Coachbuilders don’t really exist in the same way that they did many decades ago but that hasn’t stopped Chris Runge. He’s crafted some stunning hand-made cars in the past and he’s back with another. This time, it’s a totally bespoke creation based on the Dodge Viper and it’s called the Veleno.
Under this stunning all-aluminum body is a low-mileage 2004 Viper. Many would be hard-pressed to tell though because Runge designed and then built this body and interior himself. Well, in truth, his 18-year-old son gave him a hand in some parts of the process. Nevertheless, the project took more than 5,000 man-hours to complete.
That process includes hammering out the sheets of aluminum and then finishing them over an English Wheel. Then the guys weld, file, and sand the pieces until they’re as perfect as they can be. Runge says the car was sketched in 2018 and only finished this year.
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Runge managed to avoid using any exterior parts from the Viper aside from the windshield. While we can’t see the brakes behind the wheels, they’re also from the original car. That might be a turn-off for some but in terms of practicality, it’s a big win.
Instead of needing some bespoke parts, they’re easy to obtain. The service panels all come off just the same way that they did when the car was brand new too. The climate control and stereo system are original as well despite some slight changes to accommodate the new interior.
For Runge, the quest was to change the personality of the car with design aesthetics alone. The stock V10 is unchanged in terms of performance. According to Jay Leno, it feels like a “big V8-powered Maserati from the mid-60s.” That’s high praise from a guy who’s driven the original versions of cars like that and everything in between.
Runge says he’s up for another project in the future but determining a price will be tough. In the past, we’ve noted a couple of his builds, the FF006 and the FF007, which harken back to days of Porsche’s past. We can’t wait to see what he comes up with next.