GTP Cool Wall: 1997-2002 Plymouth / Chrysler Prowler

  • Thread starter Wiegert
  • 54 comments
  • 5,121 views

1997-2002 Plymouth / Chrysler Prowler

  • Total voters
    121
  • Poll closed .
Wiegert

Wiegert

Premium
13,376
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
1997-2002 Plymouth / Chrysler Prowler nominated by @ThrasherDBS

plymouth-prowler.JPG


Body Style: 2-door roadster
Engine: 3.5L SOHC V6
Power: 214 hp (1997), 253 hp (1999-onward)
Torque: 255 ft-lbs (1999-onward)
Weight: 1270 kg
Transmission: 4-speed automatic
Drivetrain: Front-engine, rear wheel drive
Additional Information: Production model of a 1993 concept car designed by Chip Foose. Arguably the first car to start the "retro-styling" trend of cars in the United States, taking inspiration from hot rods of the 1930s. The car had very limited production in 1997, no units in 1998, but were more widely produced from 1999 onward. Until the brand's discontinuation in 2001, this car was sold as a Plymouth. For the 2001 and 2002 model years, it was sold as a Chrysler.​

Plymouth-Prowl-.jpg
1997-plymouth-prowler-1.jpg
Plymouth_Prowler_Digital1_00006500.jpg

2001-plymouth-prowler-9.jpg
 
Last edited:
Uncool. It looks good (to me at least), but the fact that it only has a V6 and a 4AT available makes it "uguu."
 
I don't mind the looks, and the fact that they had the guts to actually manufacture it is cool, but no V8 or manual? Seriously. At least it turns my head when I see it because the outside is bizarre.

Meh.

Oh, and the trailer it pretty cute.
 
It's amazing that they built it. Stodgy Chrysler, who spent literally a decade building variations of this:

reliant-sized-1.jpg


Came up with this:

select_plymouth_prowler_2_large.jpg



While they were halfway through the life of this:

dodge-spirit_red_9.jpg


And not only did they build it nearly identically to that as soon as they figured out how, but they actually improved its looks. It's practically the opposite of what they did with the Crossfire a decade later, and even the Viper wasn't as wild. Who cares that it was a V6/Auto? This wasn't a serious sports car just like most of the cars it took after in looks weren't. It was one of the main things that made Chrysler the media darling while GM and Ford were busy falling over themselves in the 1990s.










But.


Literally from the first one that rolled off the line, this was a "collector" car. They were practically sold directly into hermetically sealed garages with their matching trailers, waiting for the moment for when they can be sold for a profit. And, fair enough, they are supposedly pretty crap to drive any time you attempted to put those humongous tires, all aluminum construction, four wheel double wishbone suspension, rear mounted transaxle and 50:50 weight distribution to serious use; but they would be infinitely cooler if you actually saw them out in the wild more frequently than you saw them at Barrett-Jackson.


Grandea GTR
It only has a V6 available. The Prowler could do with a V8 as an option.

Click to expand...

In 1997 that V8 didn't exist, and when a V8 that would work did exist by 1999 the updated V6 was still a better option.
 
Last edited:
@Tornado nails it. A genuine shock to the system, one that could only ever exist as a short-term special.

Surprisingly, I actually see a fair amount of them around here. I'm really not sure why, since Canada is hardly the ideal climate, but it's cool to see folks genuinely using it.

But that seems like the exception.
 
Let's start from Sub-Zero for me. Back then, when I was young and in the games, I loved this car. Later, I learnt was made by Chrysler even though it's a plymouth earlier...as for chrysler, which had done teh PT Cruiser...still somewhat cool.

Now, in the info about it, I learn it was desgined by Chip Foose, known for custom cars and, a few I don't exactly like well. Meh or uncool.

...

Oh wait, there is more. He even customized one. And by the Gods, that looked worse.

Looks like I won't enjoy the sight of this car much often now. SU it is. Shame.
 
I always wanted to like the Prowler. I understand the choice of engine at the time. The 3.5 was the best they had and it would have been expensive to certify the 5.9L Magnum for passenger car emissions. Viper V10 would have made no sense either.

The car is cool, cruising is what it was made to do and it does it in style. A V8 rumble and no bumpers would make it almost perfect for it's intended mission.
 
Actually got to see one the other day out and about, it had been years since the last sighting. Cool in the sense, 'wow you don't see that everyday'. Not sure I would actually say it's a cool car, but props to Chrysler for being radical.
 
A very unique, but awesome vehicle in my opinion. Weird but good looks, good performance, and hot rod memorabilia make this Prowler nothing but

Cool.

Tornado
It's amazing that they built it. Stodgy Chrysler, who spent literally a decade building variations of this:

reliant-sized-1.jpg


Came up with this:

select_plymouth_prowler_2_large.jpg



While they were halfway through the life of this:

dodge-spirit_red_9.jpg


And not only did they build it nearly identically to that as soon as they figured out how, but they actually improved its looks. It's practically the opposite of what they did with the Crossfire a decade later, and even the Viper wasn't as wild. Who cares that it was a V6/Auto? This wasn't a serious sports car just like most of the cars it took after in looks weren't. It was one of the main things that made Chrysler the media darling while GM and Ford were busy falling over themselves in the 1990s.










But.


Literally from the first one that rolled off the line, this was a "collector" car. They were practically sold directly into hermetically sealed garages with their matching trailers, waiting for the moment for when they can be sold for a profit. And, fair enough, they are supposedly pretty crap to drive any time you attempted to put those humongous tires, all aluminum construction, four wheel double wishbone suspension, rear mounted transaxle and 50:50 weight distribution to serious use; but they would be infinitely cooler if you actually saw them out in the wild more frequently than you saw them at Barrett-Jackson.



In 1997 that V8 didn't exist, and when a V8 that would work did exist by 1999 the updated V6 was still a better option.
Click to expand...

Chrysler spent three years developing the K-Car, not ten. However it was in production for nine years.
 
I like it. They have an excellent design, but they missed a lot of potential by not giving it a V8. Meh.
 
Dan
I like it. They have an excellent design, but they missed a lot of potential by not giving it a V8. Meh.
Click to expand...
Very true. A "hot rod" like this deserves V8 power, but remember, this was the 90's, so only super cars and personal luxury cars got V8's.
 
Chrysler's SSR. Although it's not a "truck," it does make a subpar attempt at being a modern hot rod.

Also released around a time when American cars weren't very cool to me (4th gen Mustang, Escort ZX2, the Camaro/Firebird of the time, and especially the Hummer/Navigator/Escalade.)

SU it is.
 
Love the looks, and that Chrysler actually built it. Somewhat quick with the 253hp engine. Thanks to the light weight, it wasn't far behind the V8 Camaro and Mustang of the day, IIRC.

S-Z.
 
If there is one car that needed a V8, it was this thing. One of these was waiting for me to service it, and utter excitement turned into sad disappointment when I saw the engine.

That sentiment still hasn't changed as anytime this thing is mentioned the first thing that pops up in my head is: No V8. :indiff:

A big middle finger towards it and the team who engineered the running bits.

Seriously Uncool.
 
If not having a V8 bothers you, you can always do an engine swap if you are willing to pay thousands of bucks.
 
The87Dodge
Chrysler spent three years developing the K-Car, not ten.
Click to expand...
The K-Car was in production for nearly a decade and has variations like the wagon and 2-door sedan versions.

That's what he's getting at.
 

Latest Posts

Back