Black RT/10's - red badges? (pic)

[Y2K5SRT]

Well, I got to see a very early '93 build of a black RT/10. Supposedly the second black RT off the line, with the first going to Jay Leno (January of '93). What struck me as strange was the red badging on both the front and back. The car is totally original with the original owner. Says the badges came like that. I guess I haven't seen many black '93's. Are most black RT/10's like this?





The other thing I noticed (besides the rear cutouts on the bumper), was that the intake manifold looked like it was hand-cast. Very wild indeed:



I will have to check out Dan's car ('93 red) to see his motor tomorrow night at our meeting. I suspect he will have the red badges too...

[Makara]

I saw a black RT with red badges in malibu. Perhaps that is the way a few of them were delivered.

[Randy]

What struck me as strange was the red badging on both the front and back. The car is totally original with the original owner. Says the badges came like that. I guess I haven't seen many black '93's. Are most black RT/10's like this?

Don't know if your question was meant to be limited to '93 black RT/10s, or all black RT/10's, but I know that the '95 and '00 black RT/10s came with black background badges.

[bhchase]

I have a black early 93 and the badges are silver or gray and i really think they are stock. s/n 351.

[Y2K5SRT]

I have a black early 93 and the badges are silver or gray and i really think they are stock. s/n 351.

Excellent to know and glad I am not just imagining things. This car is #146. Thanks for the reply!

PS. Does your intake look like that?

[GR8_ASP]

Chris I believe early Gen I's had a magnesium 4 fin manifold. Later aluminum manifolds were 3 fin. I think the changeover point was about the same as antenna vipers. I was not aware of the red vs black emblem though!

[troyrt10]

I have a 93 and it has black emblems. I dont't have an antena and my calipers say RT/10 instead of Viper. Mine is a later model.
The red looks good.
I did notice the fog light covers were taken off.

[Y2K5SRT]

As a matter of fact, on approximately April 4, 1993 the following changes took place on the Viper assembly line:

1. Rear antenna replaced by windshield antenna wire
2. Battery relocated to left rear fender (side away from fuel filler to make room for BUX rear exit exhaust)
3. Front caliper lettering changed from "VIPER" to "RT/10"
4. Reverse lockout added to transmission
5. Top Material Changed from Vinyl to Cloth

Running changes in 1993 included:

Fuel filler door access notch moved to fuel filler door instead of being in the body (this car has it on the body)
Rear valance has solid black area below bumper with 6 large vent holes (this car has those too)

And yep, I forgot about the fog light covers (they are in the trunk). The magnesium intake changed to aluminum for 1994 production, but I am still amazed at the rough finish on this one - almost looks like it came out of a Playdough mold. Thanks for the replies!

[Joseph Houss]

Geez, I must be getting old in the Viper Nation!

I actually have an answer for this one.

Although, of course, it is possible that someone just changed their emblems to red... there was ONE Viper that was requested by a VCA President (I believe the NY Pres at the time) where he actually thought it would be cool to have red logos... I believe his name was Rich Harrison? He told me more than once that he had ordered it that way.

And that would make sense, as if Chris said it was an early build... back then (I know Chris... you missed all the good perks!)... the Presidents were honored with getting some of the earliest built cars when requested, and small items like that (although I don't remember if Rich said that he got the emblems from them after it was delivered...or if they actually followed through direct from the factory).

Now that still doesn't explain Chris' comment that it's still with the original owner? Unless Rich moved? ... or there was another car produced that way?