As a shareholder in New New Chrysler, I’m not happy to hear that Fiat doesn’t have firm idea when Chrysler will resume production. On the other hand, the whole Chrysler food chain is broken, from factories that have no reason to exist to dealers who’ve been terminated with extreme prejudice, and all the suppliers in between. But here’s the kicker. This quote arrives accompanied by the glad tidings that the Conner Avenue plant is back on-line! Our Best and Brightest will know that this is the factory that makes the Dodge Viper, the over-powered death car that Chrysler wanted to sell to some poor sucker as a discreet business. But couldn’t. More indignity? Automotive News [sub]: “On May 15, Chrysler received a $5.5 million offer from Devon Motor Works to buy the Viper operation, with no assumption of liabilities, and to lease the plant for one year. Devon Motors was founded by Scott Devon, CEO of Cole’s Quality Foods Inc., of Grand Rapids, Mich., a maker of frozen garlic bread and toast, a receptionist at Cole’s said at the time.” Well, she should know.
After the interview, the reporter was invited to help himself to a handful of Sebrings from the parking lot on the way out.
Nice pic…many years ago, I was one of the few folks allowed to drive my personal truck (guess it helped it was my late father’s Dodge Ram) through the Connor Avenue plant. It was kind of cool seeing the Vipers in various states of build. At that time, they were also building the Prowler (of which my then-company supplied front fender supports). I wonder what will happen to the value of the three Vipers that a good friend of mine owns…or what will happen to Viper, in general…
“…timing in regards to the start of production at our other manufacturing facilities.”
The Monday after hell freezes over?
Hmmmm …
1) Didn’t Chrysler claim time was of the essence to get out of bankruptcy ASAP and restart the plants because basically the plants would “spoil,” i.e. paint, other fluids would have to be thrown out?
2) Hopefully Cole’s will start a promotion – if you send in 100,000 Cole’s Garlic Bread UPC codes and $5.95 they’ll sent you a new Viper.
Instead of building more new cars when (if?) the current inventory gets depleted, The New Chrysler can close a few hundred more dealers and reallocate their inventory to the “lucky” survivors.
Its funny to see the local Dodge dealers’ newspaper ads trumpeting all the news cars they having showing up on their lots (one dealership has been in business for 95 years and recently advertised that they have the largest new car inventory in their history, as if its something to brag about at the moment)and either taking a whole $2000-$4000 of MSRP or taking $4000-$6000 off MSRP and reverting to the classic stealership tactic of “Price includes $2000 cash or trade” in the fine print at the bottom of the ad.
threeer: “I wonder what will happen to the value of the three Vipers that a good friend of mine owns…”Probably not much. The Viper is such a low-volume, specialty vehicle that it’s likely immune to the normal effects a bankruptcy would have on a company’s mainstream products.
cory02: “…and either taking a whole $2000-$4000 of MSRP or taking $4000-$6000 off MSRP and reverting to the classic stealership tactic of “Price includes $2000 cash or trade” in the fine print at the bottom of the ad.”Yeah, the whole thing reminds me of businesses that use the marketing tactic of perpetually advertising that they are going out of business, yet their prices never change.
Rudiger,
I took it as Threeer was implying the value will go ‘up’, not down. That is if the Viper is no longer produced… Even the Prowler appreciated in value when production ceased, and that isn’t 1/2 the car of the Viper. I know I’m keeping my fingers crossed.
cory02: “…and either taking a whole $2000-$4000 of MSRP or taking $4000-$6000 off MSRP and reverting to the classic stealership tactic of “Price includes $2000 cash or trade” in the fine print at the bottom of the ad.”
Items like this should be a determining factor on what dealerships live, and what stealerships die. If your business is to do business by hiding in asterisks and fine print, you shouldn’t be in business.
Items like this should be a determining factor on what dealerships live, and what stealerships die. If your business is to do business by hiding in asterisks and fine print, you shouldn’t be in business.
Perfect opportunity to introduce this photo
Seems odd that the UAW is keeping plants closed.. They should be running 3 shifts and paying triple overtime.
Going to be some interesting conversations at the Union locals when the rank and file figure out that they own the place..
The grammarian is here. The Viper is anything but “discreet.” Perhaps you meant “Discrete?”
They’re waiting for Nate Altman and Leo Neuman to buy everthing up and come out with the Viper II.
The funny thing is that I don’t think anybody really cares about Chrysler, to be honest.
“over-powered death car”.
Really? Has Consumer Reports tried to roll over one? Has NBC tried to blow up the gas tank with a solid fuel rocket? Are the clutch and brake pedals too close together like an Audi 5000? Please elaborate.
Actually this makes sense to start with the Viper plant when you think about it. One, the car is profitable, and two, since it is a pretty small operation, it would be the easiest to restart, and three, if they still want to sell it, it will be easier to sell an ongoing brand rather than one that has been closed down, even if it’s temporary.