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Puzzles, Games and Name That Car => Solved AutoPuzzles => 2012 => Topic started by: Carnut on July 10, 2012, 06:08:39 AM

Title: Solved - NEH 1906: Dodge M4S PPG Indy Car Pace Car
Post by: Carnut on July 10, 2012, 06:08:39 AM
Identify this car correctly for 1 point:

ANYONE FOUND GIVING ANSWERS GLEANED BY USING GOOGLE SEARCH BY IMAGE WILL BE BANNED FOR AN INDEFINITE PERIOD!
Title: Re: NEH 1906
Post by: pftnbr on July 10, 2012, 08:33:10 AM
1984 Dodge PPG M4S
Title: Re: NEH 1906
Post by: Carnut on July 10, 2012, 09:06:25 AM
Quote from: pftnbr on July 10, 2012, 08:33:10 AM
1984 Dodge PPG M4S

Indeed so.
Used for what purpose?
Locked for you..
Title: Re: NEH 1906
Post by: pftnbr on July 10, 2012, 10:14:57 AM
Pace car
Title: Re: NEH 1906
Post by: Carnut on July 10, 2012, 11:35:16 AM
Quote from: pftnbr on July 10, 2012, 10:14:57 AM
Pace car

That's it, yes.
Title: Re: Solved - NEH 1906: Dodge M4S PPG Indy Car Pace Car
Post by: Delorean on July 10, 2012, 11:41:02 AM
Wasn't this the car that was used in 'The Wraith'? Or was that a replica?
Title: Re: Solved - NEH 1906: Dodge M4S PPG Indy Car Pace Car
Post by: Carnut on July 10, 2012, 01:49:35 PM
Quote from: Delorean on July 10, 2012, 11:41:02 AM
Wasn't this the car that was used in 'The Wraith'? Or was that a replica?

I believe it might be the same car.
Wikipedia says it's "also known as The Wraith"..
Title: Re: Solved - NEH 1906: Dodge M4S PPG Indy Car Pace Car
Post by: Carnut on July 11, 2012, 05:13:19 AM
A rear view:

Title: Re: Solved - NEH 1906: Dodge M4S PPG Indy Car Pace Car
Post by: Otto Puzzell on July 11, 2012, 05:20:32 AM
In 1984, Huffaker Engineering in California was building tube-chassis Fiero GT race cars for IMSA racing. Bob Ackerman, Manager of Product Design, at Chrysler spotted the chassis in a racing mag, and hit upon the idea of building the mid-engine PPG car on that chassis, using a body and engine designed in-house.

The Mopar boys called Huffaker and had them build a chassis, but with a longer wheelbase than the Fiero (100 inches, versus the 94 for the 'stock' car). This PPG car would be pacing CART races, and high-speed stability was more important than quick handling. The engine, too, was a mash-up, using a Chrysler 4-banger casting with extra metal in which to drill bolt holes, to which was mounted with a Cosworth DOHC top end. It was fed by Bosch fuel injection and two turbos. The intercooler is mounted in that long tail.

After lots of tweaking and fussing, and fitted with a big rear wing and smaller rear tires, the car eventually did 195 MPH, and then blew its head gasket.  

The "Wraith" seen in the movie was mostly a series of copies, with body molds taken off the PPG car. The actual PPG car only appeared briefly in the movie. A lot of time and expense went into building it, and Mopar didn't want to wreck it doing stunts.

Links being Taboo here, I will suggest that a video of the PPG car's 195 MPH run can be found in a well-know video site.