Vehicle manufacturers have grasped the importance of securing brand loyalty from an early stage, and this principle doesn’t just apply to consumers but also extends to the technicians who work on automobiles. Indeed, car companies have been recognized to provide technical schools with their own vehicles for the purpose of preparing future technicians with hands-on experience on current models. However, there is a catch—typically, these vehicles need to be decommissioned once their educational utility is fulfilled.
This scenario played out six years ago when Fiat Chrysler directed educational institutions across the nation to dispose of 93 distinct Dodge Vipers that had been contributed for instructional purposes.
The most extraordinary of these vehicles belonged to South Puget Sound Community College in Washington. Among a fleet of ordinary vehicles, a striking pre-production hard-top Viper stood out, painted in eye-catching Viper GTS Blue with white racing stripes. This car was a source of pride for the college, enhancing their image of being “hip and up-to-date,” as stated by school representative Kellie Purce Braseth. Furthermore, this Viper was the fourth one ever produced, which propelled its estimated value to $250,000 back in 2014.
The students at the college were so devastated by this decision that they initiated a petition urging the automaker to reconsider its choice to crush the vehicle.
It’s important to note that educational institutions were not caught off guard by this situation. Upon accepting the Vipers as educational aids, they all signed agreements outlining the terms of use and eventual disposal of the vehicles. When FCA decided to scrap the cars, it was deemed that the technology in these vehicles was no longer pertinent for emerging technicians, resulting in all units, including VIN #4, being destined for the junkyard.
Despite having resided at trade schools, Fiat-Chrysler still legally owned these vehicles. They became a liability once deemed technologically outdated and were no longer utilized for educational purposes. Speculation arose that at least two of these pre-production models found their way onto public roads and were part of accidents, although Fiat Chrysler denied any legal complications related to the Vipers donated to educational institutions at the time.
“Around a decade ago, Chrysler Group generously provided several Dodge Viper vehicles to various vocational schools for educational use. As per our agreements, it is customary that when vehicles are donated for educational purposes, they are to be demolished once they no longer serve their intended educational function,” stated FCA in a 2014 declaration.
Therefore, considering the lack of educational value and the fact that most units were used for display rather than their intended purpose, there is little reason for the automaker to retain these vehicles. Not even claims of historical significance swayed FCA, as highlighted in its same statement, emphasis ours:
“Chrysler Group recognizes and values the historical importance of the Viper and actively works to preserve many of its iconic models and designs for historical purposes; however, none of these vehicles fall into this category.”
Six years later, now that the Viper is no longer in production, Fiat Chrysler’s decision to crush these treasures has become a regrettable and overlooked footnote in the car’s history. Regrettably, all these cars have met the same fate as the EV1, making it too late to rescue the Vipers. Perhaps it’s best to view this as a lesson in the automotive world’s version of Moore’s Law. Despite our sentimental attachment to automobiles, for automakers, it ultimately boils down to business.
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