McLaren Tuned Dodge Viper Diamondback for Sale

One-off McLaren tuned Dodge Viper Diamondback

By Zack Newmark
January 5, 2009 4:56 PM
Filed Under: American, Dodge, McLaren, Supercars, Tuners

Although the DaimlerChrysler merger was not the financial success story analysts expected, one cool thing did come out of it: Dodge's ability to join forces with McLaren on a one-off concept called the 2006 ASC Diamondback Viper. It debuted two years ago at the auto show in Detroit, cost $750,000 to develop, and had a 615 horsepower McLaren engine under the hood.

ASC stands for American Specialty Cars, a company that had previously developed finely tuned and engineered body parts for many of the world's manufacturers, including Chrysler and McLaren. They built a customized hood for this Viper concept with a "trupeted air intake system with individual port throttles," and carbon fiber body panels.

The lighter weight and more powerful engine means a faster 0-60 mph time of 3.5 seconds, 0.4 seconds quicker than the 2006 Dodge Viper SRT-10 coupe. Suspension has been lowered by 1.25 inches, and three-piece forged aluminum 19-inch wheels are included. The odometer shows just 55 original miles.

If you happen to have $295,000 lying around you can purchase the concept for $455,000 less than what it cost to build. The 2006 ASC Diamondback Viper could be a great investment for anyone looking to have a truly one-of-a-kind supercar.

Source: dodgevipersforsale

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Dodge Viper & Jeep Wrangler to be Axed (33 comments

Comments

dmanero

January 5, 2009 5:16 PM

sorry not interested, apart from being uglier than my sisters baby, but who the hell still wants to drive around a viper. Plus if Chrysler goes belly up, there goes you warranty whenthat engine gives up after a few high rev launches, and chrsyler is not know to have reliable cars, with is no waonder they are in trouble.

ShinyG

January 5, 2009 5:37 PM

Do you think anyone with the cash to buy this thing would be even remotely interested in warranty? Whoever buys this car will keep it in the garage until the "crisis" passes and then sells it for a nice profit! I'd say it's quite a good investment actually!

xLumino

January 5, 2009 5:46 PM

Thank you dmanero, what a constructive and informative commention!

Hm, I think, like Shiny said, it gives alot of profit when you are an intelligent businessman. But it will be also a beast to drive this car. And Viper are known for their wildness :)

Xanavi23

January 6, 2009 5:07 AM

actually ive talked to a man whose driven a wide variety of sports cars and then the track use ACR. he said around town while its not too soft on bums, it is very complacent for everyday use. 23mpg highway mileage doesn't hurt.

Tuner_Mad

January 5, 2009 6:51 PM

Wow, 615 horses in an American muscle. whoever thought this was a good idea is loco!

gmfan09

January 6, 2009 6:22 AM

The Viper is not a muscle car

_M7_

January 5, 2009 7:30 PM

looks nice and you can buy like 1000 Vipers whit development cost but I prefere a Murcielago than an american car

RobERob

January 5, 2009 8:22 PM

The black on white scheme looks like it came from a bad episode of Pimp My Ride. This is perhaps the ugliest Dodge Viper I've ever seen. And trying to cheat that much power out of a low tech engine is a gamble I wouldn't be willing to take, McLaren or not. I'm mean Viper's aren't exactly known well for their reliability. And could someone at Chrysler learn how to design a sports car interior that doesn't look like it belongs in a less than 20k econo box? That where they should've put some of that $750k.

evile

January 6, 2009 4:49 AM

Do you even know what you're talking about? Supercharged Gen III Vipers are getting over 700hp with stock internals. The new Gen IV engine is rated at 600hp stock. Tuners are getting upwards of 630hp with headers, high flow filters and cats. The Gen IV Viper engine is the first powerplant that feature variable valve timing with an in-block cam. Also, that same engine averages 22mpg highway. Everyone raves how efficient the European and Japanese engines are, but none of them make 600hp N/A horsepower and get that type of mileage. Finally, if you look real close you will see the car is not painted black and white. The black sections are actually unpainted carbon fiber.

