How This Untouched 1996 Dodge Viper V10 Engine Became A Pointless, Stupid Collectible

Dodge blew minds all the way back in the early 1990s when it released a V10-powered weapon named after a deadly snake. That engine was beloved for its bonkers 8.0-liters of displacement and the 400 horsepower it could deliver straight to the rear wheels. Hilariously, back in the early days, a clerical error saw one of these proud engines languishing in a crate, forgotten, and it never got fitted to a vehicle. As covered by Silodrome, that same engine, still untouched, is now up for sale on Bring a Trailer.

You want to know what’s even funnier? It’s not the first time this engine has gone on sale. In fact, this very engine was sold by Bring a Trailer last year, for the reasonable sum of $16,000. Now it’s being auctioned again, still having never been fitted to a vehicle.

It seems, then, that this bold red V10 is always the bridesmaid, and never the bride. Like me, you might be wishing for this snake to snarl and sing one day, powering some devilish roadster down the blacktop—but I wouldn’t hold your breath. The story behind this one is a humdinger.

As Bring a Trailer told us last July, the engine, serial number 6M80L/A03270813, was built by Dodge in 1996 as a crate engine. It was intended for use as a replacement for warranty or repair work. The part number was 05245801. The engine was sold complete with an alternator, power steering pump, AC compressor, oil-filter housing, starter motor, ignition hardware, exhaust manifolds, and all the necessary accessory pulleys. As you’d expect for a crate engine, the throttle bodies and exhausts were plugged to keep foreign material out. It was acquired by the then-seller in 2021, and they’d decided to move it on.

When posted last year, the auction listing included a video that told more of the backstory. It’s since been hidden on YouTube. Thankfully, The Drive reported on the engine’s amusing history at the time. Apparently, a Dodge dealership employee had been attempting to order a tube of red touch-up paint, but fumbled the order number and ordered a Viper crate engine instead. The engine arrived at the dealership but never got installed in a car as there was no car waiting to receive it. It was all a big mistake. The engine bounced around several owners in the subsequent years, eventually ending up on that auction in July 2023, where it sold for $16,000.

Now the engine is back on Bring a Trailer. It appears the current owner has grown tired of hanging on to an expensive crate engine that is likely only serving as a mildly amusing conversation starter. Thus, they’re trying to move it on and recoup some money in turn.

Bidding sits at $7,200 at the time of writing, with two days remaining. That’s well below what it sold for last year, but the auction’s not over yet.

The engine is still in never-run condition, with the throttle body and exhaust covers still in place. It still sits on a tubular steel stand with lifting eyes bolted on to the heads. It’s worth noting, though, that the decades have taken a minor toll. The “VIPER” script on the heads is looking tarnished and worn. The exhaust manifolds are showing some rust, too, as is the pressure plate. Various other metal fittings and fixtures aren’t looking the freshest either.

I’m going to be quite honest with you. You should probably not buy this engine. Why? Because you cannot win. Yes, this thing is a one-of-a-kind museum piece. It’s a completely untouched crate motor from the dawn of the Viper. The problem is that this engine can only get worse from here. As it stands, many metal components on it are showing signs of degradation, and the rubber hoses are looking particularly poor, too. No surprise after almost 30 years.

If you buy this thing, one of two things will happen. Let’s explore both scenarios.

Let’s say you want to run it in something. You install it in a car. That will ruin its value as a “never-run” engine. Plus, you’ll have to go over the whole thing beforehand, because various seals and pipes have probably all dry-rotted out. The state of the assembly lube in the engine is also questionable. You could try and run it as is, but it could throw a belt, spring a leak, or maybe even seize something. It’s probably a great engine with the right attention, but you could buy newer Viper engines without these problems, and you wouldn’t be spoiling a one-of-one donk.

The other scenario is that you buy it as a museum piece. That’s a bad idea, too. The engine is already looking a few degrees below “immaculate.” It won’t be long before some of the plastic clips and rubber hoses start literally falling apart. At that point, you’ll have to change some of those parts to keep the engine “complete” and in doing so, it will no longer be an all-original never-run Viper engine. You lose, again!

The only person who should buy this is a rich YouTuber who needs a gimmick for people to click on. Buy this thing, stuff it in a Crown Victoria, and enjoy your endless pile of money, race cars, and adoring fans.  Do a burnout, take some photos, and drop me a line with the story of how you got it running. You and I can at least get some positives out of this silly collectible. After all, let’s admit it. This thing is really just a waste of a good engine. Rev it up and let it live so this nonsense can end.

Image credits: Bring a Trailer