These two Dodge concepts from the past helped shape the future as we know it.
Totally Awesome Concepts
Those of us that were around for the 1980s and 1990s are well aware of just how much of an impact those two decades had on the world, generally speaking. However, car culture from this period in time was equally as impactful, and today, we’re seeing interest in those same vehicles rise at a meteoric rate.
As it often does, the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles is celebrating this notable era in history with a brand new, incredibly cool exhibit dubbed “Totally Awesome.” Turns out, it features a couple of cool Dodge concepts from the ‘80s and ‘90s as well – the Copperhead and M4S, which makes it even more intriguing.
Photos: Derin Richardson
Celebrating Car Culture
The last two decades of the 20th century, the 1980s and 1990s were pivotal in terms of what they had to offer in the automotive space – giving us not only technological advancement, but also, a way to express our personalities and social status. The dawn of the digital age also left a profound impact on the way automakers marketed those products, too.
Photos: Derin Richardson
Pivotal Changes
Throughout the course of these two decades, we saw computer-aided design (CAD) emerge as a new and exciting part of the automotive developmental process, all while performance made a big comeback following years of stiff regulations that stifled it. Overall, styling was largely focused on futuristic shapes – with less of an emphasis on retro elements.
Photos: Derin Richardson
Going Digital
The rise of video games and other types of digital technology inspired many automotive features of the ‘80s and ‘90s, too – look no further than things like digital dashes and other types of revelations that made us feel like our cars were more akin to Kit from Knight Rider than a boring, basic mode of transportation.
Photos: Derin Richardson
Dodge M4S
The Dodge M4S is a fantastic example of this unique period of automotive innovation, as it was a sleekly designed concept built for one purpose – to showcase a bevy of technology. Developed in collaboration with PPG Industries in 1981, the M4S was an actual, running machine with a drag coefficient of just 0.236.
Photos: Derin Richardson
Ahead of Its Time
The M4S was powered by a small turbocharged 2.2-liter four-cylinder engine that churned out 440 horsepower, enabling it to accelerate from 0-60 mph in 4.1 seconds and reach a top speed of 195 mph. Underpinned by a semi-monocoque racing chassis, the M4S was certainly ahead of its time in many regards.
Photos: Derin Richardson
Dodge Copperhead
As for the Dodge Copperhead, it debuted at the 1997 North American International Auto Show as what the brand envisioned as a more affordable version of the Viper. Rather than focusing on raw performance, the Copperhead was more about providing a pleasant, well-rounded driving experience, with a focus on strong handling.
The Copperhead was a stunning machine that attracted its fair share of fanfare right off the bat, with its stretched wheelbase and wide stance, though it was a bit shorter than the Viper that it’s based on. The interior was simple as well, with power coming not from a V10, but rather, a 2.7-liter DOHC V6 making 220 horsepower and mated to a five-speed manual gearbox.
Photos: Derin Richardson
Never Made It
Sadly, the Copperhead was designed for production in 2000, but ultimately never came to fruition. Regardless, it – along with the M4S and a host of other cool relics from the ‘80s and ‘90s – can be found at the Petersen Automotive Museum’s latest exhibit, which is now open to the public.
Photos: Derin Richardson
