When word leaked yesterday that Chrysler LLC had been approached by interested parties to buy the Dodge Viper brand , we winced. Not only do we have a long-standing love affair with the V-10 sports car, but we considered the impending black cloud of hate that would likely develop between the Viper?s small but vocal group of owners and the company?s Cerberus-backed management team. Expecting the worst, we took a lap of various Viper internet forums, prepared for the worst.

What we found was exactly the opposite of what we had imagined. It seems the company has kept the community in on these discussions; they even had Viper Club of America national officers at Chrysler Headquarters in Auburn Hills when the news was released. As much as Chrysler has been dinged for the departure of former company public relations boss Jason Vines, this move indicates they?re savvy in times of crisis. We suppose that?s a good thing?one can imagine the next twelve months of life at Chrysler will be interesting, to say the least.

It?s the view of more than a few Viper owners that a sale might be the best possible outcome for the brand; for years owners have fretted over a fate far worse: the complete death of the nameplate. Low volume one-hundred-grand sports cars never made a good business case, but the Chrysler of old justified the expense for the good it did for the brand and the company at large. But with private equity owners looking over their P&Ls with cold hearts and steely eyes, Viper owners figured the jig was up. Now it seems there might be life after all. While some owners are reaching for their antacids, others are more optimistic.

Here?s a sampling of comments we found posted to the Viper Club of America?s Forum section:

"C'mon Cerberus, let's NEVER forget the Viper Halo effect. THERE ISN'T A MORE EFFECTIVE WAY OF MARKETING ALL DODGE PRODUCTS THAN HAVING 1500 NEW (AND 15,000 EXISTING) TRAVELING BILLBOARDS DRIVING, PARKING and PROUDLY PARADING TO PROVE THAT DODGE HAS WHAT IT TAKES TO KEEP UP WITH THE BIG BOYS!"

"I have only one hope, whoever buys it, keep it a Viper. I don't want a backseat or a V8. I'd rather see it die completely than become a mass produced, babyseat hold-down having, family version of the Corvette."

"This sux"

"I could deal with Saleen buying Viper."

"Hmmm...the new 2013 Saleen Viper......has a nice ring to it"

"Wont be so cool when Tata buys it, puts in a diesel and a pickup bed on the back...wait..maybe that would be cool"

 

+ Viper Club of America: Viper line up for sale