Dodge’s Forgotten ’80s Supercar: The M4S Turbo Interceptor

The Dodge M4S Turbo Interceptor was a PPG-sponsored prototype and pace car designed for Dodge—not a production road car. Its engineering drew attention, but the car became widely recognizable through its appearance in the 1986 film The Wraith, where it was joined by stunt and crash duplicates that were not equivalent functioning M4S cars.

What was the Dodge M4S?

The M4S was a Dodge design sponsored by Pittsburgh Paint and Glass (PPG) and associated with PPG pace-car use. The specialist PPG Pace Cars account identifies Bob Ackerman as its designer and credits Michigan Specialized Vehicles, 3-D Industries, and Special Projects with work on the build. It was a one-off prototype, not a Dodge model offered for sale.

According to that specialist account, Michigan Specialized Vehicles built the engine and roll cage, assembled the powertrain and body, and maintained the car during pace-car service. 3-D Industries modeled it in clay and made body molds, while Special Projects cast body parts and completed paint and interior work. These supplier details come from the specialist account, not a corporate archival record.

Reported specifications and performance

The PPG Pace Cars account describes a mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout with a 2.2-liter four-cylinder, twin Garrett T25 turbochargers, and a Cosworth-tuned DOHC 16-valve head. It reports the following specifications and performance figures; they should be treated as that source’s claims, not independently verified test results.

#	Preview	Product	Price
1		The Wraith (Vestron) [Blu-ray] [2021]	$21.79	Buy on Amazon
2		The Wraith (1986) [ Blu-Ray, Reg.A/B/C Import - Italy ]	$16.88	Buy on Amazon
3		The Wraith Within [Blu-ray]	$22.16	Buy on Amazon
4		The Frighteners [Blu-ray]	$8.99	Buy on Amazon
5		The Resident (Blu-ray + DVD)	$10.55	Buy on Amazon

The same account says the car’s weight is unknown. It also notes that the suspension could be raised to load or unload transporters, and that the car was often displayed in this raised transport position. That can explain why some photographs show it sitting unusually high.

The M4S and The Wraith

The American Film Institute (AFI) Catalog identifies the Turbo Interceptor as a prototype pace car built by PPG and Dodge Division of Chrysler Corporation. Its entry, citing transportation coordinator Gary Hellerstein, says seven versions were needed for the 1986 film production. That count refers to vehicles and bodies with different filming roles—not seven equivalent, fully functional M4S prototypes.

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The Wraith (Vestron) [Blu-ray] [2021]

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AFI records principal photography beginning on January 23, 1986, in Tucson and surrounding areas. The film’s end credits thanked Dodge Division, Chrysler Motors, and PPG for providing their PPG pace car, “The Turbo Interceptor.” The film connection documents the prototype’s use in production and publicity; it does not mean a road-going version was sold.

Where is the original Dodge M4S now?

The PPG Pace Cars account says the M4S has a home inside the Chrysler Museum. The research available for this article did not locate a current authoritative museum inventory confirming its present custody or whether it is on public display, so its current location and access status remain unverified.

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The Wraith (1986) [ Blu-Ray, Reg.A/B/C Import - Italy ]

• The Wraith (1986)
• The Wraith (1986)

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FAQ

Was the car in The Wraith a real car?

Yes. AFI identifies the Turbo Interceptor used in the film as a prototype pace car built by PPG and Dodge. The production also used two dune-buggy-chassis stunt duplicates and four hollow crash bodies.

How fast was the Dodge M4S Turbo Interceptor?

The PPG Pace Cars account reports a 194.8 mph top speed, 0–60 mph in 4.1 seconds, and a 12.9-second quarter-mile. These are figures reported by that specialist source; the research did not independently verify test conditions or reproduce the results.

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The Wraith Within [Blu-ray]

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Was the M4S a production Dodge?

No. It was a PPG-sponsored Dodge prototype and pace car, not a production road car offered to customers.

Where is the original M4S today?

The PPG Pace Cars account says it has a home inside the Chrysler Museum, but current custody and public display status could not be verified from an up-to-date authoritative museum record.

Quick Recap

Bestseller No. 1

The Wraith (Vestron) [Blu-ray] [2021]

The disk has English audio and subtitles.

$21.79

Bestseller No. 2

The Wraith (1986) [ Blu-Ray, Reg.A/B/C Import - Italy ]

The Wraith (1986); The Wraith (1986)

$16.88

Bestseller No. 3

The Wraith Within [Blu-ray]

Blu-ray

$22.16

SaleBestseller No. 4

The Frighteners [Blu-ray]

Factory sealed DVD

$8.99

Bestseller No. 5

The Resident (Blu-ray + DVD)

$10.55

Best Value

The Resident (Blu-ray + DVD)

$10.55

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Rank #4

Sale

The Frighteners [Blu-ray]

• Factory sealed DVD

$8.99

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Sources

• PPG Pace Cars, “Dodge M4S Interceptor – 1986 PPG Pace Car”
• American Film Institute Catalog, “The Wraith (1986)”

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