1997 Dodge Viper Race Car 1997 DODGE VIPER GTS RACE CAR MULTIPLE SCCA RACE WINNING HISTORY! FROM THE COLLECTION OF THE LATE DICK CARTER, A RENOWNED RACE DRIVER / COLLECTOR FOR 66 YEARS PROFESSIONALLY MODIFIED FOR RACING; NOT STREET LEGAL CHALLENGE AND BEAT EXOTICS AT A FRACTION OF THE COST _______________________________ NOTE: Our listings are rather lengthy. They not only describe this particular car but also some history of the make/model, considerations in buying a classic car and facts about our firm. However, we continually hear from out of state / out of country buyers (many of our clients) that they prefer the level of detail that we provide. However, if you are not prepared to read the full listing, please read the OVERVIEW below along with the PHOTOGRAPHS at the bottom. If you'd prefer, please call us at 925-846-1451 and we'll gladly discuss the Viper and answer any questions over the telephone, including our "Buy it Now" policy. Yes, the Viper can be purchased prior to the end of the eBay auction. PHOTOGRAPHS PLEASE NOTE: EACH TIME WE LIST A VEHICLE ON eBay WE RECEIVE COMMENTS THAT THERE ARE NO PHOTOS OF THE INTERIOR, ENGINE, UNDERCARRIAGE, ETC. OF THE CAR. THERE ARE CLOSE TO 100 PHOTOS OF ALL AREAS OF THIS VIPER, BUT WHEN YOU REACH WHAT APPEARS TO BE THE LAST PHOTO, YOU WILL NEED TO SCROLL DOWN ON eBay TO VIEW THE REMAINING PHOTOS. IF YOU ARE STILL UNABLE TO SEE THEM, PLEASE CALL US AT 925-846-1451 AND WE WILL PROVIDE A DIRECT LINK. NOTE: IT IS A VIOLATION OF ebay POLICY FOR US TO LIST THE URL ON THE eBay LISTING. PLEASE LET US KNOW IF YOU WOULD LIKE ADDITIONAL PHOTOS OF ANY PART OF THE VIPER. ALL OF OUR PHOTOS ARE TAKEN IN NATURAL LIGHT AND WE DO NOT "PHOTO-SHOP" OR TOUCH-UP THE PHOTOS IN ANY WAY. INTRODUCTION This car is offered at a realistic price and, unlike bidding on cars in a live auction environment, you will have the benefit of extensive information and history on the car prior to making a buying decision. Equally as important is the fact that Classic Cars Ltd. has been in business for 20+ years and enjoys an excellent national / international relationship with nearly 800 positive eBay feedback responses. Please keep in mind that we will gladly... 1. Answer any questions over the telephone and take the time to guide prospective customers through the buying process (925-846-1451). 2. Assist with locating a quality, suitable transporter at very competitive prices. 3. Provide proof that we are licensed, bonded (for the financial transaction), fully insured, and operate from an established showroom environment. 4. Provide feedback from previous buyers, and specific references for vehicle purchases in your area (we also ask that you view our detailed eBay feedback by clicking on the number to the right of the eBay user name) 5. Offer additional information including specific photographs or clarification of any part of our description of the vehicle Thank you again, please let me know if I can be of assistance. Happy "eBaying"! Paul R. Wankle, Pres. Classic Cars Ltd. Pleasanton, CA 925-846-1451 DETAILS-THIS PARTICULAR 1997 DODGE VIPER GTS RACE CAR CAR HISTORY This Viper is virtually the last remaining car in the collection of the late Dick Carter, a renowned race driver. Mr. Carter drove in NASCAR races for 66 years, even racing at age 81. He was the first promoter of Altamont Raceway in Tracy, California. Mr. Carter bought the Viper late in his career and improved it but most likely never raced it. This is supported by a clean CARFAX record on the car showing only about 300 miles of use since 2002. Further, the CARFAX shows no record of any accidents, although there may have been track incidents. The car is currently titled in California to a Carter family and was part of the estate. The car was converted to race use in the late 1990's and had remarkable success, running vs. Venom Vipers and winning 14 National SCCA (Sports Car Club of America) events from 1998-2001. A photo of the winning dash plaques from 13 of these events is available. As currently professionally set up for racing, the car is not street legal. The car is very light and reportedly extremely fast exhibiting staggering performance. It is an excellent candidate for the appropriate road racing venue (National Auto Sport Association / "NASA", Solo / Autocross or other suitable groups racing). The car starts even after sitting for prolonged periods of time and runs and drives very strong with no apparent issues. Outside of updating safety equipment and tires the car appears to be in race ready condition. One thing is clear; the car is an absolute blast to drive and is very fast! We were told that the professional modifications to make this Viper race ready total about $300,000 and included hundreds of hours of labor. The V10 motor is balanced and blueprinted, the six speed manual transmission is upgraded and the rear end is beefed up to withstand the tremendous horsepower the car develops. Hoosier racing slicks are mounted on new 18" Forgeline wheels ($5000). The car has new fully adjustable Moton shocks ($4500), a lift-off fiberglass hood/front ($2700), new Stoptech 14" brakes and pads ($6000), new custom-made Belanger headers and custom-made side exit mufflers ($4000), and light weight Autoform doors (no inside panels). The list of modifications including significant chassis strengthening and other improvements is too lengthy too list. Qualified buyers are encouraged to inspect the Viper. Both seats are Sparko EVO racing seats. The driver's seat is equipped with a 5-point Teamtech belt dated June 2002. The passenger seat has a lap belt only. The belts look like they have never been used supporting the information