From its Lamborghini-designed V10 engine to featuring spirit levels in its headlights, there's nothing else quite like it

Back in the late 1990s, things looked a bit different.

The world was somewhat at peace, and its superpower, America, was in control. Optimism was rife in American society, and it was something piped into countries like Australia via Hollywood cinema and general entertainment.

Some of us look back fondly at those times, and American sports cars and trucks instantly come to mind. Building a car like the Viper required an optimistic atmosphere, as it would be difficult to sell a car without door handles in showrooms today in 2025.

And not only that, no windows too. The Dodge Viper is a unique instance where an unrestrained concept car enters production without the influence of bean counters. It’s a product of a team of mad car enthusiasts.

Despite the car’s limited budget, this dedicated team of engineers excelled beyond expectations. The first clever thing they did was get Lamborghini—a car company recently acquired by Chrysler—to engineer and cast an alloy 10-cylinder version of its steadfast V8 engine.

They also designed the car with fibreglass panels over a tubular frame for maximum design flexibility. The resulting shape is truly dramatic and exotic, with curves and vents that reveal a lot of what’s going on underneath.

It’s fast, dramatic, and arguably built by America at its peak.