At the turn of the millennium, retro models in the automotive world became popular. Think back to the Volkswagen Beetle, the Mini, the Mustang, and later the Fiat 500. But there are many more, such as the Plymouth Prowler, which Americans embraced. It was a modern take on the Hotrod, built because the Concept Car received tremendous feedback in 1993. It was intended as a successor to the Dodge Viper, with the goal of becoming an icon.
So, DaimlerChrysler, the owner of Plymouth at the time, came up with the idea of producing a version of the Prowler. Alright, due to safety regulations, the bumpers were slightly modified and the interior underwent minimal changes, but the car remained largely unchanged. When the car was unveiled in 1997, it caused a shockwave on the showroom floor. It was presented in purple, which happened to be the only colour available that year.
The Prowler we are offering is slightly newer, precisely two years newer. Finished in black paint with black leather, it is a direct retro version of the 30’s Hotrods. Imagine some airbrushed flames on the front, and the picture is complete.
This Plymouth has only covered 20,451 miles and is therefore in practically new condition. The car’s appearance reflects its condition; the paintwork and wheels look fantastic. The beautifully visible front suspension also shows that this car hasn’t experienced much wear and tear during its show-stopping career. The Prowler is a typical “love it or leave it” kind of car, and we’ve noticed in the showroom that there are fortunately more people in the former category.
The interior may be slightly less remarkable than you would expect from the exterior. The only frivolity is the oval-shaped section where the gauges are placed. It is usually colour-coded, but in this case, it doesn’t bring much liveliness. The interior, like the exterior, is in perfect condition. The leather seats are in a very healthy condition, and the controls work and feel as they should.
Under the hood, things have been kept relatively simple with a 3.5-litre V6 engine from Chrysler. With 24 valves and a single overhead camshaft, the engine squeezes out 217 horsepower. From 1999 onwards, an aluminium engine is installed, delivering 257 horsepower. There were no choices in terms of transmission: all Prowlers left the factory with a four-speed automatic gearbox. Interestingly, the gearbox is located between the rear wheels, resulting in a transaxle setup and an exact 50-50 weight distribution.
Contradicting the pure and minimalist nature of a Hotrod, the Prowler was quite luxuriously equipped. It featured keyless entry, power windows, and air conditioning. Thanks to its relatively low weight, the Prowler accelerates to 100 kilometres per hour in 7.2 seconds, with a top speed limited to 190 kilometres per hour. The later engine variant propels the car to 100 kilometres per hour in 5.9 seconds, with a top speed of 203 kilometres per hour.
This ’99 Prowler is the updated version, and therefore, it’s already guaranteed to become a future classic, especially considering that just over 11,000 Prowlers were produced. If we also consider its condition and low mileage, this is definitely a unique opportunity to get your hands on such a modern Hotrod.
