Viper Xrt10 (Updated Jan 3, 2010)

[Peter Lombardo]

Viper XRT10

First, I personally would like to thank Gregg and who ever is responsible for the updated forum because I really like the look of this now...I find it very smart and contemporary looking. Kudos to all involved, it looks great.

While my “Art Deco†Aero Coupe is in seclusion having its 3rd coat of paint dry, I thought I would post some shots of the Viper XRT10 concept coupe that I have been working on.

I posted a drawing of it, along with the Chrysler 300 Concept, at the end of the Corvette post. The clay and Bondo model is not quite finished, but it is getting close.

As you can see,

I drew out the outer dimension of the car on a piece of paper and taped that under a clear piece of plastic and then started to build up the clay, bit by bit to create the basic shape.

As it seems to be the case now, I made some variations to the design as I began working in 3 dimensions.

I keep seeing other design ideas crop up as I work on the design, so I just go with it if I like the way it is moving. I guess, in contractor terms, I make “field changes†to the blueprints while on the job.

This car has been heavily influenced by the Group C race cars of the 80’s and early 90’s in it shape.

This car has the characteristic square shape and relatively flat sides. It differs mostly in that the cockpit is covered in a clear bubbletop that will rise up and move forward as the doors will open in a “suicide styleâ€

hinged from the rear side. I plan on having the doors connected to the top so as the top opens forward, the doors open outward…..that is the plan, we’ll see if that works out.

In the protruding nose, I will have the characteristic Viper grille and “snake eyes†shaped headlights.

As of right now, I am planning to have all four wheels covered with full width disc’s with eight air slots on each wheel. The discs turn with the wheel making for a more aerodynamic air flow.

Right behind each front wheel is an air outlet, patterned after the current model Viper, and to let out hot air from the radiator positioned behind the grille and any heat build up from the front brakes. Directly above and behind the cockpit is a large air intake snorkel for the engine.

The Viper V10 will be mounted in the rear behind the driver and passenger seating. The Corvette concept had a joystick for vehicle control, but this will have a conventional set up with steering wheel and gear shift. On the top of the rear body work will be two air vents (area is set up, but the openings are not set yet) for oil cooling and rear brake intake for ventilation. Behind that area, I have drawn on the rear wing. My plan on that is to have it raise up at speed. So at rest or slow speed, the wing will be in the down position, flush with the rear bodywork. But at high speed, the wing will raise up about a scale 10 or 12 inches.

To the rear, the lower center will have the traditional Group C “recess†with the vertical air slots. I have “boxed in†the tail light area, but have not settled on a shape as of yet. I am kicking around a few ideas, but I am not sure yet.

The plan is for this to be some type of metallic red color; after all, it is a Dodge and Dodge just loves red concepts, but to shake it up a little, I am planning a silver / charcoal snake skin fade paint job from up on the scoop area, down to the back of the car. We’ll see how that works out.

Once again, I am really excited at where this will be going. This morning, while reviewing some concept car pictures on the computer, I ran across a picture of a 1938 Cord Concept (It basically looked like a Cord Convertible), but it got me thinking about what a stylized Cord Concept would look like. So I draw out a few ideas and a picked up a block of balsa wood and this afternoon began grinding away at that outside because it was such a beautiful afternoon here in N.J. You know, pop up headlights in the front fenders and those wild horizontal grille slots stacked up in the front and grille sides along with front wheel drive…that could be pretty neat.

Edited January 3, 2010 by Peter Lombardo

[Custom Hearse]

You simply amaze me Peter. I love the work you do to make these car models a reality!. This is another I will definitely keep my eyes open for!

[Foxer]

You missed your calling, Peter. You're in the wrong part of the auto business and should have been designing them! This looks fantastic and so well proportioned.

[Joe Handley]

This is going to be good, kinda reminds me of some of the concept cars that come out of Detroit in the 80's!

[vizio93]

Sweeeeeeet a new project on Peter's workbench !!! Wait, shouldn't I be this excited towards the stuff on my own bench　??? Can't wait to see you shape this build !!!

Edited December 28, 2009 by vizio93

[Jared Roach]

Wow this is going to be another awesome build!! I also think that it looks like a concept from the 80's or 90's! Can't wait for the next update.

[pharr7226]

I am in awe of your work!!! Can't wait to see more.

[seeker589]

Tear it up, Peter! Looks great. As always - I'll be following your build.

[charlie8575]

Another epic tour-de-force is coming.

Go, Peter, go!

Charlie Larkin

[weasel]

you DO put a lot of work into these don't ya??? it kinda looks like a Mclaren F1 that got punched in the nose!!!

please continue...

[Tony T]

Wow, another one heading out of the park! Beautiful!

[Peter Lombardo]

I have made some headway on the Viper XRT10 concept. I have made a vacuum formed body in both clear and white styrene. ttp://farm3.static.flickr.com/2727/4240169437_a6bb53a95f.jpg

The clear body is for the “bubbletop†section and obviously, the white body is for the car itself.

I have cut the opening for where the engine will be and cut out the bubbletop section and am slowly, and I mean slowly, trimming the clear window to fit the opening.

I can’t afford a screw up here or I will have to make more clear bodies to redo the window, so I am trimming very carefully…a little at a time.

I cut the air intake open behind and above the interior area and put a bottom on it.

It leads directly into the upper engine compartment where it will connect to the engine intake system.

I have cut down the Viper interior to fit. In order to have the seats clear the top properly, I had to remove about 2 mm from the center console. Easy enough. I have inserted the area which will be the top of the dashboard that extends all the way to the front of the car.

I like this, it is very different…..it reminds me of the old GM minivans from the early 1980’s where the windshield was way out in front of the dashboard…..the top of the dash was about 3 ½ feet deep.

Looking at the engine, it will fit just fine, but the transmission will require a refit. I was looking at a number of un-built Group C type race cars that I have and have found a few trans-axles that would work out well. I will make a clay mold of each side and cast it out of bondo. It should work out just fine.

Ok, that’s it for now.

[Jared Roach]

Wow this is lookin really cool!! Man I wish I could do this stuff, well not yet anyways. Good work and very creative!

Edited January 3, 2010 by bowtiebadboy333

[Raul_Perez]

That is one wild design!!

I really like the futuristic concept cars!!

Thanks for sharing,

[vizio93]

Lookin' good Peter !!! I like the windshield idea

[Tony T]

Another awesome concept! Very cool!

[Jon Cole]

I love this! When I saw this, I saw… something French! Has a Citroen look, or maybe, this Peugeot 4002 Concept:

Or perhaps this Renault Laguna Concept:

You keep up the good work!