Dubbed the “Defender,” this prop car is not only functional, it’s based on a Viper RT/10, too.
Metro City, California is in trouble. “The Outfit” has a firm grip on the city, thanks to an incredibly organized crime ring. Simple arrests won’t do. What they need is a special car. A car called the Defender. And that car needs one special driver. An ex criminal who can wheel it properly, especially with a chip on his shoulder. That’s the general plot line of the mid/late 90’s show “Viper.” It presented itself as a “near future” crime drama, and the vehicle of choice is one of the more interesting movie prop cars we’ve seen.
The Defender is a shape shifting armored car. In once scene it could be a Viper RT/10. Fast forward to the next scene, and it’ll be a crime fighting handful. In reality, it actually was an RT/10, though nmodified very heavily. Via Bring-A-Trailer, we learn that 14 of these cars have been made, with most of them serving as stunt cars. This one, however, was one of the main cars used during filming, and also for promotional events for the TV series.
Steve Ferrario, Chrysler’s Automotive Stylist at the time penned the lines, which is why it looks delightfully similar to the wild and wonderful MOPAR concepts of the 90’s. With “fangs” integrated into the front and the double bubble roof, it was a foreshadowing of the Viper GTS.
One thing that didn’t make it to production is the car’s driveline. Movie prop cars only need to go, turn, and stop. So it’s not surprising that the hardware under the hood isn’t exactly impressive. A 360 cubic inch engine (most likely a Magnum 5.9) powers the car, and it’s sent to the back wheels through an automatic gearbox. So while it looks great, it won’t be setting any souls on fire.
It also won’t be doing much work on the street, either. It isn’t titled or registered for street use. But maybe someone can get creative with a hobbyist build. However, they’ll first have to add important things like… seatbelts. Still, it would be a pretty cool car to have for those extra special occasions. Even if the gadget screens in the center console aren’t functional. But you can bet you’ll be the star of Radwood.
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Photos courtesy of Bring A Trailer