Chrysler Orders Donated Vipers To Be Crushed
Chrysler, the American automotive company, has ordered South Puget Sound Community College to crush a Dodge Viper.
The special thing about this specific Dodge Viper, is it isn’t just any Dodge Viper. This is the fourth Viper off the pre-production line that’s been at the college for the past seven years. The rare prototype 1992 Dodge Viper GTS Coupe, valued at about $250,000, was donated to the college under agreement it would be destroyed when it was no longer needed. Chrysler has ordered the vehicle crushed due to “advancements in automotive technology” and the car’s lack of historic value.
Another major reason for the crush order is probably to mitigate lawsuits and avoid issues, such as the recall of 1.2 million Dodge Ram trucks, as reported here on The Inquisitr. By what MSN News reports, the Viper, along with 92 other Dodge Vipers, were donated to the small college, never meant to see the open road. Unfortunately, a couple of them “got loose.” With an 8.0-liter V10 under the hood and no traction control or ABS, they were involved in accidents.
In an article by NY Daily News, Bob Riggin, the automotive professor at South Puget Sound Community College, said the car belongs in a museum, not a crusher. He even told the news site that former Tonight Show host and classic car enthusiast, Jay Leno, tried to add the automobile to his personal collection.
Even the students have taken a stand. Current student, Cierra Thomas, along with former student Stormy Hudson-Renstrom, have started an online petition to keep the Vipers out of the crusher.
Chrysler does not share in the same sentiments that the college does. Instead, they explained their donation process in a statement:
As part of the donation process, it is standard procedure – and stipulated in our agreements – that whenever vehicles are donated to institutions for education purposes that they are to be destroyed when they are no longer needed for their intended educational purposes.
Despite the gloomy situation, it isn’t impossible to save the donated vehicles. Back in 1996, General Motors created the first all-electric automobile. It was known simply as the Electric Vehicle, or “EV” for short. Many of the test-drivers and first owners loved the new car. However, within the same year, GM recalled them back. The owners of the EVs would eventually launch an investigation just to find out the EVs were simply crushed. However, one EV is still available for viewing in a car museum. In order to avoid being destroyed, just like the others, the motor had to be removed making it inoperable.
South Puget Sound Community College has about two weeks to crush their Dodge Viper. They are still fighting to keep their beloved automobile, but it seems Chrysler will stand on their decision.
[Image via Chrysler]