RobERob

January 6, 2009 8:06 AM

but why mention a F/I viper getting more than 700hp? It should be able to do that without a sc. An additional 30hp on a stock setup with your basic h/i/e is no great feat either. My problem with this car is that in many ways it's a step backwards. And in regard to those Japanese/Euro engines, efficiency isn't defined by getting 22mpg out of ridiculously large displacement, but rather hp per liter. It's creating more with less. What about only 13 city? If I'm in the market to spend plus or minus 100k on a sports car I could careless about it's hwy mpg. If I were concerned about mpg I'd get hybrid. And lastly, I never said the car was painted black and white but rather referred to it's aesthetic appeal/paint scheme. ZR-1's have a lot of carbon fiber too but no need to show it off. Besides, it's more affordable now and doesn't have the gawk factor it once had

evile

January 6, 2009 4:49 PM

The reason I mentioned forced induction is you questioned the reliability of the Viper engine. Routinely, tuners are getting 700+ hp out of GEN III Vipers with a bolt-on Paxton supercharger. That's a 200hp bump over stock (500hp). Not 30hp.

The stock internals are robust enough to withstand the added horsepower and the pressure caused by forced induction. 615hp shouldn't be a problem. Paxton hasn't developed a supercharger for the GEN IV Viper. If one is developed I'm sure the output will be over 800 hp.

The Viper is a bare-bones, throw-back machine. Is it a step backwards? Sure! However, that's what makes it appealing to some. Not everyone is impressed by technology, or wants the nanny systems found on many of today's sports cars. Some want to actually drive the car instead of ride along. However, I do agree with you regarding the nasty interior.

There are many advantages to large displacement, push rod engines. First, a small displacement, overhead cam engine (N/A) will never make as much torque. That's the advantage the Vipers and Corvettes have had over more "sophisticated" cars in road racing. Secondly, typically a push rod engine (i.e. V8 vs V8) will be lighter. Also, because the weight of the valve train is lower in a push rod engine it helps lower the center of gravity. This will improve handling. Finally, a push rod engine will never rev like a overhead cam engine. However, it does not need to work as hard to make horsepower and torque.

Finally, don't forget the roof of the ZR1 is unpainted so you can see it's carbon fiber. I've been a car nut since I was a kid. I like them all. I believe we need to appreciate all the current performance cars. The future for such vehicles isn't bright, and I'd rather walk than drive a Prius.

Xanavi23

January 6, 2009 5:06 AM

Haters, some are pathetic, you know who you are. The stock Viper is a gorgeous refined american sports car, almost a super car that beats cars that cost 3 times as much. This is even faster and better in all regards.

How can the paint combo be ugly when the pieces in question only serve to make it faster.

This is the car of my dreams. Don't forget that with all this performance the car is capable of at least 23mpg on the highway which is untouched by any of its europeans rival that have any performance that comes close to matching this.

Your hate for this car is totally unfounded save for your personal bias against a true american sports car.

RobERob

January 6, 2009 8:00 AM

Sorry, but I'm going to have personal bias against any car that has to resort to using a ridiculously large 8.3 liter V-10 and with that capacity, only manages to produce 500 hp. That's embarrassing and talking about refinement in any Viper review is nonsense. It's uncomfortable, rough, and is visually disappointing especially when compared to its predecessor. 13/22 mpg may be a motivating factor for some when purchasing a "supercar" but it's not in my book. I want engineering, not old tech push-rods that can't rev. .

Xanavi23

January 7, 2009 4:06 AM

The Viper despite using old technology is mechanically refined. Why use an 8.3L V10 ? because it creates GOBS of torque and the engine is very under-stressed. It makes 600hp easy and is capable of doing so for extended hours on end as long as its cooled properly.

The Viper could probably have a higher redline with todays advancements. It doesn't need it though. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Also rob....the ACR is COMPLETELY sold out. So buyers like you who want to spend extra money on cars that are actually slower are a minority.

The Viper does everything well, from the track to the street. You just hate on it because its just a "Push-rod that doesn't rev". Even though its engine is what makes it so great in every single regard, fuel economy, horsepower, torque, durability etc etc etc etc.

