As Toyota Corollas and Ford Focuses languish in dealerships awaiting factory incentives and buyers with good credit, the first Hurst/Viper to roll off the production line proved just how badass it is by smoking its tires all over previous Barrett-Jackson sales records. Sweet.

The limited-edition Hurst/Viper bearing serial number 1 and satin gold paint sold for $250,000 in Scottsdale, bringing in the highest price ever paid at a B-J auction for a Viper or a Hurst Performance Vehicles car. Half that money went to Victory Junction, a camp for sick kids founded by racing legend Kyle Petty and his wife Pattie. One hundred percent of the purchase price shows how a pistol-grip shifter, racing stripes and a big honkin' V10 engine can make bidders forget we're said to be in the midst of a global economic meltdown.

There's no word yet on who placed the winning bid, but we don't imagine they'd let us take the car for a spin even if we could contact them.

As we told you last month,

Hurst Performance Vehicles developed the super-exclusive Viper to continue the company's legacy of building "gentleman hot rods."

It's probably a good business model, considering only a few gentlemen and the U.S. government have a quarter of a million bucks to shell out for a Chrysler product.

Turns out the collector car market is remarkably recession-proof. Rob Sass of The New York Timessays sales have softened but "the long-predicted free-fall in prices did not occur." Sass does, however, note that the mood at most collectible car auctions echoes the awkwardness of the first episode of Saturday Night Live to air after the 9/11 attacks. All in all, sales prices came in at 2004-2005 levels.

The Hurst/Viper must have impressed buyers with its sheer understated badassedness. Among the modifications are a Hurst HARD-DRIVE gold pistol grip shifter,

Hurst forged aluminum wheels, Corsa exhaust and a charcoal Katzkin leather interior with embroidered Hurst logos. All the Hurst/Vipers will ride on Michelin Sport PS2 tires and Moton Club Sport adjustable coil-over suspension with Eibach springs.

No need to worry if you missed your chance in Scottsdale. As long as you're willing to put up with having a gold-on-black or gold-on-white paint job and a serial number between 2 and 50, you can buy one of the limited edition cars exclusively at Woodhouse Chrysler Dodge Jeep in Omaha.

Photos: Barrett-Jackson.

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