JonB here, and I should be composing this story for Viper Magazine. We may one day tell the whole story, but here goes the basics. The rumor mill has parts of the story, so herewith is the first-person, horse's mouth thumbnail version:
PartsRack was recently invited to bid on the ASC surplus SRT-10 Viper body panels that were 'left over' from 2006 production, and unneeded due to the canceled 2007 SRT10.
For reasons I cannot answer, these parts were made available due to the bankruptcy Court's direct liquidition of ASC assets to pay creditors. There were almost 650 "Large Panels" of SRT-Viper bodies, in CAAP-ready, CAAP-returned, new-primed, and raw-finished parts. In TWO plants. And hundreds more small parts, pieces and hardware. And hundreds of gallons of paint. Basically enough parts to build 54 SRT10 bodies in a rainbow mis-mosh of SRT10s and SRT-Cs. [This could create a GRATEFUL DEAD VIPER.....psychedelic indeed.]
The court's on-the-books MSRP value of this "Lot" was one used Viper value over $800,000.00
Several bidders were at play, and the "Lot" might have been broken up. Due to some other issues, there was even serious talk of sending these beauties to the shredder! But PartsRack was in a massive, tension-filled scramble to be financially able to bid on the ENTIRE parcel, and simultaneously plan the logistics mandated in case we actually won. Fast Forward: We Won !! With the help of some retired 1992+ "Team Viper Family" in Detroit who gave up a few weedays to help, ***THANKS GUYS*** we inventoried, wrapped, tagged and bagged all these items, in a 100-degree factory with NO air conditioning, and only 'emergency backup' power for lighting. As we emptied 6-year old "VGX labelled" PartsRacks (!!), SALEEN plant folks were loading the "PartsRacks" out the side door. [The bid rules expressly forbade us from taking even ONE PartsRack!}
Last week's SALEEN TOUR PHOTOS show the many SRT10 PartsRacks...take a look at the pristine facilty, but the beat-up, old PartsRacks, all emblazoned "VGX"...and the part names. They were nearly FULL three weeks ago, and sitting cross town at ASC! The photos we took pre-inventory, look almost EXACTLY like the Saleen photos! Only the empty, sad old facility was our backdrop. I truly wish I had been able to purchase the ASC facility, and open PartsRack EAST.... several T.V. retirees could have manned the fort...
It took leasing 2 x 53' semi trailers, (1 was double-decked) and 1 x 44' trailer; and a 28' race trailer to get all the stuff. We took the 5-gallon paint, but had to leave behind the 55 gal drums (although we tried desperately to just GIVE it to our friends at PreFix.) PartsRack received a glowing (and pride-inspiring) 'thank you' letter from the bankruptcy lawyer....he dislosed that a case of beer had actually been wagered that PartsRack would NOT meet the strict financial or logistics deadlines. He was RIGHT: we BEAT both deadlines, not just meeting them.
***We could NOT have managed and concluded this event without the logistical and storage support of Wisconsin neighbor and fellow Viper owner / vendor Paul Scharf of Don Scharf Automotive. THANKS PAUL and CREW.***
The many PartsRack Sweat Shop anecdotes of pre-dawn breakfasts, late dinners, WhiteCastle vs bar-burger lunches, dumpster-diving, traveler-pack raiding, office cabinet digging, locker room antics, sweating with our VIPER LOVING FRIENDS and co-workers will never be forgotten. It ranks among the TOP Viper experiences of my Viper-changed life, that began to evolve in 1989 when the show-car debuted.
The bottom line is: If you want or need an SRT10 body part, ASC-Factory OE NOS, 2003-2008 PVP Vintage, lovingly acquired with all the appropriate crayon marks and initials, WE GOT EM. Even factory PAINTED parts, (available nowhere else): Slate; Yellow; White; Copper; Blue; as well as raw or primed 'service' parts.....Our pricing will be so competitive that Dodge Dealers will buy from us (as many of them do now.)
Our shipping is Mid-west rated, not from WA. And now READY TO SHIP! And if you just cannot bear my Ex-Air-Traffic-Controller phone style, (really!) you can even call Paul instead !
I sent to CHAD (thanks) and hope to have photos added here very soon....or just look at SALEEN PLANT photos and imagine "the lights are out, and nobody's home." [at ASC-Livonia, not PartsRack!] Thanks for reading, & sharing your time.
