1-of-1: Wraith Turbo Interceptor

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Holywood has a history of turning cars into stars. Marty McFly looked at home behind the wheel of a DeLorean, and although he drove other marques, James Bond’s character was ideally suited to life behind the wheel of an Aston Martin. And who could forget that the late Burt Reynolds found himself inextricably linked to the Pontiac Trans Am? One of the lesser-known vehicles was the Turbo Interceptor featured in the 1986 sci-fi fantasy film, “The Wraith.” Based upon a prototype produced by Dodge, the car had regenerative powers that put the legendary Christine to shame. The original prototype is not for sale, but our feature car is the only legally roadworthy version to exist. It needs a new home, with the seller listing it here on eBay in East Peoria, Illinois. You need to draw a deep breath because the seller set their auction to open at $290,000. If that doesn’t make your eyes water, the BIN figure of $499,000 might seal the deal.

The Wraith Turbo Interceptor is an exciting vehicle based on a fascinating design and engineering exercise. It can trace its lineage to a prototype produced as a collaborative effort between Dodge and several external consultants in 1981. The project was known as the Dodge M4S, and unlike many vehicles of its type, it was not intended for static display or to be driven at little more than a walking pace. Its semi-monocoque chassis was designed and produced by Huffaker of California, while the “M4S” designation referred to the car’s mid-engine 4-cylinder sports configuration. The sleek aerodynamic body was the subject of extensive wind tunnel development. With the 2.2-liter four-cylinder engine featuring double overhead camshafts, sixteen valves, and a pair of Garrett turbochargers to produce 440hp, the M4S could storm to 197mph. The company’s original plan was to utilize the M4S as the Pace Car for the PPG Indycar Series, but those plans never came to fruition. It spent years on display at the Walter P. Chrysler Museum, but I cannot confirm its current whereabouts. Its greatest claim to fame was as the hero car in the 1986 Charlie Sheen movie, The Wraith. The studio utilized the original M4S under strict supervision and security for some shots, although it also produced four replicas to perform various functions not requiring the original car’s outright performance. Two of those replicas were destroyed during filming, while the others made their way into the hands of private collectors. My research indicates that this Wraith is a standalone vehicle that wasn’t associated with the movie and is the only road-legal example ever built. Its body is faithful to the original, as are the wheels. The striking paint color is unique, and if this is genuinely a handbuilt one-off, its fit and finish quality is exceptional. Its underpinnings are unknown, so whether it sits on a bespoke chassis or utilizes a production frame is unclear. Its presentation is outstanding, and with the scissor doors, clamshell hood, and trunk lids open, it is guaranteed to draw a crowd.

The seller supplies no interior shots in his listing, but I was able to screenshot this image from a Facebook page he has created dedicated exclusively to this vehicle. It reveals a fit and finish level far beyond what is typical with many cars of this type and shows a host of hi-tech gadgets. The driver faces a stunning liquid crystal gauge cluster that appears to belong in a fighter jet, while a large touchscreen dominates the center dash. The photo quality makes it difficult to determine if the trim on the A-Pillars might be below par, but it reveals a quirky feature also found in the Rolls-Royce Phantom. The headliner is scattered with an array of miniature LEDs that provide a stellar feel. It is probably unnecessary, but if you’re going to share a design feature with any manufacturer, Rolls probably isn’t a bad choice!

The Wraith’s chassis might be one unknown, but a bigger one is its mechanical configuration. Neither the listing nor Facebook pages provide meaningful clues, although one embedded video on Facebook allows us to hear the car running and driving. The engine doesn’t sound like an eight or a four and has that distinct bark heard from many V6s, and the car’s name suggests it sports at least one “hairdryer.” The transmission is manual, but that’s about as clear as it gets. However, it is the only road-legal example in the world, and those videos do confirm it runs and drives. It would be a sure bet that it won’t achieve the top speed of the car upon which it is based upon, but it appears to drive quite nicely. The seller provides a link to this YouTube video, and when the hood opens, we’re confronted by a sea of neon lights and other cosmetic details. They obscure the engine’s view, successfully shedding no light on what is hiding there.

Placing a value on a classic like this Wraith Turbo Interceptor is virtually impossible. Cars of this caliber are worth what someone is willing to pay. The seller is aiming at a limited market with this car, which is reflected by the fact it has received no bids at the time of writing. We can only guess whether the situation will change as the auction concludes. However, I wouldn’t rule it out. I believe that Jay Leno has one of the non-driving movie prop examples in his vast collection, and maybe he’d be tempted to add this one. Does anyone want to give him a call to let him know it’s available?

