Top Gear Garage

Mark’s gone and turned his teenage bedroom wall fantasy into bright red reality

from poster car to real-life: buying an old 8.0-litre dodge viper
from poster car to real-life: buying an old 8.0-litre dodge viper
from poster car to real-life: buying an old 8.0-litre dodge viper

Internationally renowned photographer Mark has been working with TG for many, many years. When not taking photos he’s buying inappropriate cars. Here he shares his addiction with the world…

There’s a single poster still hanging in my old bedroom. A poster once surrounded by angry nu-metal bands and foldouts from Max Power magazine which now wouldn’t look out of place in a museum of Woke.

But as tastes in music changed, one by one these posters started being removed. All bar one; the very first poster I ever hung up nearly 30 years ago. And the only poster my late mum never had the heart to tear down.

Clearly you can see where this is going. The silly red car pictured above makes it obvious, otherwise it’d be weird if I suddenly said that poster was of The Undertaker. And while I’m not particularly sentimental about any car, the original Dodge (Chrysler) Viper RT/10 has been living rent free in my head ever since.

It was the first car I chose on the first PS1 game I ever bought – The Need For Speed – back in 1996. It was also the first car I remember watching Clarkson review, and that meant it became the default 1:18 scale model of choice for birthdays. “That’s the one you like, isn’t it?” Mum and Dad would say. They’d actually bought a later Viper GTS, but even eight-year-old Mark knew not to be that unreasonable.

Maybe it was the styling? I can’t think of many cars which look more like a Hot Wheels model straight from the factory. And in a world where a BMW M3 can now be specced with quad-stacked exhausts, the Viper’s proportions are still downright comical. Then there’s the engine. Its 8.0-litre V10 was a guaranteed Top Trumps winner before that phrase became associated with right-wing lunatics. By 2022 standards, it’d be less offensive to slap David Attenborough with a pangolin than launch a car with an 8.0-litre engine.

Whatever it was, the Viper was the first car that made me think “Phwoar, these car things are alright… aren’t they?”. It had side-exit exhausts, no roof and no traction control. It was widely reported as a complete death trap, and if you’re taller than 6ft your scalp became the roll hoop. And you know what, the older I got the cooler all of this sounded.

The problem with Vipers is they don’t come up for sale very often, and when they do it’s usually with some overly American specialist who definitely wears a Stetson on weekends.

As luck would have it, I found this one on Car & Classic (complete with a half-arsed description and pictures taken on an old
Nokia flip phone) and paid £40k for it.

You could argue that’s a lot for a truck engine with fibreglass bolted around it, but with lunatics paying £25k for 205 GTIs now it’s actually a complete bargain. Or would be if we weren’t in a cost of living crisis.

But how can you be depressed with an 8.0-litre V10 in a car which looks like a Great Dane’s lipstick? I love how a single car can invoke so many memories. That’s not something you can force with any amount of targeted marketing – it only happens naturally and once it’s got you, it’s impossible to shake. In a world of ethically sourced vegan quinoa from Dalston, the Viper remains a rump steak freshly cut from a Route 66-prepared roadkill. It’s ridiculous in every single way, and that’s exactly why I’ll never ever sell it.

Keyword: From poster car to real-life: buying an old 8.0-litre Dodge Viper

CAR'S NEWS RELATED

Woman Dodges Arrest Warrant, Flees To China After Violent Car Crash Kills Passenger

Photo: Bellevue, WA Police Department A woman who had been charged with vehicular manslaughter fled to China after crossing into Canada according to the Bellevue Reporter. Ting Ye was reportedly driving a 2020 Porsche 911 when she crashed, killing passenger Yabao Liu. The crash took place at about 3:45 ...

View more: Woman Dodges Arrest Warrant, Flees To China After Violent Car Crash Kills Passenger

Driving a 300 BHP Dodge Challenger in Vegas: 3-day trip to the Sin City

My wife wanted us to get the open-top BMW 440i as she was not comfortable with the muscle car. BHPian mobike008 recently shared this with other enthusiasts. Prelude Who does not like to travel, we are no different. I like it more than my spouse, so I am the ...

