Dodge Offers the Ultimate Two-for-one Deal With Demon/Viper Auction

Matt Posky
by Matt Posky

Mopar fans are among the most steadfast automotive enthusiasts in history. Their ability to openly express their love for post-war luxury, classic muscle, and turbocharged compacts from the 1980s remains unrivaled. While an advocate for General Motors or Ford can certainly appreciate disparate models within their chosen nameplate, Mopar enthusiasts frequently push the envelope of sanity — at least, that’s the stigma.

If you’re unfamiliar with the stereotype, log into any car forum and write that you’re considering swapping an LS motor into a Plymouth, Dodge, or Chrysler. Congratulations, you just made a dozen new enemies. On the flip side of that coin, owning a vintage Mopar can win you a lot of respect within the community. While not equal in terms of prestige, owning a Dodge Aspen wagon will still net you loads of brownie points with anyone driving a Coronet Super Bee Six Pack or Omni GLH-S. Hell, at this stage in the game you might even get a thumbs up for buying a Plymouth Reliant.

Unfortunately, Chrysler’s immediate future doesn’t look nearly as bright as its often dicey past. That’s especially true for Dodge. The Viper is dead, the Challenger can’t go on forever, and annual sales are less than half of what they were 10 years ago. But its fiercely loyal enthusiast community remains, and they’ll have an opportunity to purchase the final examples of what may end up being the brand’s two most illustrious models.

Fiat Chrysler has announced an “Ultimate Last Chance” auction that will bundle together the last 2017 Dodge Viper and 2018 Challenger SRT Demon built by the company. While the final Viper has already rolled off the assembly line (FCA has already begun converting the factory into a personal museum), the SRT Demon should conclude assembly later this year — and Dodge insists the vehicle will not return for 2019.

Both cars will share the same red paint and possess exclusive badging, extensive documentation, the Demon Crate, and one-of-a-kind memorabilia to accompany the sale. However, this is less of a good deal and more of an investment for wealthy car collectors. If the first Hellcat is anything to go by, this lot should go for an astronomical price.

“We couldn’t be more excited to team up with Dodge for another significant sale,” said Craig Jackson, chairman and CEO of Barrett-Jackson. “Over the years, Barrett-Jackson has reached incredible milestones with Dodge, including the sale of a 2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat (VIN 001) that raised $1.65 million at our 2014 Las Vegas Auction to benefit Opportunity Village Foundation. The sale of ‘The Ultimate Last Chance’ is a car collector’s dream and we are honored to partner with Dodge and support their philanthropic goals.”

With the first Hellcat raking in the kind of money someone might shell out for a personal jet, we don’t expect the Viper-Demon combo to be much of a bargain. Fortunately, the funds are going to a good place. Dodge said all proceeds will be handed over to the United Way — a decidedly unsketchy organization.

For those wondering, the Demon comes with the rear-seat delete option and a black interior with Alcantara seats. You also get a branded car cover, as odds are good you won’t be driving your investment all that much. The Viper doesn’t appear to come with any add-ons beyond extra documentation, some exterior carbon fiber accents, and the same black interior with Alcantara chairs.

The pair crosses the block at the Barrett-Jackson Northeast auction in Uncasville, Connecticut, on June 20th.

[Images: Fiat Chrysler Automobiles]

Matt Posky
Matt Posky

A staunch consumer advocate tracking industry trends and regulation. Before joining TTAC, Matt spent a decade working for marketing and research firms based in NYC. Clients included several of the world’s largest automakers, global tire brands, and aftermarket part suppliers. Dissatisfied with the corporate world and resentful of having to wear suits everyday, he pivoted to writing about cars. Since then, that man has become an ardent supporter of the right-to-repair movement, been interviewed on the auto industry by national radio broadcasts, driven more rental cars than anyone ever should, participated in amateur rallying events, and received the requisite minimum training as sanctioned by the SCCA. Handy with a wrench, Matt grew up surrounded by Detroit auto workers and managed to get a pizza delivery job before he was legally eligible. He later found himself driving box trucks through Manhattan, guaranteeing future sympathy for actual truckers. He continues to conduct research pertaining to the automotive sector as an independent contractor and has since moved back to his native Michigan, closer to where the cars are born. A contrarian, Matt claims to prefer understeer — stating that front and all-wheel drive vehicles cater best to his driving style.

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  • Mason Mason on Apr 12, 2018

    "Fortunately, the funds are going to a good place. Dodge said all proceeds will be handed over to the United Way — a decidedly unsketchy organization." Ehh,I wouldn't call a company supposedly devoted to the needy that pays their CEO over 1.25 million annually "unsketchy". We donate to a lot of local causes, but the United Way is NOT one of them.

    • See 4 previous
    • Brn Brn on Apr 13, 2018

      mason, I agree. My money goes to the Salvation Army. Sure they're a religious organization (I'm not), but they don't make that their mission. Their mission is about helping people. I've done my share of volunteer work and I'm always pleased by the folk from the Salvation Army. My blood goes to Memorial Blood Centers. They appear to be straight shooters. Red Cross is off my list. I hope I'm right about the other two.

  • Rasputin Rasputin on Apr 12, 2018

    Charities are like government: The closer they are to the people, the better and more efficient they are.

    • See 2 previous
    • PrincipalDan PrincipalDan on Apr 12, 2018

      @FreedMike Perhaps he has read "Parliament of Whores" - still one of my favorite PJ O'Rurke books.

  • Analoggrotto I am sick and tired of every little Hyundai Kia Genesis flaw being blown out of proportion. Why doesn't TTAC talk about the Tundra iForce Max problems, Toyota V35A engine problems or the Lexus 500H Hybrid problems? Here's why: education. Most of America is illiterate, as are the people who bash Hyundai Kia Genesis. Surveys conducted by credible sources have observed a high concentration of Hyundai Kia Genesis models at elite ivy league universities, you know those places where students earn degrees which earn more than $100K per year? Get with the program TTAC.
  • Analoggrotto NoooooooO!
  • Ted “the model is going to be almost 4 inches longer and 2 inches wider than its predecessor”Size matters. In this case there is 6” too much.
  • JMII Despite our past experience with Volvo my wife wants an EX30 badly. Small, upscale, minimalist EV hatch is basically her perfect vehicle.
  • Dukeisduke Is the Volvo EX30 even on sale yet? It was pulled from the NACTOY awards because they were having software problems with the vehicle.
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