Wednesday, July 1, 2009

I decided to look around the internet to get some info on the Wraith Car. I thought that I would share this post here. Click here is you want to see more.

http://www.redpepperracing.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=13443


Here is the article:QUOTE
Shelby VNTThe Dodge PPG Interceptor also know offically by it's Dodge name, the M4S, is a car that was built in the early 80's. 1984 to exact is the model year. It had very little in commom with anything produced by Dodge in those times. It was NOT just a Daytona with a different body. The only thing the M4S shared with the Daytonas of the day was the 2.2 liter engine block and the 5 speed manual transmission. On top the block was a highly modified Cosworth 16 valve twin cam head. It was force fed with twin Garret T-25 turbochargers and fueled with Bosch- L Jettronic fuel injection. It made 440 hp and had a top speed as tested by Road and Track to 194.8 mph. It did 0 to 60 in 4.1 and the 1/4 mile at 12.9 at 104 mph. Rumor had it that there was also another engine that was making 600 hp. The M4S was a mid-engine designed car designed by Dodge as a concept for future production, but due to it's high cost construction the idea for production was dropped seeing how Dodge didn't think anybody would be interested in a high proced sports car in those days. Remember this was 1984. Long before the Interceptor M4S made an appearance in the low budget film 'The Wraith' it saw use as an actual Indy pace car. The only modification the M4S received was flashing strobe lights for serving duty as the Indy pace car. After it's first major appearance to the public at Indy the car was donated by Chrysler for use in the movie 'The Wraith'. A place called Code One was contracted to build some replicas of the real prototype M4S for the movie. I've read that up to 30 of these cars were built for crash sequences and stunts. After the movie filming was over the car was returned to Dodge. Flash forward to today and apparently there are know to be 4 M4S's in exsistance. One was last known to be located in the head quaters for PPG Industries. One of the others is located at the Walter P. Chysler Museum in Aubum, Michigan and is on regular display. The last thing I heard was that there is a place, and I'm not sure of the name, that makes reproduction PPG Interceptor rolling chassis's for sale to the publiuc after buying the rights. They have a website on the internet as well and a complete car sells for something close to $70,000. However the engine is not a Dodge 2.2 twin turbo. I believe they stick Chevy 350's in the car instead much like any other kit type car. The coolest thing would be to buy a rolling chassis and throw a good old Dodge 2.2 liter Turbo II engine in it modified to make 300 hp or more. Thats about all I know of the PPG Interceptor
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It's Formal name is "M4S"It's a joint effort between Dodge and PPG.Yes the engine made 440 HP.Yes it can run a 1/4 in the 12'sIt was powered by a DOHC Cosworth 2.2 liter Twin turbo (T25 garrett turbos).It was built from a Fiero IMSA frame (tubular)The head of the project was the NICEST fella by the name of BOB ACKERMAN.The car was tested on a track in Marion Ohio.NO it didn't hit 202 mph.... Actually it topped out at 194.8 mph.It's front windsheild is from a Ferrari Boxer that has been tilted back to 73 degrees.
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Just as an FYI.... The maker (Bob Ackerman), of the car was highly opposed to the movie....In my converstations with him, he said that his boss, himself and the guy pitching the movie sat down to takl about it, and even though he was opposed to letting them use the car, his boss had final say....He then went on to talk about how one of the stuntmen was killed while making the movie....I told him that had it not been for the movie, I probably would have never seen that car, and even though he dissapoved of the movie (the movie was not good IMO), I was happy I had seen it, as that car was one of the erliest forms of american techno-power I had ever seen....This car is known as 'The Wraith' or 'Turbo Interceptor' in the film. The vehicle was originally a pace car developed by Chrysler and PPG in 1984. Over 30 cars were constructed for the film for various stunts and crash sequences. The beauty version of the car featured a $30,000 paint job. The M4S was a slippery teardrop sports car design that was seriously considered for production. However, Dodge did not produce it because of high manufacturing costs (the marketing people in 1984 saw no market for a high-performance Dodge sports car for about $50,000 -- although the Viper proved otherwise).
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The vehicle was track tested and achieved a top speed of 194.8 miles per hour. The car's drivetrain utilized a 5 speed manual transmission out of the '85 Dodge Turbo Daytona. The engine was a stock block, the durable 2.2 liter Inline four used in other Dodge offerings like the Dodge Daytona and Aries. This engine made 400 horsepower thanks to twin Garrett T25 turbos, a twincam Cosworth 16-valve cylinder head and Bosch L-Jettronic fuel injection (this research was later used to developed the 2.2 liter Turbo 4 used in the Iroc Daytona and Spirit R/T). Under normal driving conditions, this engine combination averaged around 27 mpg in the city and over 30 at highway speeds (mileage dropped to around 23 mpg past 150 mph).Other Notable features on this car are Gullwing doors and its clam shell hood. The really nice part, this vehicle featured a mid-engine layout (very unique for a Mopar). Actually, the Dodge Designation M4S stands for Mid-engine 4 Cylinder Sport. The car also featured a perfect 50/50 weight distribution between its front wheels and rear wheels. It rolled on 15 inch aluminum wheels (depicted with a gold tint in the film).
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Best known for role in The Wraith, the M4S / Dodge Turbo Interceptor is in storage at the Walter P. Chrysler museum (Derek Beland). The pace car was built by Chrysler and PPG for $1.5 million, and six additional copies were made for the movie filmed in 1986 outside of Tuscon, Arizona, starring Charlie Sheen and Nick Cassavettes. The car was rear wheel drive, with the basic 2.2 block topped by a Cosworth 16 valve, dual-cam head and fed by Bosch fuel injection with twin turbochargers (John Abram Cargo). Road & Track claimed 440 horsepower, 0-60 in 4.1 seconds, and a 12.9 second quarter mile; the mid-engine design was loosely Daytona-based.Four still exist; one is at PPG headquarters, one is in a museum. A kit car with the same basic look was made for a while, using a different engine. It was shown at the 1986 Chicago Car Show. Reportedly, a 600 horsepower engine was installed in one copy.
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The Frame. It was based off of and early version of the Fiero IMSA.It was tested in Marion Oh by a driver last named McKray? Not sure of the spelling.It went 194.8 mph.It hit a deer on the track @ 170 mph, and In Bob Ackermans words "liquified the deer"It had 21 coats of lacqer, and 3 coats of clear.The windshield was from a Ferrari Boxer and tilted down to 73 degrees(6 degrees more than the Ferrari)The rear window was from a Datson 240z.It was tested for 17 hrs in a Lockheed wind tunnel in MD.It weighed between 2550-2700 lbs.It was in the OCT 1986 CAR & DriverDodge M4S PPG-CART Indy Searies pace car.Top Speed: 194.8mph at Transportation Research Center In Ohio.Paint Job cost: $38,000(yes $38,000) YIKES!Motor: 16v,four-cylinder,twin-turbocharged/intercooled. HP=440Total Price $1.5 Million
 
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