The coupes, which will represent the last 360 cars built on the 2002 Dodge Viper platform, will be the first production Vipers to wear a Viper red with dual stone white striped paint scheme. The white over red theme was the same one that carried the Viper GTS-R/T race car to motorsports acclaim with an outright win at the 2000 Daytona 24-hour sports car racing event and consecutive American Le Mans Series manufacturers championships.

The Dodge Viper GTS Final Edition is expected to hold special appeal to sports car enthusiasts and Viper collectors as a landmark in the product's history. The car is making its public debut this week at the Chicago Auto Show.

"This is the high water mark for the Viper Coupe," said Jim Julow, Vice President - Dodge Global Brand Center. "The GTS Final Edition, the last of the production Viper coupes, is a response to loyal owners who have asked us to do something special to close this chapter of the Viper's history. Our other limited-availability models, such as the GT2 Championship Edition, have been resounding successes among enthusiasts looking for a piece of American sports car history."

In addition to the special paint striping, a number of other details distinguish the GTS Final Edition. Inside, red-stitched, black leather steering wheel and shift knob are unique to the model, with a sequentially numbered dash plaque (e.g. No. 1 of 360) recognizing each individual car from the series.

Customers may order the Final Edition model with or without the optional American Club Racer (ACR) performance package.

Production will begin in May and run until the start of 2003 Dodge Viper SRT-10 production later this summer. Next year's Viper SRT-10 will be available exclusively in convertible form. Dodge recently offered owners of current model Vipers first chance at placing orders for the new SRT-10, and the initial year of production sold out immediately.

Dodge Dealers will begin taking orders for the Viper GTS Final Edition in mid-April, 2002.

Story and photos: Daimler Chrysler