The first SRT Viper was sold in Barrett-Jackson for $300,000 in 2013

The auction market has long been regarded as a place to buy rare and unique items. In the most prestigious cases, artworks, celebrity memorabilia and most important cars will all fall into the hands of lucky bidders. Although the tradition of auto auctions is that used cars span blocks, emerging trends give auction bidders the opportunity to have early production examples of ideal cars.

Featuring cars that require disposable income out of the range for most North American buyers, auctions provide the opportunity for car lovers with the deepest pockets to buy the right to own the first available production car straight from the factory. This weekend’s 2012 Barrett Jackson Orange County Auction has the return of Chrysler’s prized, snake-themed supercar could fall into the monetary competition.

The first chance to own the V-10 powered SRT Viper Coupe, the Stryker Red performance machine was transported onto the Barrett-Jackson Orange County Auction block little under three months since the revived Viper was unveiled at the New York Auto Show. Equipped with an 8.4 liter V-10 engine worth 640 horsepower, the 2013 SRT Viper Coupe’s speed-oriented components and electronic control technology is understandably a sought-after driving experience. When the hammer fell on the sale of the 2013 SRT Viper Coupe, the untapped performance excitement was acquired for $300,000.

For some people, the placement of $300,000 for an obsession could be a repulsive display where wealth again is depicted for buying one’s way to happiness. The best part about this Barrett-Jackson Auction acquisition, the 2013 SRT Viper Coupe sale was a fundraising effort for The Austin Hatcher Foundation. An organization devoted to pediatric cancer care, The Austin Hatcher Foundation will benefit greatly from the overflowing passion of automotive ownership over the 2013 Viper. Since the SRT Viper Coupe was charity listing, the Barrett-Jackson Auction Company waved the 10 percent buyer’s premium that would usually be charged in addition to a winning bid.

In 2009 at the Scottsdale, Arizona Barrett-Jackson Auction, the first production model of the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 was snatched with a $1,000,000 final bid. The sale of the 638-horsepower Corvette ZR1 was followed by a $350,000 bid for the first 2010 Chevrolet Camaro that NASCAR owner Rick Hendrick purchased. Later that year at the Palm Beach show for the auction company, a more modest $150,000 was enough to acquire the first 2010 Ford Shelby GT500 that directly benefited The Carroll Shelby Children’s Foundation.

With the first production model 2013 SRT Viper Coupe sold at the Orange Country Barrett-Jackson Auction to one wealthy bidder (while less $300,000 after this weekend), the rest of the high-performance Mopar fans will have to wait later this year to buy their example of the supercar.

Information source: Chrysler Group, Barrett-Jackson Auction Company Picture source: Chrysler Group