Dodge Viper "engine was designed by Lamborghini" ?

[Jason Doucette]

I just found this page:
http://www.bhrentacar.com/exotic-car-rental/viper.htm

It states: "Engine was designed by Lamborghini"

As far as I knew, it was constructed from pre-existing parts from Dodge.

What's the real story?

(P.S. The site also states, "Top Speed of 177 MPH", which is far from the truth, so it appears they do not have accurate information)

[lamborghinirocks]

i've heard that about the engine before, it was probably when Chrysler owned Lambo

[gweb]

[quote=Jason Doucette]I just found this page:
http://www.bhrentacar.com/exotic-car-rental/viper.htm

It states: "Engine was designed by Lamborghini"

As far as I knew, it was constructed from pre-existing parts from Dodge.

What's the real story?

(P.S. The site also states, "Top Speed of 177 MPH", which is far from the truth, so it appears they do not have accurate information)[/QUOTEFrom

From what I have read Chrysler did some of the development work along side with the LAmbo engineers. Its difficult to know which side gets more credit for the engine. If you talk with a Dodge guy he will tell you that the V10 in the Lambo came from Chrysler. If you talk with the Lambo guy he will tell you that the V10 in the Viper came from LAmbo. Who knows for sure except they both had a hand in it.

[v10_viper]

The engine wasn't really designed by Lambo. I've got a book that's basically god of information of Vipers up to 97 or 98. In it it says that Dodge tapped the expertise of Lamborghini for more power. It was an actual truck engine, they just made it lighter and more powerful, and Lambo helped them do that. Top speed of 177 might be the 96 and newer RT-10's, not sure because I know that the GTS's would do over 190 but the power ratings' changed every few years it seemed.

[Jason Doucette]

Thanks for the info.

Originally Posted by v10_viper

... It was an actual truck engine, they just made it lighter and more powerful, and Lambo helped them do that. ...

This is what I had gathered from listening to a few TV shows on the Viper. I did not know that they had received any help from Lamborghini, however.

[ell_d]

This may come as a shock to you, but i know for a fact that the Viper isn't as american as you think!
I know that the engine is a modified truck engine, and that two Lambo engineers helped the conversion from truck engine to super car, but the block for the engine is cast in jolly old England.
A good freind of mine owns a company called Zeus, and they specialise in metal castings. Based in the midilands (Dudly to be precise) they are the people responsible for this engine. Somewhere on the main engine block, you will find the word ZAP (Zeus Automotive Products), hidden from imediate veiw of course. This word also features on other performance engines, such as McLaren's formula 1 V10.
So the viper isn't as "all out american muscle" as you think!
Engineered by the italiens, built by the brits... Its a good job you've got the Corvette!

[VenomInMyVeins]

Hey hey hey.... it wasn't strictly engineered by the italians... hell carroll shelby himself was on the development team for the viper. And also... put this into the back of your head ell_d. What is better... all the great minds of a country (as with the corvette) or all the great minds of the u.s. and western europe? I'm gonna say the more top minds... the better.