Vipers can be a polarizing topic for many automotive enthusiasts. Much like modern iterations of the Chevrolet Corvette, the king snake has found itself under close scrutiny in nearly all aspects of its design, from performance to appearance and everything in between. After 5 generations of twenty valve monsters, it seems safe to say that the Viper is here to stay, even if it means breaking away from Dodge & entering a realm all its own. While the newest generation stays true to the roots of this radical reptile, there will always be something about a Gen II GTS that says “Viper,” more than the others. With our latest wrap, we set out to make the snake louder than ever!
Before the cold weather could put this GTS into hibernation, we had the pleasure of crafting an aesthetic overhaul that would set this Viper apart from the rest & appeal to our inner childhood love of Dodge’s modern sports car.
Dodge Viper GTS XPEL Stealth paint protection Avery blue chrome car wrap
To prep the car for installation, Mike hosed her down with an extra foamy 24- step hand wash & decontaminated all the paintwork with clay bar. After the bath, we repositioned her on the shop floor so Ivan & Joe could begin dis-assembly. The strip down is a necessary step that many wrappers choose to overlook to save time & install costs, but it makes all the difference in the world if you want your wrap to last for years to come with the same fit & finish it has upon delivery.
Dodge Viper GTS XPEL Stealth paint protection Avery blue chrome car wrap
If you’ve seen any gen of Viper in person, chances are you’ve noticed how shapely the car can be from nearly every angle. The hood alone is massive & seemingly takes up more surface area than any other panel on the vehicle, which could pose quite a threat for even the most talented vehicle wrap installers. Fortunately for us, the scheme we dreamed up incorporated a set of custom cut stripes that ran the length of the vehicle, allowing us to craft a multi-piece pattern that not only covered the hood completely, but resulted in a finish that is free of excessive stretching & any visible film stress.
Dodge Viper GTS XPEL Stealth paint protection Avery blue chrome car wrap
Once Tim had the Avery blue chrome stripes installed, he began mapping out the remaining exposed paintwork for the XPEL Stealth paint protection application.
Dodge Viper GTS XPEL Stealth paint protection Avery blue chrome car wrap
The trickier bits of Stealth to install on the Viper were definitely the most curvacious sections of the vehicle, but Tim’s precise digitizing abilities ensured the fitment would be flush with the edges of the stripes no matter where they lay. Each piece to go around the stripes was custom cut and designed to fit perfectly down the center of Sneaky Pete’s signature “double bubble” top, across the hood, and up into the triangular intake on the nose. Even under close inspection of the tighter areas, it’s hard to spot the slightest bit of exposed, glossy yellow, keeping the Stealth look as seamless as possible.
Dodge Viper GTS XPEL Stealth paint protection Avery blue chrome car wrap
With the striped sections all put together, it was time to start in on covering the massive hips, wing, rear end, and side skirts.
Dodge Viper GTS XPEL Stealth paint protection Avery blue chrome car wrap
Tim put the finishing touches on in the form of some new custom cut blue chrome badges. It’s a bit of a delicate process, not only with installation but also in the initial re-creation; each piece is carefully patterned for placement before being removed letter by letter, scanned, and reproduced in vector format for easy vinyl plotting.
Dodge Viper GTS XPEL Stealth paint protection Avery blue chrome car wrap
With delivery day upon us, we just barely had enough time to get the Viper into the studio for some close ups before the new owner took her out for a little inaugural spin.
The combination of satin XPEL Stealth & the blue Conform Chrome wrap is quite a sight to behold! Something about the juxtaposition of subtle & bold finishes with strong tones of primary colors echos back a Hot Wheels-esque sentiment that feels right at home on a Viper GTS. It’s intense in person, attention grabbing on the street, and as loud as the exhaust note rumbling out of the rear end.
Dodge Viper GTS XPEL Stealth paint protection Avery blue chrome car wrap
The spoiler’s new blue chrome lip is a nice accent to the wide stripe package, and the custom cut badges really polish the look off. For the sake of specifics, we rarely ever use “vector stock,” as most readily available graphics aren’t true to their real life counterparts, resulting in a fit & finish that’s far from the original. It’s definitely more work from a design & execution standpoint, but in the end, it’s this type of attention to detail that separates our wraps from the rest!
Dodge Viper GTS XPEL Stealth paint protection Avery blue chrome car wrap
Dodge Viper GTS XPEL Stealth paint protection Avery blue chrome car wrap
Dodge Viper GTS XPEL Stealth paint protection Avery blue chrome car wrap
Perhaps one of the only things that would take this GTS over the top & maximize the nostalgic feeling would be working in a set of the classic 3-spoke alloys from the early 90’s Viper, though the OEM chrome wheels feel right at home, too.
Dodge Viper GTS XPEL Stealth paint protection Avery blue chrome car wrap
Much like the Viper itself, it takes a certain type of automotive enthusiast to appreciate the eccentricities of the wrap we executed on this GTS. Mixing finishes like satin & colored chrome might not be for everyone, but there’s no doubting the uniqueness it carries with it or the presence it commands even when parked.
Dodge Viper GTS XPEL Stealth paint protection Avery blue chrome car wrap
Out in the Saturday morning sunlight, the two films really came alive. The pearlescent qualities of Stealth add a little bit of sheen to the factory Race Yellow paint, and the blue Conform Chrome produces a pretty decent amount of reflection & clarity for a cast wrap film. We’re starting to receive a lot more of requests for chrome vehicle wraps, and while full coverage might not be an ideal aesthetic choice for some , select applications & accent pieces can really add a ton of attitude to any vinyl wrap or graphic package!
Dodge Viper GTS XPEL Stealth paint protection Avery blue chrome car wrap
Want to customize your car with a wild wrap, get the “Stealth Mode” look or add some crazy chrome accents? Shoot us an inquiry or check out our vehicle wrap resource for more information on film options, general pricing, and installation.