What do you get when you combine a Dodge Viper, a few meaningful causes and the Manheim Express Concierge team? If you answered a tour across America and $115,300 donated to three deserving charities, you’d be right. After stops at 34 dealerships over the last year to show appreciation to clients and raise money for Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Girls, Inc. and Toys for Tots, the Manheim Express “Viper Voyage of Appreciation” has come to an end with the vehicle auctioned off at Manheim Atlanta on July 13.
“We’re incredibly grateful for everyone on the team who worked hard to make the Viper Voyage happen—and we extend extra thanks to all of our dealer clients who participated along the way,” added Ben Caffee, associate vice president, Manheim Digital. “From showing how deeply we appreciate our Manheim Express clients to raising money for three deserving organizations, the results of the voyage far exceeded our expectations. This was the perfect way to turn a great car into a lot of good for the community.”
The star of the tour was a 2009 Dodge Viper, wrapped in Manheim Express graphics from its inaugural appearance at the NADA Convention in 2019. Dusting the vehicle off in 2021, the Manheim Express team decided to get the Viper back on the road for a final farewell tour before being auctioned off for charities. With that, the Manheim Express Viper Voyage launched in October 2021 as a way for Manheim to show appreciation to clients across the country.
One of the stops on the voyage was at Carvix in San Antonio. Keith Miller, general manager at the dealership, had this to say about his Manheim Express experience: “It’s more personal when you do business with Manheim Express. Before, we were just loading up a truck and delivering to an auction, but we never got to understand the various programs. With Manheim Express, it’s more relationship building, and it’s great because everyone knows our Concierge, and he’ll give us some coaching along the way about what’s going to help us get more money for our cars.”
At each stop on the voyage, Manheim hosted a client appreciation celebration and offered to have a Manheim Express Concierge specialist list vehicles that same day. For every car that was listed that day and later sold, Manheim waived the sell fee and contributed $100 to the charity donation. After 34 visits, the vehicle was auctioned off during Manheim Atlanta’s Cargaritaville Highline Sale for $81,750. Combined with the money raised through listed vehicles and a donation from the company, the total amount donated across the three deserving charities came to $115,300.
Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Girls, Inc. and Toys for Tots were all selected because they align with Cox’s unwavering commitment to building a better future and giving back to the communities where team members live and work. All three charities strive to support children and youth in their own unique ways, whether that’s empowering them through environmental and STEAM developmental programs or providing toys for families who have fallen on hard times.
Videos from each of the stops were posted to the Manheim Facebook and LinkedIn pages, including a highlight reel recapping the tour, which can be found here.
