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Roy Sjoberg, “Father of the Viper,” Has Died, Aged 86
Roy Sjoberg, the Executive Engineer of the original Dodge Viper and the man widely regarded as the “Father of the Viper,” passed away yesterday at the age of 86. The sad news was relayed by Ralph Gilles, current Chief Design Officer at Stellantis and fellow Viper alum, via Instagram.
Sjoberg was responsible for assembling “Team Viper,” a group of 85 Chrysler employees that would undertake the monumental task of turning the concept car, which stunned the world at the 1989 North American International Auto Show, into a production-ready model in just 36 months.
Of course, as revealed in our recent sit-down with Herb Helbig and Dick Winkles, two key members of Team Viper, that initial meeting ballooned from a small, hand-picked group of people to well over 300. The sheer volume of party crashers was a clear indication that internal excitement around the Viper was as real as it gets. Surely, Sjoberg’s task to whittle that mass of people back down to a manageable team was tricky.
“Known as the ‘Can do man,’ he was a motivator that would inspire what would ultimately become team SRT,” reads Gilles’ post. “His spirit will always be alive in us and the machines he set into motion.”
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Sjoberg’s accolades extend far beyond the Viper, as well. Prior to joining Chrysler in 1985, he was the right-hand man to Zora Arkus-Duntov, the Corvette’s godfather, for many years. The ties that Sjoberg developed during his GM days would ultimately come in clutch during the development of the Viper, too.
Getrag, the German supplier initially tapped to build the six-speed manuals for those early production Vipers, tried to pull one over on the Chrysler team by doubling the price just a short while before the first cars were to roll down the assembly line. Facing an impasse with Getrag, Sjoberg, in a suite at that year’s Indianapolis 500, convinced leadership at BorgWarner, another supplier that he knew well, to step in and take up the gearbox themselves.
Sjoberg was also responsible for perhaps the most important test drive in Viper history. In early 1990, Team Viper had reached the inflection point where they had to get blessing from Chrysler’s top brass to proceed beyond the “feasibility study” that the Viper was currently labeled. It was Sjoberg who would share the cockpit of Viper mule #2 (the team had three at this time, according to Helbig) with Lee Iacocca, CEO of Chrysler and the ultimate arbiter of the car’s fate. The two tore out of the Walter P. Chrysler building in Highland Park, cruised up Oakland Avenue for a bit before turning around and returning. Upon their return, Iacocca climbed from the car, asking, “So what are you waiting for?” The rest, as they say, is history.
It’s hard not to get a bit romantic about the Dodge Viper, and to do so is to remember those who bravely led the way for this remarkable project. Roy Sjoberg’s legacy will live on in every burbling V-10 Viper that took to the streets. American sports cars are better because of him.
That part about Getrag trying to pull a fast one at the end is just scummy. The Viper is missed and Roy is missed.
Getrag certainly overshot their position. Instead of being part of a uniquely magnetic project they allowed BW to be the hero.
There were ties between Chrysler and Getrag. My Le Baron TC had a German Getrag 5 speed. Really loved it until until winter. Cold weather kept freezing the linkage. Had to drive in 1st gear until it got warm enough that I could shift it. Perhaps Chrysler was eager to source trannys elsewhere.
yes, I’m sure Chrysler was making decisions for the Viper based on Lebaron experience, haha
Friendly disagreements are welcome here, but snarky comments don’t really belong.
I agree. I wonder how much income they lost over the years because of that greedy scumbag move. I hope it was a s***-ton.
I’ve always loved lightweight and lithe small sports cars, but when this one hit it hit like the proverbial ton of bricks. 400 hp at that time was unbelievable, yet there it was, available on the retail level. He turned me into a fan. What a team he led and what a time to be a car guy.
Godspeed, Mr. Sjoberg.
The Viper, especially the early models, is a Truly Remarkable Machine. A Beast that can be as docile as a Caravan and yet, Faster Than Anything on the road. It’s hard to believe mine is almost 30 years old.
Blessings to you Roy, see you on the other side.
I thought that Bob Lutz played a big role in the Viper as well. Am I mistaken? Thanks
He did. I’m also pretty sure he is the guy who said “The most sophisticated aspect of this car is the four wheel steering. You steer the rear wheels with your right foot.” 🙂
Sad news indeed. Roy and the entire Viper team were great folks. I had the good fortune to be one of the Michelin tires guys involved with the Viper development and have many fond memories of banging the various development mules around the Michelin & Chrysler Proving Grounds and for countless laps at Road Atlanta.
Viper: very important threads in the fabric of American Motorsport. Full marks to the whole team, RIP Sjoberg.
I met Roy personally when I bought his 1966 Corvette coupe SVRA race car that he restored and owned for many years. Must have been some racing gas in his blood considering his history with Zora too. Wish there were more auto company execs like him the keep the spirit alive.