Roy Sjoberg: Behind the Scenes of the Viper Project
It has been a considerable amount of time since Dodge manufactured the latest Viper. Dating back to the ’90s, there are plenty of details about this distinct model that most people should already be aware of today. Then again, the web tends to shock us from time to time, like the thoughtful fact recently shared by Roy Sjoberg through an interview he had with Four Eyes, a popular YouTuber as well as master of a Dodge Viper GTS.
For the uninitiated, Sjoberg occupied the position of chief engineer within the inaugural Viper squad. On the recording, the Four Eyes outlined a few of the strange and inventive things he came across during the emerging era of Vipers. He reported that they were employing headlamps of BMW origin which was solidified by a video session with Sjoberg.
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As suggested by Sjoberg, BMW’s Z1 model–which never became available to Americans–initially featured headlights fashioned and created by General Electric (GE), with the corporation banking all of the expense. But ultimately, BMW chose a sturdier stylistic direction, thus abandoning the program. Consequently, GE remained saddled with their headlight design as well as the tooling needed to form it.
BMW’s detriment grew to be Chrysler’s advantage when the United States based organisation procured the headlamp setting from GE completely free of charge, thus protecting millions from the Viper assignment. In essence, a number of requirements had to be followed, such as designing the hood and front bumper in accordance with those lights.
The Viper boasted remarkable illumination from its headlights, due to an extraordinary attribute. At the center of each light was a protruding orb loaded with bright yellow fluid that was, in effect, a bubble level mechanism. Rather than splurging money on taking out this part, it was just left in and became a lasting feature of the Viper.
Four Eyes also mentioned the absence of cup holders inside the Viper. Sjoberg explained that this was a reaction from Chrysler and Lee Iacocca after receiving a “world-renowned cup holder award” from Road and Track for its minivan in 1993. Iacocca was apparently offended by this insignificant recognition, which led to the Viper having no cup holders.
There are a plethora of facts concerning the Viper distributed throughout the video above, so make certain to view it in its entirety.
Source: Four Eyes via YouTube