Chrysler May Sell Dodge Viper Rather Than Kill It

[Pericles]

The Dodge Viper has been Chrysler's halo car since it was introduced back in 1992, but times are tough. Faced with the fact that it might not be able to continue making the brutish sports car, the Auburn Hills-based automaker is reportedly considering doing something that's never been done before by a domestic automaker (as for as we know): selling the Viper's future to a third party. Automotive News quotes Chrysler CEO Bob Nardelli saying, "We have been approached by third parties who are interested in exploring future possibilities for Viper." Nardelli claims that whatever happens, his company will work to make sure the best interests of Viper fanboys are served and that Chrysler would continue to offer "operational and financial" support for the car if a transaction takes place. We're honestly a little stunned that Chrysler would consider such a drastic action, though if it means the Viper won't be sacrificed at the altar of economic woes, we're all for it. On the other hand, how does one separate Dodge from the Viper? Can you imagine Ford selling the Mustang to ROUSH or GM selling the Corvette to Lingenfelter? Chrysler has not identified any of the Viper's suitors, so rather than a familiar tuning house, it could also be a conglomerate of investors or another automaker. Is a Viper sold by another brand still a Viper?

http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/27/report-...r-than-kill-it/

[madmax]

http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/27/report-...r-than-kill-it/

I bet the Viper is not selling at all. I've seen only one single Viper on the road since landing here in last November compared to the numerous Corvettes, Lambos, Ferraris, Aston Martins, Porsches, high end Merc etc....

[Bugatti]

As per the USA TODAY, 435 cars sold in 2007...

Estimated sale price is said to be around $140 million.

[The Don]

As per the USA TODAY, 435 cars sold in 2007...

Estimated sale price is said to be around $140 million.

Eastimated sales price $140 million ? is that for all 435 cars ?

[jaga]

As per the USA TODAY, 435 cars sold in 2007...

Estimated sale price is said to be around $140 million.

140 mil us$ ??????? can't be brother. There may be some thing wrong in figuers. This cost is for a brand new 25000 ton DWT ship.

[The Don]

I bet the Viper is not selling at all. I've seen only one single Viper on the road since landing here in last November compared to the numerous Corvettes, Lambos, Ferraris, Aston Martins, Porsches, high end Merc etc....

I don't think the Viper appeals to that sort of clientele'

[GTAm]

Chrysler LLC is heamouraging cash like water down the Niagra falls. They're just trying to hang onto floating grass. It's only a matter of time before they go under. Only a miracle like Renault rescuing Nissan can save them. But in this market.....I'd say the odds are against it.

[Devinda_Z]

DAIMLER TO SELL OFF REMAINING STAKE AT CHRYSLER

Wed Sep 24, 4:50 PM ET

CHICAGO (AFP) - German automaker Daimler said Wednesday it wanted to sell its remaining 19.9-percent interest in its former US subsidiary Chrysler to private equity firm Cerberus, which last year acquired a majority stake in Chrysler from Daimler.

"Daimler confirms that it is in talks with Cerberus Capital Management on selling its 19.9-percent holding in Chrysler LLC," Daimler said in a statement.

The manufacturer was reacting to a report in Manager Magazin and the specialised publication Automobilwoche.

Automobilwoche, citing a Daimler spokesman in New York, said talks between the parties were in an advanced stage and could be completed in the coming weeks.

Chrysler responded with a statement saying that it the talks were initiated by Cerebus and that the two companies "are currently in discussions."

"In the event of a successful transaction, common projects between Daimler and Chrysler in the areas of research and development and advanced technologies would continue," the Chrysler statement added.

Daimler, previously known as DaimlerChrysler, sold its majority stake in Chrysler to Cerberus in August 2007 after a troubled nine-year marriage.

The cost of the sale knocked 2.2 billion euros off Daimler's 2007 results and the German automaker said its remaining stake in Chrysler resulted in a loss of 864 million euros in the first half of 2008.

Chrysler has seen a sharp decline in sales in recent months amid an economic slowdown in its home market and a shift away from its lineup of gasoline guzzling trucks and sport utility vehicles.

The now-private company has lost 400 million dollars so far this year after posting a 1.6-billion-dollar loss in 2007, The Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday, citing dealers who were briefed by Chrysler Chief Executive Robert Nardelli.

Chrysler officials have repeatedly denied speculation that Cerberus was prepping the automaker for sale and the automaker on Tuesday made a commitment to ramp up production of electric vehicles and bring its first mass market model to market in 2010.

[Devinda_Z]

Chrysler LLC receives three offers for selling Viper business

Since the announcement to sell the Viper operation last August as a step to avert the disaster of bankruptcy, Chrysler LLC has received no less than three offers for the purchase of the Dodge Viper sports car industry.

As have been reported many times, Chrysler has to come up with a restructuring plan on the 17th of February and show the US government that it is still viable over the long haul by the end of March 2009 so as to keep the federal loan amounting to $4 billion. The company does not expect the Viper will be sold by then, though. The factory at Detroit has about 110 employees under its wings. Last year a total of 1,172 Vipers were sold in the US and last month sales saw some 74 percent growth representing 127 units higher than the previous year.

Source : http://www.4wheelsnews.com/chrysler-llc-re...viper-business/

[Devinda_Z]

Saleen buyers interested on the Dodge Viper business

The buyers of Saleen, Inc. are considering the purchase of the Dodge Viper business also, although it is not certain if they are one of the three bidders publicly announced by Chrysler. Mike Shields, together with his brother owns majority interest in a number of auto-related businesses in Michigan, have confirmed that they have been considering the “purchase of Viper.”

Their group, called MJ Acquisitions, include companies such Arrow Racing Engines, Control-Tec, Cyltec, and PowerTec Engineering. Last January 30 they purchased Saleen’s street-performance car, aftermarket and supercharger business. Chrysler has been thinking about selling Viper since last year which allegedly includes the plant in Detroit, the personnel and the car itself, which comes with a V10 engine that generates 600 hp. Whether AJ Acquisitions is among the three bidders was not confirmed nor denied by Shields.

Source : http://www.4wheelsnews.com/saleen-buyers-i...viper-business/