The Plymouth Prowler is a retro-styled production car manufactured
and marketed from 1997 to 2002 by DaimlerChrysler, based on the
1993 concept car of the same name.
The Prowler was offered in a single generation in a front-engine,
rear-drive, rear-transmission configuration - with an overall
production of 11,702.
Chrysler engineers were given free rein to design whatever they
wanted in a "hot rod" or "sportster" type vehicle. Thomas C. Gale,
Chrysler's design and international director stated "love for
1930s-era hot rods inspired Chrysler's latest design triumph, the
retro-styled Plymouth Prowler. Gale, who has a hotted up 1932 Ford
in his garage, approved the rod-inspired Plymouth Prowler as the
company's follow-up show-stopper to the Dodge Viper.
An early influence is credited to a Chrysler-sponsored project at
the Art Center College of Design that resulted in a thesis by
Douglas "Chip" Foose that included drawings of a retro-roadster.
Foose, designed it as a coupe for Chrysler to begin with but
modified it to a roadster version.
One of the most striking design features of the Prowler are the
open, Indy racer-style front wheels. The Prowler featured a
powertrain from Chrysler's LH-cars, a 24-valve, 3.5 L Chrysler SOHC
V6 engine producing 214 HP at 5850 rpm. For the 1999 model year,
the engine was replaced with a more powerful, aluminum-block, 253
HP at 6400 rpm version of the engine. Both engines were coupled to
a four-speed Autostick semi-automatic transmission. The
transmission was located at the rear of the vehicle and joined to
the engine by a torque tube that rotated at engine speed, an
arrangement similar to that used by the C5 Corvette, Porsche 944,
and Alfa Romeo 75, and helped to facilitate a desirable 50-50
front-rear weight distribution.
The Prowler was the first rear-wheel drive Plymouth since the 1989
Plymouth Gran Fury and would stand as the last Plymouth model with
that layout. While criticized for having only a V6 engine,
Chrysler's High Output 3.5 had a horsepower rating similar to the
company's Magnum V8s of that era. While not making nearly as much
torque as a V8, Prowler's light weight helped to achieve rapid
off-the-line acceleration.
The car prominently featured aluminum construction, in many cases
adhesively bonded, chiefly in the chassis. The body was produced in
Shadyside, Ohio, and the car was assembled by hand at the Conner
Avenue Assembly Plant (CAAP) in Detroit, Michigan.
Unlike the Dodge Viper, the Prowler was equipped with many features
that allowed it to be used as a daily driver. These features
included keyless entry, power windows and door locks, dual airbags,
leather-trimmed bucket seats, air conditioning with manual
controls, an AM/FM stereo with cassette player with a multi-disc CD
changer as an available option, and a high-fidelity sound system, a
leather-wrapped steering wheel with audio system controls mounted
on the rear of the wheel, a color-keyed instrument panel bezel
painted to match the exterior color of the Prowler, digital
odometer and full instrumentation.
Performance numbers for the more powerful 1999-2002 models were
0-62 mph in 5.9 seconds and a top speed of 126 MPH.
The Plymouth Prowler was produced for the 1997 and 1999-2000 model
years. After the Plymouth brand was discontinued in 2001 the
Prowler was sold as a Chrysler Prowler for the 2001 and 2002 model
years.
This Plymouth Prowler is finished in Prowler Yellow Clear Coat and
only has 16,886 miles registered on the odometer. The plastic front
bumpers have been removed to provide the sleek Hot Rod look. To
further accentuate this amazing vehicle the front control arms have
been polished to a beautiful shine making this one of the nicest
Prowlers available.
Great lease rates and Financing also available on any of our
inventory!
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