Comments

  1. Maggy

    Looks kinda a little like a c8 with a big long arse end . Not my cup o tea but glwts.

    Like 6
  2. ThunderRob

    So it’s not associated with the movie yet he’s asking movie car value for it.To me personally it’s just an individual’s custom car he copied from a movie,maybe knock 250k off the price and you are more in the realm of a custom homage.But this is just my opinion,i’m just an old car guy not an elitist :P

    Like 16
  3. BoatmanMember

    I’ll let him know when he calls. He checks in at least once a week.

    Like 5
  4. Rick

    That’s been trying to get sold at that number for months. Problem is, it will only be a garage queen for states that require inspection – headlights are far too low to pass federal standards set by inspecting states.

    Like 4
  5. Nostromo

    Blended slipstreams are underrated. The car is a looker in its own right. Forget parallel parking.

    Like 3
    • Bakyrdhero Bakyrdhero

      I would just like to add that Marty McFly also made the 1985 Toyota pick up SR5 a star…
      “Whoa, check out that 4×4”

      Like 8
      • Car Nut Tacoma

        I remember “Back to the Future”. As attractive as I found the DeLorean may have been, I would’ve preferred the Toyota pickup truck, or possibly a 4Runner. Make mine an SR5 with a Diesel engine. Thank you.

        Like 0
  6. TheOldRanger

    I think this is an ugly vehicle, it looks cramped inside, and visibility out the back looks pretty darn limited. As far as I’m concerned, I’m the traffic cop who says “move along, nothing of interest here”.

    Like 2
    • Brian W

      It’s not intended to be a Camry or an Accord. I have seen some crazy cross shops but yours takes the last donut for sure.

      Like 2
    • Mathrawker

      America sure made an ugly Lamborghini.

      Like 1
  7. Howie

    I would not want this goofy looking thing at any price.

    Like 7
  8. Tom

    To me, this looks like it could be based on a Fiero chassis. It’s incredible what can and has been done with those. Second only to the VW Bug variations and providing much, much more potential for a V8 application.(Most notably the Cadilac NorthStar engine). Nice example of a “one-off” creation. Would love to have it, but… not at near this asking price.

    Like 4
    • Steve

      Have a friend who won a Fiero-based Ferrari in a sweepstakes. He didn’t keep it very long but it sure was fun to ride in. Got lots of looks.

      Like 4
    • Matt Watson

      It’s based on VW floor – that and nine other (or so) facts can be found here…
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLGulWEhXoM

      Like 1
    • Richard Martin

      I reckon you could be “spot on” with your guess Tom. The V6 Fiero would seem to be ideal for this application. You’re most certainly right with your comment about the price.

      Like 1
  9. John EderMember

    Better keep a spare ballast resistor in the glove box…

    Like 4
  10. Lyle Dodson

    Maybe he’ll get one of those oil rich Saudi Arabian dudes to buy it.

    Like 1
    • Stan StanMember

      Has to be RWD to get that top end mph.

      Like 2
      • SubGothius

        This is RWD, mid-engined. Prolly using a FWD powertrain from some production model, just mounted in the rear.

        I was thinking maybe a Mopar donor powertrain would at least “keep it in the family” with the original M4S prototype, but given the low-slung height and all that gee-whiz stuff stacked on top of the engine, I wonder if it might be a lower-profile Subaru boxer-4 under there?

        Like 2
  11. Steve

    If you give me Jay’s phone number I’ll give him a call.

    Like 0
  12. John EderMember

    If this doesn’t sell, perhaps they will convert it to a wraith car…

    Like 0
  13. Sam61

    I’m seeing a Jaguar XJ220…lower it a couple more inches or add a side skirt kit to create the illusion and slightly bigger rims/lower profile tires. It’s a shame they closed the Water P. Chrysler Museum…feel lucky to have toured it back in the day

    Like 5
    • Steve

      That’s the car I saw, but with a ridiculous height.