View more: Driving a 300 BHP Dodge Challenger in Vegas: 3-day trip to the Sin City

1934 Dodge | Old Car

1934 Dodge. This old car looks good as is, but would also look great if restored.

View more: 1934 Dodge | Old Car

Jeep Wrangler Goes Electric Only In 2028, New Dodge Durango Due In 2025

All kinds of production details are mentioned in the tentative agreement between Stellantis and the UAW.

View more: Jeep Wrangler Goes Electric Only In 2028, New Dodge Durango Due In 2025

Dodge Will Now Sell You the Demon 170's 1,025-HP Crate Engine For Only $27,695

Photo: Dodge Fill a Dodge Challenger Demon 170 with E85, and its supercharged 6.2-liter V8 can make an entirely unnecessary 1,025 hp. That’s enough power to send the rear-wheel-drive coupe through the quarter mile in less than nine seconds. Does anybody actually need a street car that can run ...

View more: Dodge Will Now Sell You the Demon 170's 1,025-HP Crate Engine For Only $27,695

Nice Driver: 1957 Dodge Sierra Station Wagon

For an enthusiast attempting to strike a balance between the needs of an expanding family and the desire to own a historic automobile, practicality might be a critical factor. While some cars might not fit their needs, this 1957 Dodge Sierra Station Wagon might be perfect. It is a ...

View more: Nice Driver: 1957 Dodge Sierra Station Wagon

Max Verstappen dodges ‘unfair’ question about whether he'd prefer Sergio Perez or Daniel Ricciardo as F1 2024 teammate

Max Verstappen says it is “unfair” to ask him who he would prefer to be his Red Bull F1 teammate next season, but insists he will be happy either way. Sergio Perez currently holds that position and also has a contract for 2024, but his underwhelming and inconsistent performances ...

View more: Max Verstappen dodges ‘unfair’ question about whether he'd prefer Sergio Perez or Daniel Ricciardo as F1 2024 teammate

The Electric Dodge Charger Could Have Nearly 900 HP: Report

Dodge already confirmed its range-topping Charger Banshee EV muscle car will have power on par with the present-day Hellcat.

View more: The Electric Dodge Charger Could Have Nearly 900 HP: Report

New 2024 Dodge Charger R/T!

Dodge Charger Hellcat Coupe Pays Tribute To The Dukes Of Hazzard’s General Lee

At $25,000, Is This 1957 Dodge Sierra A Classic Contender?

The New Dodge Challenger Demon 170 Crate Engine Costs As Much As A Miata

At $5,000, Could This 2003 Dodge Durango R/T Make You A Mopar Maniac?

United Flight Attendants Sue Over Racism Allegations On LA Dodger Charter Flights

