---
title: "Why the Original 1991 Viper SR1 Prototype Was a Mad Engineering Gamble"
description: "Chief engineer Roy Sjoberg hand-picked 85 talented individuals to become Chrysler's \"Team Viper.\""
date: "2020-08-06"
modified: "2020-08-06"
authors:
  - name: "Máté Petrány"
    job_title: "Contributor"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/mate-petrany"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/35448/why-the-original-1991-viper-sr1-prototype-was-a-mad-engineering-gamble"
categories:
  - "Culture"
  - "History"
  - "News"
tags:
  - "1992 Dodge Viper"
  - "bob lutz"
  - "Dodge Viper"
  - "MotorWeek"
---

# Why the Original 1991 Viper SR1 Prototype Was a Mad Engineering Gamble

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/images-by-url-td/content/2020/08/HS992_013DG.jpg>)
*\<em\>www.thedrive.com</em>*

When Chrysler decided to stretch its legs and the Dodge Viper R/T 10 concept at the 1989 Detroit Motor Show, company president and vice chairman Bob Lutz wasn't aware yet that it would eventually put it into production in late-1991. After wowing the crowds and getting the green light for the real deal, the 85-member-strong "Team Viper" was formed to master simultaneous engineering very quickly, led by chief engineer Roy Sjoberg.

As *MotorWeek* put it, Chrysler's intention with its Lamborghini-tweaked, truck V10-powered two-seater was to make cars "faster, cheaper, but better."

![message-editor%2F1596723768984-1992viperprototype\_retroreview2-9screenshot.png](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/content-b/message-editor/1596723768984-1992viperprototype_retroreview2-9screenshot.png>)
*Team Viper, *YouTube | MotorWeek**

![message-editor%2F1596723786276-1992viperprototype\_retroreview2-16screenshot.png](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/content-b/message-editor/1596723786276-1992viperprototype_retroreview2-16screenshot.png>)
*YouTube | MotorWeek*

![message-editor%2F1596723797670-1992viperprototype\_retroreview2-10screenshot.png](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/content-b/message-editor/1596723797670-1992viperprototype_retroreview2-10screenshot.png>)
*YouTube | MotorWeek*

While Team Viper's 1989 VM1 mule used a V8, VM2 featured the cast-iron block V10 before the prototypes could switch to the alloy version intended for production. Starting with VM4, Chrysler built 93 pre-production Vipers, none of which were ever intended to be street legal. With no emissions equipment and speed limiters onboard, starting from 2014, the Chrysler Group ([now part of Stellantis](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/34856/the-merged-fiat-chrysler-and-peugeot-group-will-be-called-stellantis>)) began to recall and [destroy these early Vipers](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/31263/watch-one-of-the-first-ever-pre-production-dodge-vipers-get-sent-to-the-crusher>) that were previously donated to schools.

With the production car introduced at the 1991 Indianapolis 500 by Carroll Shelby himself, MotorWeek got a rare peek into Team Viper's daily life, as well as a few minutes behind the wheel of an SR1 at hand. They left with the conclusion that the first-generation Viper's handling is "near neutral."

Sit back and enjoy the retro review.

https://youtube.com/embed/vvUdKRvFADA

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## Author
As a fan of old cars, new cars, trains, planes, buses, and you-name-it, Máté can sometimes be seen driving an Autobianchi around Budapest, much to the amusement of the children, mostly. When not time-traveling, he continues to report from the future to his American colleagues, often talking about Lotus, Ozzy Osbourne, or both.

### Author social links  
[Instagram](<https://instagram.com/mpetrany>)  
[Twitter](<https://twitter.com/petrany>)