that we received that the car has only a few hundred race / track miles since being constructed. The car is equipped with a full race cage including a driver's side bar. Side windows have catch nets installed. The steering wheel is a Momo brand. The exterior is bright painted red with a double white stripe down the center. All body panels and the paint are in good, very presentable condition. There are no signs of significant body damage and only minimal minor imperfections. It seems apparent that the car had very minimal track time as there is almost no "road" (or race rash or patina. In addition to the stock tachometer, speedometer, water temp, oil pressure, fuel and ammeter gauges, both oil temp and trans temp gauges have been added to the right side of the dash (in the former glove box lid). OTHER The current odometer reading is 8,030 miles and, based upon the Carfax report, is believed to be accurate (7,751 miles in 2002). Note that since 2002 the car has accumulated fewer than 300 miles. An indoor car cover is included. IMPORTANT NOTE: The speedometer/odometer and all of the gauges are fully functional. Based on the chronological documentation of the car (Carfax) it appears as if it saw very few actual race miles. We also have information indicating that the car received a mechanical and cosmetic freshening by one of the premier Viper builder in the country several years ago for "freshening". The vehicle has a clear California title and is currently registered as non-operational based on its race car status. Should a future owner choose to convert the Viper to a street car, the title is clear and carries no liens. HISTORY OF THE SECOND GENERATION VIPER (1996-2002) A coupe model called the GTS was introduced in 1996. Dubbed "double bubble", the roof featured slightly raised sections above each seat to accommodate usage of helmets, a throwback to its intended purpose. Vipers can be seen participating often in drag racing and road racing. The GTS, like its predecessor, was chosen as the pace car for the 1996 Indianapolis 500. Despite its similar outward appearance, the car was distinct enough to be considered a new generation model. Extensive modifications included a reworked V10 engine with higher power and less weight, an almost completely redesigned chassis that was made 60 lb lighter and 25% stiffer in torsional rigidity through meticulous computer analysis, a thoroughly redesigned suspension, and reduced braking distances. The 1996 to 2002 Viper GTS had a lighter (approximately 650 lb.) 450 bhp engine, which could complete the quarter mile in 12.3 seconds, 0.3 seconds and 6 mph faster than its predecessor, and increased top speed by 11 mph. The revised suspension, stiffer chassis, and aerodynamic body raised lateral grip to 0.98 g. Slalom runs could often reach or exceed 70 mph. PURCHASING A COLLECTOR VEHICLE - THINGS TO CONSIDER As always, we recommend that you carefully review the seller's background for any collector car being sold over the Internet. It is important to ask yourself a number of questions including, but not limited to: - How long have they been in business? - How much experience do they have with collector cars? - How many positive collector car vehicle sales have they completed (positive eBay feedback)? - How detailed/complete is the description of the vehicle? - Do the photos show details of the interior, exterior, top, chrome, etc. or are they simply "glamour shots" taken from a distance? - Does the seller have a Surety Bond to protect the financial transaction? - What about insurance, licensing by the state, and a local business license? - Does the seller (if a business) have any DMV (Motor Vehicle) complaints and/or other history of legal action, grievances? - Does the seller enjoy a favorable local and national/international reputation? - Can the seller assist with funding sources, transport and out of state/country sales? ABOUT CLASSIC CARS LTD. - Classic Cars Ltd. has been in the same, small, California town for over 20 years. We operate a small "brick & mortar", indoor showroom, and specialize in the sale, consignment, and purchase of sports, high performance and specialty vehicles of all types. We have a particular interest in sports cars and unique vehicles. - The majority of our vehicles come from local, private owners and collectors, and many were sold new in California. We appreciate that rust free cars, with excellent documentation and history are especially attractive to our buyers both locally, and around the country. As a result, we do not purchase our collectible cars from "distressed" sales, such as wholesale auctions, salvage sales, or lien sales. We do not sell vehicles with salvage titles, or those that have a history of significant accident damage or repair. We have sold hundreds of unique, classic and collectible vehicles and regularly deal with buyers that have not had the experience of purchasing a large (both physically and monetarily) item on eBay, or through an Internet source. Our eBay feedback is 100% positive on all vehicle sales from customers around the globe and is a reflection of our commitment to accurate, complete, and thorough vehicle descriptions. - We have been shipping vehicles for years and have established excellent contacts that are not only high quality but very price competitive. We do not use brokers, terminal shipping or other discount methods. Call us or email for a quote directly to your home or office. We are often able to obtain quality enclosed transportation (the kind of travel this car deserves) for the cost of open shipping. - Please review our feedback on eBay (user name Never22Many) representing over 