The Dodge Viper may be gone, but Lego is offering enthusiasts a considerably cheaper way to put one in the garage. The new Lego Technic Dodge Viper GTS-R recreates one of America’s most successful race cars for $64.99.
This isn’t simply a static brick-built model, either. Under its opening hood sits a miniature V10 complete with 10 plastic pistons that actually move as the car rolls.
The 805-piece set is based on the competition-spec Viper GTS-R and wears the car’s unmistakable white-and-blue racing colors. At 11.5 inches long, 5 inches wide, and just over 3 inches tall, it’s large enough to accommodate some genuinely interesting mechanical details without becoming a shelf-dominating monster.
Lego officially recommends the kit for builders aged 10 and older. Given the subject matter and working mechanical components, however, there will probably be plenty of adult Viper fans clearing some desk space for it too.
There’s A Working V10 Under The Hood
The highlight is unquestionably the miniature V10. Lego has squeezed 10 moving pistons beneath the Viper’s low hood, creating a mechanical representation of the engine that helped define Dodge’s wildest performance car.
The pistons move as the rear wheels turn, with the drivetrain incorporating a functional differential. It’s the sort of detail that makes Technic models particularly satisfying, since builders can see how the mechanical components interact rather than simply assembling an exterior shell.
Other functional elements include steering, opening doors, and an opening hood. The steering can be operated using a control positioned on top of the model, while the enormous rear wing completes the GTS-R’s appropriately aggressive silhouette.
Lego Recreates A Serious Racing Machine
The real Viper GTS-R was far from a decorative exercise. Developed from the Viper GTS coupe, it became one of America’s most successful GT racers during the late 1990s and early 2000s.
Vipers earned three consecutive class victories at the 24 Hours of Le Mans between 1998 and 2000. The GTS-R program also collected championships on both sides of the Atlantic, while an Oreca-run Viper scored an outright victory at the 2000 Rolex 24 at Daytona.
That racing pedigree makes the GTS-R an excellent Technic subject. Its exaggerated proportions, huge rear wing, and long hood translate naturally into Lego form, while the exposed mechanical features fit neatly with the Technic lineup’s engineering-focused approach.
It Comes With A Forza Horizon 6 Bonus
There’s a digital extra tucked into the package as well. Buyers receive instructions for unlocking a special Lego Technic Viper livery in Forza Horizon 6, although a copy of the game is required, and Lego notes that additional terms and conditions apply.
The finished model can then serve as either a playable Technic car or a display piece. Digital building instructions are also available through the Lego Builder app, including 3D viewing and progress-tracking features.
At $64.99, this is obviously a much easier route into Viper ownership than hunting down an increasingly collectible real GTS. Granted, you won’t get the noise or fury of an actual Dodge V10, but watching 10 tiny plastic pistons pumping away beneath the hood is a pretty entertaining consolation prize.