Turn Your Dodge Challenger Into Awkward-Looking Charger Daytona For $395k

1970 Dodge Charger 500 383 Coupe

It Looks Like The Next Gen Dodge Charger Will Get A Gas Engine After All

The Rotting Dodge Chargers In This Car Graveyard Are Begging To Be Rescued

Watch This Sleeper Dodge Neon With 700 HP Hit 200.9 MPH

Car Thefts Are Up, Led By Dodge Charger Hellcats And These Other Cars

OTHER CAR NEWS

; Top List in the World https://www.pinterest.com/newstopcar/pins/
Top Best Sushi Restaurants in SeoulTop Best Caribbean HoneymoonsTop Most Beautiful Islands in PeruTop Best Outdoor Grill BrandsTop Best Global Seafood RestaurantsTop Foods to Boost Your Immune SystemTop Best Foods to Fight HemorrhoidsTop Foods That Pack More Potassium Than a BananaTop Best Healthy Foods to Gain Weight FastTop Best Cosmetic Brands in the U.STop Best Destinations for Food Lovers in EuropeTop Best Foods High in Vitamin ATop Best Foods to Lower Your Blood SugarTop Best Things to Do in LouisianaTop Best Cities to Visit in New YorkTop Best Makeup Addresses In PennsylvaniaTop Reasons to Visit NorwayTop Most Beautiful Islands In The WorldTop Best Law Universities in the WorldTop Richest Sportsmen In The WorldTop Biggest Aquariums In The WorldTop Best Peruvian Restaurants In MiamiTop Best Road Trips From MiamiTop Best Places to Visit in MarylandTop Best Places to Visit in North CarolinaTop Best Electric Cars For KidsTop Best Swedish Brands in The USTop Best Skincare Brands in AmericaTop Best American Lipstick BrandsTop Michelin-starred Restaurants in MiamiTop Best Secluded Getaways From MiamiTop Best Things To Do On A Rainy Day In MiamiTop Most Instagrammable Places In MiamiTop Interesting Facts about FlorenceTop Facts About The First Roman Emperor - AugustusTop Best Japanese FoodsTop Most Beautiful Historical Sites in IsraelTop Best Places To Visit In Holy SeeTop Best Hawaiian IslandsTop Reasons to Visit PortugalTop Best Hotels In L.A. With Free Wi-FiTop Best Scenic Drives in MiamiTop Best Vegan Restaurants in BerlinTop Most Interesting Attractions In WalesTop Health Benefits of a Vegan DietTop Best Thai Restaurant in Las VegasTop Most Beautiful Forests in SwitzerlandTop Best Global Universities in GermanyTop Most Beautiful Lakes in GuyanaTop Best Things To Do in IdahoTop Things to Know Before Traveling to North MacedoniaTop Best German Sunglasses BrandsTop Highest Mountains In FranceTop Biggest Hydroelectric Plants in AmericaTop Best Spa Hotels in NYCTop The World's Scariest BridgeTop Largest Hotels In AmericaTop Most Famous Festivals in JordanTop Best European Restaurants in MunichTop Best Japanese Hiking Boot BrandsTop Best Universities in PolandTop Best Tips for Surfing the Web Safely and AnonymouslyTop Most Valuable Football Clubs in EuropeTop Highest Mountains In ColombiaTop Real-Life Characters of Texas RisingTop Best Beaches in GuatelamaTop Things About DR Congo You Should KnowTop Best Korean Reality & Variety ShowsTop Best RockstarsTop Most Beautiful Waterfalls in GermanyTop Best Fountain Pen Ink BrandsTop Best European Restaurants in ChicagoTop Best Fighter Jets in the WorldTop Best Three-Wheel MotorcyclesTop Most Beautiful Lakes in ManitobaTop Best Dive Sites in VenezuelaTop Best Websites For Art StudentsTop Best Japanese Instant Noodle BrandsTop Best Comedy Manhwa (Webtoons)Top Best Japanese Sunglasses BrandsTop Most Expensive Air Jordan SneakersTop Health Benefits of CucumberTop Famous Universities in SwedenTop Most Popular Films Starring Jo Jung-sukTop Interesting Facts about CougarsTop Best Hospitals for Hip Replacement in the USATop Most Expensive DefendersTop Health Benefits of GooseberriesTop Health Benefits of ParsnipsTop Best Foods and Drinks in LondonTop Health Benefits of Rosehip TeaTop Best Air Fryers for Low-fat CookingTop Most Asked Teacher Interview Questions with AnswersTop Best Shopping Malls in ZurichTop The Most Beautiful Botanical Gardens In L.A.Top Best Mexican Restaurants in Miami for Carb-loading rightTop Best Energy Companies in GermanyTop Best Garage HeatersTop Largest Banks in IrelandTop Leading Provider - Audit and Assurance In The USTop Best Jewelry Brands in IndiaTop Prettiest Streets in the UKTop Best Lakes to Visit in TunisiaTop Highest Mountains in Israel