Our companyDevonMotorworks bids on Viper

[AJB]

The company in the bidding for Viper from Bankrupcy is Devon MotorWorks from Grand Rapids Michigan. The Wall Street Journal had an item late yesterday with some of the details, information on Scott Devon, the $5.5Million offering etc. I am the Vice President for DevonMotorworks and the article is true. Scott Devon and I are involved with a few others from our company and Fred Hubacker from CM&D.
I wanted to share this with my 'Ford GT owner family'...I had been unable to do so earlier due to signed confidentiality agreements, but with the WSJ article and Bankrupcy proceedings, it in now 'public domain'. Since I know we have a lot of Viper owners in the Forum I wanted to send this out tonight.
We will see what comes of all of this.
AJB
Andy Benedict

 

[Shadowman]

There are two 2009's in my facility at this time; one that has been on fixtures for the past couple months awaiting parts based on a VOR request and getting anything for these gals has been difficult at best so the prospect of something positive happening is welcomed news.

Having said this IMO the face of Viper has been forever changed and the idea of mass producing (as in similar to days gone past) a Viper again will be an uphill battle for reasons that go well beyond one's ability to fund the processes.

Politically, socially, and frankly economically these pieces of the puzzle do not IMO fit well together when associated with potentail Viper production. Can the name Viper survive as a limited production boutique piece; maybe and yet if this were to become the direction the net benefit to those in the lurches would be minimal at best.

I truly wish for you and your team all the best just recognize (as I feel certain that you and the team do) that the hole that was dug is far deeper than most recognize and awakening the dead is seldom successful and yet the attempt to do so is known to be extremely expensive.

I say awakening the dead because effectively the Viper production (what little there was) ceased last year with only an interesting show of team commitment presented a short time ago during which I dare say that most, if not all anticipated it to be little more than a brief moment in time during which good byes could be shared. I say this because during this last show of arms many of the parts needed to effectively migrate the gals down the assembly line to completion simply were not available.

Thank you and all the best

Shadowman

 

[racelance]

I wish you much luck and success with your future endeavors.

Sincerely,

Lance

 

[skyrex]

Best of luck in this endeavor AJB! :cheers

 

[t32b]

Yes, saw this in PH. Best of luck.
http://www.pistonheads.com/news/default.asp?storyId=19987

 

[Shadowman]

Yes, saw this in PH. Best of luck.
http://www.pistonheads.com/news/default.asp?storyId=19987

Interesting

Shadowman

 

[ChipBeck]

A beautiful butt.

This shot from the back looks kind of like the Shelby GR-1. :thumbsup

That is a really tough business Andy. If you can pull it off, you get my vote for Stallion of the Year! Good luck and all the best.

Chip

 

[Simms]

Being a diehard viper owner, can you tell me what Devon Motorworks would plan on doing with the viper platform if a deal is worked out?

 

[ChipBeck]

Info.

Being a diehard viper owner, can you tell me what Devon Motorworks would plan on doing with the viper platform if a deal is worked out?

Click on the link in post #5 of this thread.

Chip

 

[Empty Pockets]

Yes, saw this in PH. Best of luck.
http://www.pistonheads.com/news/default.asp?storyId=19987

'Sorta has an early 20th Century Bugatti "feel" in the 'looks dept', doesn't it. 'Specially the side view.

http://www.conceptcarz.com/vehicle/z8707/Bugatti-Type-57C.aspx (pan down to the Aravis coupe.)

Mebbe more so the '36 Delahaye
http://www.supercars.net/cars/1939.html

(Ya. I know. How can one "feel" "looks"? Humor me. I ain't Hemingway.)

 

[Fast Freddy]

AJB - so if Viper gets sold to Devon does that mean when i need new parts like a windshield or a clutch, etc for my 2001 viper ACR i will get those parts from Devon? and when Devon takes over Viper and they run out of existing inventory is Devon gonna be producing spare parts for my Viper? i am very concerned about future parts availability on my '01 viper acr......

 

[txviper]

If nothing else, you guys are getting some great publicity.:cheers

 

[Simms]

Click on the link in post #5 of this thread.

Chip

So the Viper would be scrapped for the GTX? Or would the viper be produced along side the new supercar?

 

[FrankBarba]

I believe that the GTX Devron is built on the same chasis as the 08/09 ACR. I believe they purchased 20 ACR's to help with the developement of this GTX.

 

[AJB]

Devon MotorWorks.

To all - thanks for the comments and Questions. As you can understand, I cannot answer specifically at this time.. But, one of the reasons I wanted to start this thread is to get input from you..ViperOwners and FGTOwners and car enthusiasts in general.
We have been in these negotiations for about 8 months and it has been a real 'roller-coaster'. Supposedly the Bankrupcy Judge is hearing all testimony currently and a decision next week (June 8 at the latest) is in the offing. Thanks
AJB

 

[Hennessey Performance]

Good luck with it guys. It would be great to see the Viper evolve and improve.

 

[AlohaGT]

Andy, much success!

 

[Kayvan]

This could work out well.....very well.

A company in TX bought out the DeLorean Motor Co. inventory, shells, parts and engines and is doing fine. Thats a renault/volvo derivative engine in there, btw.

Pantera, Caterham/Lotus, Morgan and obviously Shelby have done similar strategies and all have found a niche to serve at a profit.

 

[Empty Pockets]

....Thats a renault/volvo derivative engine in there, btw.

Peugeot too, if I remember correctly.

 

[Triheart7]

Good luck, Andy. Keep us up to speed as details unfold.