Even though the American carmakers have steadily recovered from their near fatal brush with the credit crunch last year, unfortunately, one of their legends has fallen.

In Detroit last month, the last Dodge Viper rolled off the assembly line – looking as deadly as ever in a commemorative bronze and golden paint job. More than 400 Viper owners, along with Dodge CEO Ralph Gilles, were present at the Conner Avenue assembly plant – also known as the ‘Snake Pit’ – to celebrate the legacy of Americas’ greatest sports car.

The iconic Viper has been, and probably still is, a favorite for racers and enthusiasts. This year itself, Dodge produced a number of specialized custom models, which included a Voodoo and ACR-X, to mark the end of the line. This last Viper has been tailored to the tastes of loyal fan, and Viper owner, D’Ann Rauh – who owns more than 40 Vipers, which makes hers possibly the largest personal collection.

The Dodge Viper almost met its maker last year when Chrysler filed for bankruptcy, but was resuscitated by Fiat, which bought a considerable stake in the American automaker. However, the Viper’s days appear finally numbered.

But it could well rise again, as the company’s top brass are rumored to be planning a new line of Vipers in the future. Whether or not the venomous sports car strikes again, however, remains to be seen.