Chrysler, what were you thinking?
There have been rumors in the last few weeks or so that troubled automaker had received a bid for its Dodge Viper brand. The rumor even reached the halls of Congress. A member of the House of Representatives said that he was determined to find out the truth and challenged Chrysler’s current bankruptcy.
Oops. A Michigan businessman by the name of Scott Devon has come forward and said that he offered to buy Viper. Devon is the chief executive officer of Cole’s Foods, a frozen baked goods company based in Michigan. He also has a company called Devon Auto Works and it was through this company that Devon offered to buy Viper several times since January. Devon, who offered $20 million for the brand, said that Chrysler CEO Bob Mardelli turned down the bid and asked for at least $30 million. Devon said that he did submit another bid of $30 million that was based on government financing but that offer was also declined.
Devon wanted Viper because at the time the company was trying to build its own car — the Devon GTX — and it wanted to include a modified Viper chassis as well as a version of the Viper’s 700 horsepower V10. He still plans to build two GTXs in time for an unveiling at the Pebble Beach Concours in August.
via AutoWeek
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