MTC

January 6, 2009 11:25 AM

It doesn't have the supercar "wow" factor, a Viper isn't as showy as a Lambo, it doesn't stun like a Zonda and it doesn't have the Ferrari magic that makes it special. The reason the Viper is only popular in America because the rest of the world are not really interested in a car like this. Don't mistake me for hating this car though, I love it, because it's vulgar, wild,insane and it got a great big engine, but I just wouldn't recommend others to buy one. The Viper isn't a car that you buy because it's good or bad, it's a car that you buy because you love it, and who could explain love?

radmeister

January 6, 2009 5:19 PM

22mpg? at what 90km/h in 6th gear with cruise control on, my friend has a SRT-10 viper and it got 2mpg on the race track. In the city not driving like a grandma he gets 6-7mpg. This car is in no way as fuel efficient as they say, you can see the fuel gauge go down when you go full open throttle up a hill. This car is another testament of how lame american car manufacturers are, this is the child of a time when Chrysler owned Lamborghini, and THIS is all they came out with??? Compare this with the R8 and you can see what a real car company can do with Lamborghini, not this peasant carriage with a tractor engine. And who's smart idea was it to not put a clear plastic cover over the intakes, i mean how retarded can you be? I guess in the US there is no such phenomenon as rain.....

evile

January 6, 2009 6:07 PM

You're not comparing apples to apples. The R8 and the Viper are two different animals. The Viper is a wooly mammoth approaching exinction. 2010 is supposed to be it's last year of production.

However, it's a vehicle that appeals to a particular niche. It's dangerous, vulgar and loud. There's nothing P.C. about it. That's why I like it.

However, I also like the R8. Pictures don't do it justice, and unfortunately I turned down an opportunity to test-drive one a few months ago. I even appreciate the Nissan GT-R for what it is.

Of course the GEN IV Vipers are only getting 22mpg in sixth gear. The only reason I mentioned gas mileage was the Viper's innovative cam-in-cam, variable-valve system. This system was developed by McLaren in the US and it's the first of its kind in any vehicle. Wow! New technology in a Viper. Does your friend own a GEN IV Viper?

Also, it's interesting you mention Lamborghini. I read an account in which Lamborghini's test driver stated if it wasn't for Chrysler they wouldn't have survived. At that time Chrysler was run by Lee Iacoca. A real car guy. If it wasn't for Chrysler classic designs like the Diablo wouldn't have seen the light of day. Also, I find it amusing you mentioned tractors and Lamborghini in the same statement. I'm sure you understand what I mean.

Also, the "Big Three", especially Chrysler, have made some bad cars. However, it's easy to pile on when times are hard. Perception is as hard to shake as bad quality.

I have relatives who will not buy an American car to save their own jobs. It's been proven the quality of US cars has improved. Unfortunately, it's the perception of poor quality that cannot be shaken.

Finally, the Viper Diamondback is a concept car. It wasn't intended to be a daily driver, and that's why the throttle bodies are not covered. They took some creative license when designing the car.

radmeister

January 7, 2009 8:23 PM

He's got an 07, also has the SRT-10 ram truck, i've driven both and to tell you the truth i wasn't that impressed with the viper, sure it has good pick up off the line, and if u have a sharp turn and 2 available lanes its fun but thats all it has. I had more fun in a 250cc shifter go-kart than in the viper, same ride, pretty much same interior. I won't even talk about the Ram...what a waste of $$. If my life depended on me choosing an American sports car it would be hands down the vette. If i could choose any sports car for the same amount of $ as a new viper i would get a 1 year old 911 Turbo.

Xanavi23

January 8, 2009 9:31 PM

Viper is faster than a 1 year old 911 Turbo.

evile

January 7, 2009 8:40 PM

You must have meant '06. There wasn't an '07 Viper. Chrysler shut down the Connor Ave plant to retool for the '08 (GEN IV) Viper.

Also, I too was not impressed with the SRT-10 Ram. My brother was a sales manager at Chrysler so I got to drive a few of their cars. I thought it was cool, but a waste of a good engine. It just wasn't my thing. Plus, with all its torque it was dangerous without something in the bead.

Of course a shifter kart would be more fun, but there's no stereo, NAV system...roof etc. Plus, it would get cold during the winter. The GEN IV Vipers have reconfigured suspensions so they are much more hospitable on the road and track.

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