2000 Dodge Viper ACR – This Snake has some added Venom

Rob Berger’s 2000 Dodge Viper ACR is a modern classic in a world of plugin cars and smartphone navigation. According to the Viper registry, there were 949 Viper GTS’s built in the year 2000. Of those, 218 were ACR’s (American Club Racing). Only 35 were built in solid red, and who knows how many of those are left roaming the streets?

Rob’s dream of owning a Viper is not an uncommon story. In the years prior to YouTube and social media apps like Instagram and Twitter, the public had to rely on magazines like Car & Driver and Motortrend to give us a sneak peek of new concept cars, comparison tests, and car reviews.

As luck would have it, Rob was working at an automotive repair shop in Surprise, AZ around 1992 when he and his co-workers heard this deep rumble and could feel it vibrating through the floors and walls of the shop. Up front, they saw three ZR1 Corvettes and three Vipers driving down the road. It’s not uncommon to see test vehicles here in the Arizona desert. “At that point, it was game on, I wanted one – except that, I was a typical dumb, broke kid with dreams larger than my income” Rob confessed.

Fast forward 24 years later and his dream is now a reality. Unbeknownst to Rob, good friend Erik Gagnon had secretly set up an appointment to look at this very snake at a local luxury/exotic dealership. With Rob’s youngest son Brad along for this momentous occasion, it was love at first sight. The following day with wife in tow an offer was made and the car was theirs.

As rare as this snake may potentially be, this is not your factory Dodge Viper ACR. Upon acquiring the car, the previous owner had wanted to squeeze some more power out of that glorious V10. A Paxton NOVI 2000 supercharger, Belanger headers, high flow catalytic converters and a Corsa exhaust were added for a little more butt-dyno satisfaction.

“I love the looks, the raw power and the fact I can cross it off of my wish-list” Rob said. “It’s a blast to drive! Plus, I love that my kids love it. I still get a little nervous taking out on the road, however.”

As nervous as Rob may get, his neighbors should be even more nervous as he plans to upgrade the brakes, add a water/meth injection kit, upgraded cam for the blower, a bigger intercooler, and a tune to make it all work efficiently. With its stock 450hp accentuated by the first round of mods, Rob’s snake is making around 600hp. With the coming mods, it will have even more violent venom, maybe to the tune of 800hp.

May we recommend a fresh set of grippy tires Rob! Keep us posted…