2002 Chrysler Prowler

When the Plymouth Prowler first appeared on the display stand at the '93 Detroit auto show, the jaded press and slack-jawed public could scarcely believe a vehicle so outlandish could roll forth from a major carmaker. Much too daring. Far too outrageous. And yet there it was, with its rakishly low stance, cycle fenders and all. It was almost as if Chrysler was intending to prove that the Viper (which first appeared in 1989 and then went on sale in 1992) was no fluke. The Prowler flew in the face of convention in dramatic style. Surely by the time the car met all the appropriate safety requirements and internal corporate mandates, it would look nothing like the evocative show car.

Trunk space is at a premium, particularly when the top is down, so Chrysler's Mopar Accessories division offers a stylish Prowler trailer for those extended road trips.

Well, they did build it. And when the Plymouth Prowler went on sale in 1997 it proved to be remarkably true to the spirit of the original show car. Yes, it had sprouted front and rear bumpers and had a few familiar Chrysler family bits of switchgear dotting its two-passenger interior, but in look, feel and attitude, the production Prowler was clearly a chip off the show-car block.


Since that time, over 7,500 people have bought Prowlers, which, given the demise of the Plymouth nameplate, are now sold through the Chrysler brand. With a list price of $44,625 and next to no functional utility, what could possibly motivate so many people to buy such an extravagant toy? Emotion, plain and simple. No other production vehicle is as distinctive looking. Arguably, nothing you can buy at any price makes such a powerful statement about you—or your attitude. The Prowler tells the world that you're out for a good time. And that fact makes the Prowler one of the most powerful mood-altering devices ever created.


Though street-rod style is the Prowler's reason for being (there's a lot of '34 Ford in those rakish lines), plenty of modern bits are under the skin. Essentially hand-built alongside the Viper at Chrysler's Conner Avenue assembly plant, the Prowler has components that you typically wouldn't find in a regular mass-production car. The trick tubular-aluminum chassis carries aluminum suspension components for lighter weight. The rear brake discs are also aluminum, which is something typically reserved for select racing applications. The rear wheels are enormous 20-inch rollers, while the 17-inch front wheels ride outboard of the body on aluminum control arms. The close-fitting, cycle-type front fenders turn side-to-side with the wheels to accommodate steering lock—and look great doing it. The body is made from a combination of aluminum and sheet-molded composite (SMC), two technologies well suited to small-batch production.

All true hot rods have V-8s, and the question seems to be more "when" than "if." For now, the 3.5-liter all-aluminum V-6 provides plenty of power for many Prowler owners' tastes.

Lift the hood and you'll find that the Prowler deviates from the homegrown street-rod norm with a modern aluminum V-6 instead of the usual iron-block V-8 power. The Prowler's single-overhead-cam powerplant displaces 3.5 liters and develops 253 horsepower at 6,400 rpm and 255 lb.-ft. of torque at 3,950 rpm. It's paired with a rear-mounted four-speed transaxle that features AutoStick shifting for a touch of that good old-fashioned manual transmission fun.