The Dodge M4S is an American prototype high-performance sports coupe originally engineered, designed, and built by Dodge in 1981 as a technology demonstrator vehicle. The designation M4S denotes "Mid-engine, 4-cylinder, Sport“. It was developed in collaboration with PPG Industries in the early 1980s and was used intermittently from 1984 to 1987, including as an Indy 500 pace car.

History

The M4S was penned by then-chief designer of Dodge, Bob Ackerman. From its conception, the car was intended to be built as a fully engineered running prototype rather than as a display piece. Because it was intended to be used as a pace car, it was designed to reach a top speed of 200 mph (322 km/h). Chrysler designed the body and conducted extensive wind tunnel testing to achieve a drag coefficient of .236.

Although the car was designed by Chrysler, actual construction of the vehicle was handled by subcontractors. The semi-monocoque race car chassis was ordered from Huffaker Motorsports of California. 3-D Industries of Madison Heights, Michigan modeled the body and created molds. Special Projects, Inc. of Plymouth, Michigan cast the body panels, assembled the body and interior, and gave the car its signature “root beer brown” paint color by painting layers of pearl over a black base coat. Specialized Vehicles, Inc. of Troy, Michigan handled fabrication, final assembly, and maintenance of the completed car.

The M4S had a tested and confirmed top speed of 194.8 mph (313.5 km/h) and could go from 0 to 60 mph (97 km/h) in 4.1 seconds, with more than 440 hp (328 kW) under the hood coming from its relatively small turbocharged 2.2-litre (130 cu in) 4-cylinder engine.

The car was made famous by its appearance in The Wraith, a 1986 supernatural film, which has since gained it an enthusiast cult following.

A 1982 Dodge M4S Concept was present at the Walter P. Chrysler Museum before its closure.

References

• Florea, Ciprian (February 21, 2021). "The Dodge M4S Is the Mid-Engined Mopar You Never Knew Existed". autoevolution. Retrieved March 3, 2024.
• Mehta, Sajeev (July 12, 2023). "This "Dodge M4S" is a Wraith reincarnated". Hagerty. Retrieved March 3, 2024.
• Golden, Conner (August 28, 2015). "The Top 10 Most Interesting Vehicles at the Walter P. Chrysler Museum". Motor Trend. Retrieved March 3, 2024. On December 31, 2012, the Walter P. Chrysler Museum closed its doors to the general public [...] Still, Chrysler has preserved the museum and occasionally opens the doors for special events. Luckily, we got behind the usually closed doors earlier this year at the 2015 Chrysler Employee Motorsport Association (CEMA) charity car show.[...] "1982 Dodge M4S Concept"; This wild-looking coupe was created in 1981 as a Indy pace car, designed as a joint project between Chrysler and PPG Industries. A 2.2-liter, fuel-injected twin-turbo Chrysler/Cosworth four-cylinder gave the coupe a heady 440 hp. This rocketed the M4S from 0-60 in 4.1 seconds, on its way to a lofty top speed of 195 mph. While the M4S never made it into production, it was cemented into the minds of movie fans with a starring role in the 1986 film "The Wraith," where it made an appearance under the guise of the "Turbo Interceptor", a name which it has been unable to shake to this day.