780 positive transactions to buyers all over the United States / World. - We are fully insured, bonded, and licensed for collector car sales all over the United States/World. - Classic Cars Ltd. carries a $50,000 Surety bond to cover financial transactions - We frequently sell vehicles to out of State / out of country buyers, and will be glad to provide references for buyers in your area. MISCELLANEOUS GENERAL INFORMATION - As with virtually all collector/specialty vehicles, we find that parts and resources are readily available for this (and most every vehicle), thanks in large part to the Internet. - In addition to the purchase price of the vehicle, California buyers will be subject To sales tax, a documentation fee, DMV transfer fees and license/registration. Out-of-state buyers will be responsible for the purchase price of the vehicle and any local taxes/fees will be the purchaser's responsibility to pay in their respective state. IMPORTANT NOTE: If the vehicle is delivered or driven in California and driven on California roads, sales-tax, license/registration and transfer fees will be assessed per California law. - While we encourage telephone calls to discuss this vehicle in greater detail we will not respond to inquiries asking "What is the reserve". Also, if you would prefer that we call you to answer any questions about the vehicle; shipping alternatives, etc. please e-mail us with your telephone number and will gladly get back in touch with you. - We encourage inspections of this Viper by serious, qualified individuals or professional inspectors. Please call at 925-846-1451 to arrange a convenient time. - As with any collectible vehicle of this vintage we are unable to provide a warranty or guarantee of condition. However, we make every effort to accurately represent our vehicles, and highlight both positive items as well as areas that require attention. We ask that prospective buyers consider our eBay history/feedback, standing in the community, length of time in business, and other factors when purchasing a collectible vehicle from Classic Cars Ltd. - Minor cosmetic issues/flaws may be present on every vehicle (regardless of cost) including small chips, nicks, scratches, etc. that can be seen on even the best restoration, or even a relatively new, used "pre-owned" vehicle. Also, ownership of a collectible / specialty vehicle is more enjoyable if the owner is familiar with the "realities" of these unique cars. Unlike more modern day vehicles, these cars require regular, ongoing care/maintenance and some mechanical knowledge, patience, and understanding can make the experience considerably more pleasant. That said, collector / "specialty" car owners will tell you (emphatically) that they love their cars and wouldn't trade them for anything!! - The information contained in this description is believed to be accurate but, in some instances, has been provided by the car's owner / owners or outside sources. As a result, we are unable to guarantee the accuracy of the information. We encourage verification of "numbers" and significant data prior to the purchase of any collector vehicle that you are considering. Thank you, Classic Cars Ltd. 925-846-1451 Specifications: Body Type / Style: Coupe Exterior Color: Red Interior Color: Black Engine: V8 Transmission:    6 Speed Manual Mileage: Brand New! Drive: Rear Doors: 2 Equipment: 18" Forgeline Wheels 3M Stone Guard - Front Autofrom Doors Belanger Custom Headers Car Cover Included Close Ratio 6-Speed Custom Headers & Exhaust Dual Side Mirrors Full Instrumentation Full Roll Cage    Full Roll Cage Fully Adjustable Suspension Lightened Flywheel / P Plate Race Brake Pads Rebuilt Differential Rebuilt Transmission Roll Cage Sparco Evo Race Seats (2) Teamtech 5 Point Belts VERY FAST Has VIN # & CA Title Adjustable Shocks Lightened Flywheel Headers / Side Exit Terms & Conditions Buyers outside of California will be responsible for a $195.00 fee for processing/administration. The charge will apply if the vehicle is purchased through ebay or before or after the auction, directly through Classic Cars Ltd. The vehicle is listed for sale elsewhere. We reserve the right to end the auction at anytime. We will be glad to discuss details of a "pre-auction" purchase (925) 846 1451. Inspections of vehicles are encouraged but (by appointment only) must be completed within 24 hours of the end of the auction. Out of state buyers are responsible for the high bid and any shipping costs. California buyers are subject to the appropriate sales tax, DMV transfer, and fees associated with the purchase of any used vehicle sale in the state of California. To avoid shipping the title with the car to our out of state buyers, we mail the title via Priority Mail. While shipping and transportation costs (if appropriate) are the responsibility of the winning bidder, we can assist with locating a suitable transporter. We regularly ship cars all over the USA/World, and can often times locate very competitive rates for transporting vehicles door to door, to a local terminal, enclosed, open, etc. Please call us for specific information/rates to your location. We meet some great people and fellow enthusiasts, and only rarely do we have problems with non-paying bidders. Please be certain that you are prepared to buy the car if you bid, or call us at 925-846-1451 before the end of the auction if we can answer any questions. If you have a "sunglass" rating or fewer than 10 feedback ratings on eBay, please call us before you bid so that we can discuss the bidding process, etc. If we do not hear from you, we reserve the right to delete your bid. Thank You & Happy Bidding Classic Cars Ltd.