1997 Dodge Viper GTS Is Unbridled American Power

When the Dodge Viper was first introduced in the ‘90s, it was ahead of its time. It’s a car that is truly timeless and still highly respected. It’s a car that demands attention with its dramatic curves and purring V10 engine.

Casey Putsch is the owner of this 1997 Dodge Viper GTS, a car that he describes as “truly raw” and “unbridled American”. When Putsch was at the shop getting his racecar restored, a man pulled up in this this blue Viper GTS that instantly grabbed his attention. Asking if he could take a closer look at the car to possibly buy one in the future, the man offered to let Putsch to take it out on the track. That’s when Putsch immediately fell in love.

Stuffed inside the engine bay is an 8.0-liter V10 pushrod engine with a single cam mated to a six-speed manual transmission. From the factory, the Viper was given over 450-horsepower and more than 500 lb/ft of torque. You won’t find ABS or traction control here, but a limited-slip differential surely helps. The Viper was produced as a two-frame car with a composite-type body.

The car hasn’t been altered too much from its stock form. It was given coil-over shocks, cross-drilled and slotted rotors, a cold air intake, and a straight exhaust. With 90,000 miles with a lot of life left, Putsch plans to love this car for thousands of miles to come.

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With few outlets for bright young people to grow and obtain big opportunities, Putsch is part of Create Genius Garage, a mentor ship program and engineering internship for college students. Here they can play with professional level road racing cars, build airplanes, and take part in automotive design. It’s here with Putsch shares his love for his Viper with the students. Putsch’s passion started when he was a young child where he would whip around a built go-kart and enjoy ripping it sideways in the dirt. The Viper connected him to that go-kart he had when he was a kid.

For car people, it is all about the adventures and memories. It’s not just a car that takes us from A to B, but a lifestyle. No mundane car will do. It’s a hobby that runs through our veins, and thankfully, there is no cure.

Source: Petrolicious