1996 Dodge Viper RT/10 Review: The Ridiculous 'Ketchup & Mustard' Edition

The 1996 Dodge Viper RT/10: A Raw and Ridiculous Roadster

• 🚗 The 1996 Dodge Viper RT/10 is celebrated for its raw V10 power, manual transmission, lack of driver aids, and absurd styling.
• 💡 This specific model stands out with its rare factory "ketchup and mustard" paint scheme: red with yellow accents, adding to its sheer absurdity.
• 🚀 The Viper was initially released in 1992 as a basic roadster with minimal comforts, focusing on its exotic looks and massive 8-liter V10 engine.

1996 Model Year Upgrades and Changes

• 🌟 For 1996, Dodge introduced the Viper GTS coupe, offering creature comforts like air conditioning and power windows, which remained absent from the RT/10 roadster.
• 💨 The side-exit exhausts, notorious for burning legs, were replaced with rear-exit exhausts for the 1996 model year.
• 📈 The 1996 Viper received a slight power boost, reaching approximately 415 horsepower and 490 lb-ft of torque.

Quirks and Features of the RT/10 Roadster

• ☔ The RT/10 lacks traditional windows; instead, it uses canvas panels that clip into the doors, requiring manual insertion and removal.
• 🔑 Exterior door handles were omitted; owners must use the interior door handles to open the doors, necessitating sliding the canvas windows forward.
• ⚠️ Warning labels are present, cautioning about hot exhaust pipes near the door jamb and that the top bar behind the seats is not a supportive roll bar.
• 🎨 The "ketchup and mustard" color scheme, featuring red and yellow, was a factory option for 1996, with only about 160 units produced before being discontinued.

Interior and Driving Experience

• plastics The interior is characterized by basic, cheap plastic throughout the dashboard and center console, a contrast to the GTS coupe's nicer interior.
• 📻 The radio is a standard Chrysler unit from the era, featuring a unique button that offers a choice between displaying the clock or setting the radio to loud.
• 🕹️ The turn signal stalk is borrowed from late 1980s Chrysler models, and the parking brake lever is a simple, unceremonious addition.
• 💨 Despite its raw nature, the Viper offers an eager and responsive powertrain that feels quick and sounds glorious, providing significant driving enjoyment.
• 🛣️ The car handles surprisingly well, with predictable rotation and quick steering, rewarding drivers who understand its limits.

Final Thoughts and DougScore

• ✨ The 1996 Dodge Viper RT/10, especially in this unique color scheme, is lauded for its immense character, exotic appeal, and passionate driving experience.
• 💰 Vipers are considered to trade at bargain values, offering an exotic experience for their price point.
• 💯 The 1996 Viper RT/10 receives a DougScore of 52 out of 100, reflecting its status as a wonderful but compromised vehicle with significant style and engine power, but lacking refinement and comfort.