PartsRack was recently invited to bid on the ASC surplus SRT-10 Viper body panels that were 'left over' from 2006 production, and unneeded due to the canceled 2007 SRT10.
For reasons I cannot answer, these parts were made available due to the bankruptcy Court's direct liquidition of ASC assets to pay creditors. There were almost 650 "Large Panels" of SRT-Viper bodies, in CAAP-ready, CAAP-returned, new-primed, and raw-finished parts. In TWO plants. And hundreds more small parts, pieces and hardware. And hundreds of gallons of paint. Basically enough parts to build 54 SRT10 bodies in a rainbow mis-mosh of SRT10s and SRT-Cs. [This could create a GRATEFUL DEAD VIPER.....psychedelic indeed.]
The court's on-the-books MSRP value of this "Lot" was one used Viper value over $800,000.00
Several bidders were at play, and the "Lot" might have been broken up. Due to some other issues, there was even serious talk of sending these beauties to the shredder! But PartsRack was in a massive, tension-filled scramble to be financially able to bid on the ENTIRE parcel, and simultaneously plan the logistics mandated in case we actually won. Fast Forward: We Won !! With the help of some retired 1992+ "Team Viper Family" in Detroit who gave up a few weedays to help, ***THANKS GUYS*** we inventoried, wrapped, tagged and bagged all these items, in a 100-degree factory with NO air conditioning, and only 'emergency backup' power for lighting. As we emptied 6-year old "VGX labelled" PartsRacks (!!), SALEEN plant folks were loading the "PartsRacks" out the side door. [The bid rules expressly forbade us from taking even ONE PartsRack!}
Last week's SALEEN TOUR PHOTOS show the many SRT10 PartsRacks...take a look at the pristine facilty, but the beat-up, old PartsRacks, all emblazoned "VGX"...and the part names. They were nearly FULL three weeks ago, and sitting cross town at ASC! The photos we took pre-inventory, look almost EXACTLY like the Saleen photos! Only the empty, sad old facility was our backdrop. I truly wish I had been able to purchase the ASC facility, and open PartsRack EAST.... several T.V. retirees could have manned the fort...
It took leasing 2 x 53' semi trailers, (1 was double-decked) and 1 x 44' trailer; and a 28' race trailer to get all the stuff. We took the 5-gallon paint, but had to leave behind the 55 gal drums (although we tried desperately to just GIVE it to our friends at PreFix.) PartsRack received a glowing (and pride-inspiring) 'thank you' letter from the bankruptcy lawyer....he dislosed that a case of beer had actually been wagered that PartsRack would NOT meet the strict financial or logistics deadlines. He was RIGHT: we BEAT both deadlines, not just meeting them.
***We could NOT have managed and concluded this event without the logistical and storage support of Wisconsin neighbor and fellow Viper owner / vendor Paul Scharf of Don Scharf Automotive. THANKS PAUL and CREW.***
The many PartsRack Sweat Shop anecdotes of pre-dawn breakfasts, late dinners, WhiteCastle vs bar-burger lunches, dumpster-diving, traveler-pack raiding, office cabinet digging, locker room antics, sweating with our VIPER LOVING FRIENDS and co-workers will never be forgotten. It ranks among the TOP Viper experiences of my Viper-changed life, that began to evolve in 1989 when the show-car debuted.
The bottom line is: If you want or need an SRT10 body part, ASC-Factory OE NOS, 2003-2008 PVP Vintage, lovingly acquired with all the appropriate crayon marks and initials, WE GOT EM. Even factory PAINTED parts, (available nowhere else): Slate; Yellow; White; Copper; Blue; as well as raw or primed 'service' parts.....Our pricing will be so competitive that Dodge Dealers will buy from us (as many of them do now.)
Our shipping is Mid-west rated, not from WA. And now READY TO SHIP! And if you just cannot bear my Ex-Air-Traffic-Controller phone style, (really!) you can even call Paul instead !
I sent to CHAD (thanks) and hope to have photos added here very soon....or just look at SALEEN PLANT photos and imagine "the lights are out, and nobody's home." [at ASC-Livonia, not PartsRack!] Thanks for reading, & sharing your time.
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