Dodge presented the Sidewinder Concept in 1997 at the SEMA convention in Las Vegas. Based on a design penned by Chrysler's Mark Allen (who had graduated from design school only two years prior), it rested on a chassis built by Riley & Scott and powered by a front-mounted Viper GTS-R engine. Officially called the Dodge Dakota Sidewinder, it explored the possibilities of a convertible version of the Dodge Dakota.
The ten-cylinder engine powering the Sidewinder produced 640 horsepower and 530 lb-ft of torque. It had a four-speed automatic transmission, a 112-inch wheelbase size, and an overall length of 189 inches. Zero to sixty was accomplished in just under four seconds, and top speed was achieved at 170 mph.
by Dan Vaughan