Back in 2004, Dodge seemingly got a little bit carried away with the whole “ain’t no replacement for displacement” theme. The result was this – the wild, Viper-engined Dodge Ram SRT-10. Yep, this was a pickup truck with a 500hp 8.3-litre V10 and rear leaf spring suspension.

That monster of an engine meant the single-cab version (there was also a quad-cab) could hit 95km/h from a standing start in just 4.9secs and would run on to a top speed of 248km/h – it once held the record for world’s fastest production truck. It also meant a lofty 26.1l/100km. Strong.

Just over 10,000 SRT-10s were built over a three-year production run, but the one you see above is even more special than most. Not only was it specced with the 6spd manual gearbox, but this particular Ram is also a Viper Club of America edition – one of 50 trucks with some extra badges where the purchase rights were raffled to those who already had a Viper parked on the drive. Now that’s an all-American two-car garage.

It seems the winner of this Electric Blue example didn’t have much need for a V10-engined pickup, though, as it’s now up for auction at the RM Sotheby’s Driving Into Summer sale with just 3,400 miles (est. 5471km) on the clock.

We know it’s completely wrong, but is it just us absolutely loving this thing? RM reckons it’ll go for between US$50-60k. Bargain or brainless?

STORY Greg Potts