Behind the Wheel of Dodge's Unique M4S Turbo Interceptor: A Rare Find

Rare ONES - In the realm of luxury automobiles, extraordinary and rare vehicles often take center stage. Every so often, an automotive gem emerges, and in this instance, it's the Dodge M4S Turbo Interceptor—a recent discovery up for auction on eBay.

The 1981 Dodge M4S concept car is a mid-engined supercar was initially intended to serve as a pace car for the PPG Indycar Series. (Picture from: CarThrottle)

Originally conceived by Dodge in 1981 as a technology demonstration vehicle, the M4S is an American prototype high-performance sports coupe. Designed by Dodge's chief designer, Bob Ackerman, the car boasts a mid-engine four-cylinder sports car configuration, denoted by its "M4S" designation. While Chrysler conceptualized the design and conducted extensive wind tunnel testing to achieve a drag coefficient of 0.236, the actual construction was undertaken by subcontractors.

A road-legal version of the "Wraith" Turbo Interceptor, based on the Dodge M4S concept car. (Picture from: Driving.ca)

The semi-monocoque racing car chassis came from Huffaker California, while 3-D Industries in Madison Heights, Michigan, handled the creation of body models and molds. Special Projects, Inc. of Plymouth, Michigan, installed the body panels, assembled the body and interior, and applied the signature "root beer brown" paint color. Specialized Vehicles, Inc., based in Troy, Michigan, took charge of the fabrication, final assembly, and maintenance of the completed car.

Remarkably, it is the only road-legal example ever built, maintaining the original design with its correct body shape, clamshell hood, and scissor doors. (Picture from: BarnFinds)

Underneath its sleek aerodynamic body, the M4S houses a 2.2-liter forced induction engine equipped with double overhead camshafts, sixteen valves, and a pair of Garrett turbochargers. With a confirmed top speed of 194.8 mph (313.5 km/h) and a 0 to 60 mph (97 km/h) time of 4.1 seconds, the mid-engined car was initially intended to serve as a pace car for the PPG Indycar Series. However, plans shifted, and it became the hero car in the movie "The Wraith."

The car boasts a mid-engine four-cylinder sports car configuration, denoted by its "M4S" designation. (Picture from: BarnFinds)

During the film's production, Dodge sent the M4S along with a special team to the set for a few weeks. The car was featured in various scenes, and molds were created to produce six exact copies of the M4S body for stunt and dummy cars. Two driveable stunt cars were constructed for race scenes, built over a tube frame with minimal features for the driver.

Underneath its sleek aerodynamic body, the Dodge M4S houses a 2.2-liter forced induction engine equipped with double overhead camshafts, sixteen valves, and a pair of Garrett turbochargers. (Picture from: BarnFinds)

Following filming, two cars were destroyed, and the remaining replicas found their way into private garages. The particular Turbo Interceptor listed on eBay is not one of the original movie cars but a standalone vehicle. Remarkably, it is the only road-legal example ever built, maintaining the original design with its correct body shape, clamshell hood, and scissor doors.

The Turbo Interceptor's interior stands out, boasting impressive fit and finish complemented by a range of high-tech gadgets. (Picture from: BarnFinds)

While the mechanical framework remains a mystery—whether it's a bespoke chassis or derived from a production frame—the Turbo Interceptor's interior is a standout feature. It boasts impressive fit and finish, coupled with a range of high-tech gadgets.

The eBay listing, with an auction end date of June 19, 2023, initially started with a bid of $290,000 and a Buy-It-Now option of $499,000. As of the auction's end, the car hadn't changed hands. Nevertheless, the lack of a sale at this time doesn't discount the possibility of attracting attention from an eccentric collector with a penchant for unique vehicles and deep pockets. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | PPGPACECARS | WIKIPEDIA | ALLPAR | CARTHROTTLE | HOTCARS | DRIVING.CA | BARNFINDS ]

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