racing, something I couldn’t do with the Shelby, at least not in the same way.
I was president of the Dallas Shelby Club and just asked around as who might be a good tuner for the Viper after a couple of weeks of driving it and some of the members mentioned a relatively unknown gentleman by the name of John Hennessey. He and I talked on the phone and he explained that with 488 cubic inches not a lot had to be done to get more HP out of the Viper. He did not make any changes internally with the engine block, just improved the breathing and air flow through the block. I turned the car over to him in February of ‘93 and in May of ‘93 he trailered it to Nevada where I met up with him. The July issue of AutoWeek has an interesting article written by Mark Vaughn, the West Coast Editor of AutoWeek, talking about the Viper, John and myself. Sorry Breck, I could go on and on about the experiences I have had with this car. Hope I didn’t bore you
Bid in the amount of $20,000
@SBerastequi how did you manage to get one of the 92's? And what made you go with Hennessey?
This is a very special car! Not only is this a first model year for sale by the original owner, but the first Hennessey car put together! These 92's are special cars for the low production numbers and the small handful of unique features special to the first model year. I myself own a 1995 RT/10 and it is a great drivers car. Not only is this example here a nice collectors piece, but it also has the mileage to be driven occasionally without extreme guilt.
Bid in the amount of $250
Good evening, my name is Steven and I am the original owner of this Viper and will be happy to answer any questions and share any thoughts about owning this special car. This was the first year for the Viper and 285 were hand built and hand assembled for the street. I was fortunate to locate a relatively unknown tuner in early 1993 by the name of John Hennessey and this car was the first Viper he massaged with his Stage III performance package. I still have the receipt for that work. Anyway I could go on a long time talking about this car but will wait to hear from those interested in this special Viper. Thank you for your consideration.