Deciding whether a Viper is a sports car or a muscle car can be a difficult task. During our research for this question, we learned that both terms are quite subjective. Also, this car may not fit both categories fully. Let’s start with a quick answer:
All Dodge Vipers can be best classified as supercars because they have a lightweight, aerodynamic design and a powerful V10 engine. This means they are not muscle cars (heavier and need to have a big-block V8). They’re also not sports cars because they are too powerful to fit into this category.
However, that doesn’t tell the whole story. In the text below, we’ve outlined the different characteristics of sports, super, hypercars, and muscle cars and compared which area the Viper fits best. We’ll discuss the different engine types, the design of the car, the weight, and the drive system that it uses. Read on!
Also read: Is The Ford GT A Super Or Muscle Car?
Engine
One of the main characteristics of a muscle car is its so-called ‘big-block V8’ engine. Big block V8’s are known for their power and were generally used during the muscle car era (late 1960’s to early 1970s). After that, many cars used a small block V8 which is considered characteristic of pony cars.
On the other hand, sports cars can use all kinds of different engines. These can be as small as an inline-4 all the way up to a V12. Sports cars are considered to be quite a broad category (although there are differences within the category that we jump into in a second).
Below we’ve outlined the engines that the Dodge Viper has used. In total, the Viper had seven generations. However, it only used three engines in the big picture.
- 1991 – 2002: 8.0 V10
- 2003 – 2007: 8.3 V10
- 2007 – 2017: 8.4 V10
So, where does the Viper end up in this category? Even though the car has more power than a V8, we can’t consider the Viper a true, classic muscle car. Its engine is simply too big and too powerful. One of a muscle car’s characteristics is that it was the ‘regular man’s powerhouse.’ A V10 is simply too exotic for this.
However, classifying the Viper as a ‘sports car’ and throwing it in the same category as a Mazda MX-5 also doesn’t feel right. So, is the Viper then more of a supercar or a hypercar?
First of all, the Viper is definitely a supercar. Depending on the generation, it produces 400 – 645 horsepower. That’s supercar territory for such a compact car. Furthermore, it has a top speed of 180 – 201 mph (290 – 325 km/h). So a supercar, it’s for sure.
However, we wouldn’t classify the Viper as a hypercar. This is because there are probably only +/- 30 hypercars in existence, and they would beat the Viper in every category. A few examples:
- Bugatti Chiron: 1.200 hp
- Aston Martin Valkyrie: 670 – 1.000 hp (also weight 1,000 pounds less than a Viper)
- Koenigsegg Regera: 1.500 hp
- McLaren Senna: 789 hp
In terms of the engine, we would say that the Dodge Viper is definitely a supercar, but it lacks the specifications to be classified as a true hypercar.
Also read: Is The Dodge Challenger A Sports Or Muscle Car?
Design
In terms of design, certain elements differ between super/hypercars and muscle cars. Muscle cars generally have 2-doors and a large grill in the front that allows for maximum air intake. Furthermore, they look ‘boxy’ in the front.
On the other hand sports-, super- and hypercars also have 2-doors, but that’s where the similarities stop. These cars have a lower center of gravity. When you look at them, you can immediately see they are much more aerodynamic and look ‘slick.’ The images below provide a great comparison with a classic muscle car (the 1971 Challenger).
Dodge Viper 
1971 Dodge Challenger
Weight
Another important difference to consider is the weight of the car. In general, we would say that a typical sports/super/hypercar weighs anything in the neighborhood of 3,000 pounds. These cars are normally lighter cars which allow for better handling.
On the other hand, muscle cars are heavier cars designed for straight-line speed. Let’s say that would be anything from 4,000 pounds or higher.
Depending on the generation Viper you’re looking at, it has a curb weight of 3,300 – 3,550 pounds. That means it falls right between the sports- and muscle car criteria.
Still, we would consider the Viper to be more of a supercar than a muscle car. The reason for this is that it’s still a relatively lightweight car with an absolutely monstrous V10 engine. Yes, it may have a few more pounds, but that’s mainly because those extra pounds deliver more horsepower.
Also, the car never really comes close to the 4,000 – 5,000 pounds range (for example, a Hellcat is 4,586 pounds) which means it doesn’t qualify for the muscle car category at all.
Also Read: Is The Dodge Charger A Sports Or Muscle Car?
Drive System
Another small difference between the different categories of cars is how they deliver their power to the wheels. For a car to be classified as a classic muscle car, it needs to have rear-wheel drive. On the other hand, sports/super/hypercars can have all kinds of different drive systems.
Looking at the Viper, we see that all model years have rear-wheel drive. For this reason, this element sometimes confuses the car community. Since the car has a powerful engine, is American-made, and has rear-wheel drive, people are tempted to call it a muscle car. However, as we discussed earlier, it’s best classified as a supercar.
Also read: Is The Dodge Avenger A Sports Car?
Price
Finally, there’s also the element of price. Here, the difference between the categories once again becomes obvious.
When muscle cars were first put on the market, they were supposed to deliver ‘affordable power.’ This meant that the regular man or woman should buy the car without taking out a second mortgage.
To this day, that statement is still (kind of) true. Take the Dodge Challenger R/T, which has a V8 engine and has a starting price of around $35.000. When we compare this to the Dodge Viper, we see why the Viper isn’t really ‘affordable power.’
A Viper had a starting price of $90.000, about 1.5 times as much as a Challenger R/T. However, on the other hand, $90.000 isn’t enough to put it into hypercar territory. Cars in that range normally cost $500.000+. That’s why the supercar category is really the best fit for this particular car.
Also read: Is The Dodge Dart A Sports Car?
Sources
Hi! My name is Stefan; I’m the owner and lead writer at TheDriverAdviser.com.
I’m an active writer on this blog myself, as well as a novice car mechanic. For the really technical stuff, I find writers with experience as a mechanic or who have studied mechanical engineering.
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