      Like 0
  14. GIJOOOE

    “Hey guys I’m selling my custom made Wraith tribute car. I’m not going to tell you what engine and transmission combo it has, I’m not gonna tell you how it runs or if the performance lives up to the appearance, I’m not going to tell you what chassis it’s built on, what type of suspension it has, the brake package, whether it’s safe to drive or not, whether or not it will pass inspection in your state, how or who built it, nor how many miles it has. Also- if you make an offer, it better be at least a HALF A FREAKING MILLION DOLLARS or you can get bent!”
    I bet this dude has people beating down his door to make a ridiculous offer every day.
    Now that my mockery is over, I will say that I really dig this car. It looks more like a limited production exotic car than a home built kit car. One thing that definitely needs to be done is it needs to be lowered at least 3” to match the stance with the body, but otherwise it’s cool looking and was obviously done to a high standard. The light show is particularly cool to me, seeing as how it was built to be a show car. I’d love to know how it actually drives on the road, is it fun or is it a death trap? Dude’s nnnnever gonna get a half million dollars for it unless some fabulously wealthy collector decides he absolutely must have it. Neat car, but I wouldn’t even pay a hundred grand for it. Half a mill is insane.

    Like 9
  15. steve

    There’s nothing I like about this car. The odd proportions make it stand out as…odd and ugly. There are many more cars that I’d buy for the money being asked.

    Like 3
  16. John

    I’m more interested in the engine they talked about then the car – “With the 2.2-liter four-cylinder engine featuring double overhead camshafts, sixteen valves, and a pair of Garrett turbochargers to produce 440hp, the M4S could storm to 197mph. I wonder how much it cost

    The body is just outdated and I don’t think it’s a babe magnet, it doesn’t have a striking angle. That said, it looks decent for a Bonneville Salt Flats land speed car or the 24 hrs of Le mans. Built to purpose.

    Like 2
  17. Rbig18

    He says it is based on a “stretched Porche Boxter” on his Faceplant page.

    Like 3
  18. 370zpp 370zpp

    I cannot recall ever seeing a car, until now that appeared to be constipated.

    Like 2
  19. Upchucked

    I have been reading Barn Finds and Bring a Trailer for years, have even bought a couple of memorable cars, but in all that time, this is singularly the dumbest thing I have seen yet. And he wants how much? Well, my secretary used to way, “Want builds Character”, so this guy will have a lot of character before he sells this monstrosity.

    Like 0
  20. Frank TA

    Zero bids with 22 hours left in the auction. Anyone surprised?

    Like 0
  21. Car Nut Tacoma

    Awesome looking car. I’ve heard of the Wraith Interceptor, but I’ve never seen one, not even in the movie. Eat your heart out, Jay Leno! I can imagine him driving around town in it, maybe feature it on his YouTube show, Jay Leno’s Garage.

    Like 0
    • Brian W

      Even for a one of one car, the only thing crazier than the sellers asking price are the people in these comments who think it ought to be sold for a dollar just because you can’t afford it. It’s not called a one of one for nothing. Feel free to shop around for another one just like it. Or for those who erroneously think this is a rebodied Fiero kit car, google M4S Turbo Interceptor and educate yourself on this unique “Batmobile.” GLWA.

      Like 5
      • Car Nut Tacoma

        You’re not kidding! $499,000?! That’s crazy money! I don’t know anyone who could afford that much for a car. I remember seeing a Zimmer Quicksilver car, based mechanically on the Pontiac Fiero, although I found it way better looking than the Fiero. I don’t know exactly how many were made or how much they go for.

        Like 0
  22. PeterfromOz

    I saw that movie a few months ago and this car appears to be the same as the movie car including the led light illuminated nuclear hyper-powerful mid-engine. Charlie played a nice guy from outer space protecting the beautiful earth blond girl from the bad earth guys who challenged everyone to street racing duels. The mid-engine rear cover was lifted so one of the bad earth guys could assess the engine to see if it was worth racing against. If my memory serves correct, I think twin turbos were mentioned in the script.

    Like 2
    • SubGothius

      I think Charlie’s character was supposedly the blonde girl’s murdered boyfriend, inexplicably returned as some sort of sci-fi revenant to protect her from his killers and avenge his own death with the help of this car.

      Like 0
  23. Frank TA

    Here is a link to: THE WRAITH “Car Chase Scene” (1986) 7 minutes 11 seconds long……
    https://youtu.be/s1VhaFCYeIs

    Like 0
  24. Neil R Norris

    It’s hard to “design” a car that’s equally ugly coming and going … so, that’s something. Am I right?

    Like 1
  25. Howie

    Ended no bids.

    Like 1
    • Steve

      Not surprised.

      Like 0
  26. Don Leblanc

    I remember seeing this movie ( B rate at best)
    Not even the Saudi’s are interested LOL.

    Like 0

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