When the covers came off the Dodge Viper concept car at the 1989 North American International Auto Show, the public’s reaction was far beyond anything that the company had ever envisaged. The concept was being considered as a possible production car, but the response was so strong that Dodge gave the Viper the green light for development. This 1994 Viper RT/10 is a striking looking car, and what makes it extra special is the fact that it has only accumulated 2,850 miles on its odometer during its lifetime. It is now looking for a new home, which means that someone has the opportunity to park a true low-mileage survivor in their driveway. The Viper is located in Salt Lake City, Utah, and is listed for sale here on eBay. An indication of the level of affection that people feel for the Viper is best reflected by the interest this car has generated. There have been 35 bids submitted up to this point. These have pushed the price along to $35,700. I’m not surprised to learn that the reserve has not been met.

I can’t think of a better color to grace one of these cars than Viper Red. The Viper is a bold car, and it deserves to wear a bold color. With a mere 2,850 genuine miles on the clock, it is no surprise to find the presentation to be close to perfect. The paint shines in the sun, without a single noticeable blemish. The distinctive alloy wheels are free from damage and stains, while the glass is spotless. The owner states that it looks like it has just driven off the showroom floor, and the supplied photos leave me no room to argue this point. The styling of the Viper is very similar in concept to the Corvette but is far more aggressive in appearance. The lack of exterior chrome was an inspired move by Dodge because it meant that there was no “tinsel” to draw your eyes away from the bold body lines. Even the subtle integration of the side exhaust allows the car to achieve a “complete” look.

The Viper wasn’t just about appearance and presence. Dodge decided that they needed their new baby to perform, so worked with Lamborghini to develop the V10 engine that resides under the hood. Based on the Chrysler “LA” V8, this all-aluminum 8.0-liter brute punches out 400hp. In today’s terms, that output might seem to be relatively modest. In 1994, this was enough power to propel the Dodge through the ¼ mile in 12.9 seconds. If you were brave enough to keep your boot buried to the floor, you would eventually find yourself hitting 165mph. Shifting duties in the Viper fall to a 6-speed manual transmission, while proceedings are brought to a halt by enormous 4-wheel disc brakes. With so few miles on the clock, the Viper is anything but worn out. The Michelin tires that the car rolls on are new. However, the original tires have been bagged and are included in the sale. The vehicle underwent a fluid flush and service in late-2019. Since then, the owner has put 1,600 miles on the Viper. What he has found is that it is a classic that still runs and drives perfectly.

The faultless presentation continues inside the Viper. The seats are upholstered in gray leather and show no signs of wear. All of the plastic and carpet is in as-new condition, while the gauges look crisp and clean. Air conditioning was not an option on early Vipers, but this car is fitted with it. Also, you get power windows, power locks, a leather-wrapped wheel, and an AM/FM radio/cassette player. It is interesting to note that the Viper doesn’t come equipped with airbags. Dodge was very conscious of vehicle weight and felt that airbags were an unnecessary luxury at this point. This feature finally appeared in the 1996 Viper GTS.

Growing up in Australia, I had become quite used to the fact that the majority of vehicles Down Under that wore the Dodge badge were commercial in nature. We’re talking about pickups and the unique Dodge Wayfarer ute. There was the occasional dalliance with passenger cars, but these were in the minority. The first time that I saw a Viper, I admit that I was utterly blown away by it. I guess that this means that my reaction was similar to all of those people who saw the original prototype. This wasn’t just a breath of fresh air from Dodge but represented a vehicle that could rightly challenge Chevrolet’s iconic Corvette. Finding an example today with such low mileage is going to be a tough ask. They are about, but they don’t come onto the market that often. When they do, prices generally seem to be somewhere north of $45,000. I suspect that this is about where the reserve has been set for this car. The low mileage does present potential buyers with one conundrum. Part of the car’s inherent value lies in the odometer reading. So, would you drive it and enjoy it as its maker intended, or is this a car that is destined to be a museum piece? I believe that classics like this deserve to be out on the road, but your opinion could be very different from mine. I’ll be interested to hear what our readers think.