Washington College Told to Crush Pre-Production Dodge Viper

Chrysler has told the automotive program at South Puget Sound Community College in Olympia, Wash., that it must destroy one of its prized cars, a pre-production 1992 Dodge Viper.

The Olympian reports the car is not legal for street use and was never intended for sale. It was donated to the school for training with the understanding the company could order it to be destroyed.

The donations coordinator for Chrysler, Steven Glasco, says all the donated Vipers nationwide are being crushed. According to a press release issued yesterday, Chrysler donated several Dodge Viper vehicles to various trade schools for educational purposes. The company indicated that as part of the agreement the vehicles donated were to be destroyed after they were put to their intended use. Chrysler says, “With advancements in automotive technology over the past decade, it is unlikely that these vehicles offer any educational value to students.”

College automotive technology professor Norm Chapman says he was told a couple of the educational Vipers elsewhere “got loose” and were involved in accidents, exposing the parent company to liability costs.

In its statement, Chrysler denied any knowledge of legal proceedings related to donated Dodge Vipers involved in accidents or in product liability lawsuits.

The Olympia college has about 20 donated vehicles in its auto shop.