What in heaven's name would cause the company that gave us the K-Car suddenly to decide to offer the first-ever factory-built hot rod? How could a company famed for offering the blandest of the bland pull the trigger on what would become the weirdest car released in the 1990s?
As it has been forced to do over the decades, Chrysler
needed to re-establish its relevance in the 1990s, and the Plymouth Prowler (later to become the Chrysler Prowler when the Plymouth brand finally was put to bed) became a key piece of that revitalization. With Chrysler trying to rebrand itself
for the electric vehicle age, now seems like a good time to look back at the uniqueness that brought Chrysler so much attention in the 1990s. How did the Chrysler Prowler come to be?
Bob Lutz set out to lead Chrysler out of its doldrums moving into the 1990s and hit a home run right off the bat with the introduction of the Dodge Viper during the 1989 auto shows.
The Viper caught the attention of racing fans and sparked a decade of innovation for Chrysler under the design direction of Tom Gale.
Reviving the struggling Plymouth brand as a youth force was a goal of Chrysler during the decade. Motorious
reports that an intern tossed out the idea of designing a hot rod in a bit of 1950s nostalgia. Designer Kevin Verduyn toyed around with the idea and had some sketches hanging on his wall. Management noticed the design and encouraged the team to run with the idea.
The '50s hot rods were actually chopped down 1930s Fords that were amped up with some big V8 engines, ideal for drag racing and street racing.
Designers imagined the Plymouth Viper being a concept car that would be fun to cart to the auto shows, where it debuted in 1996.
But Lutz and the team thought they had a genius idea for a production car that would stamp the Plymouth brand and bring Chrysler some needed juice with younger drivers. Chrysler released the first Plymouth Prowler in 1998.
The good, the bad, and the ugly of the Plymouth Viper
To call the Prowler unique would be almost an understatement. No production car before or since would share the chopped, laid-back shape, high beltline, raked windshield, and cycle-fendered open front wheels of the Viper, according to MotorTrend
. Designers also graced the Viper with a formed aluminum body, cutting-edge technology at the time. What wasn't so unique about the Viper was that it drew about 40 percent of its makeup from other Chrysler products, including its aluminum V6 engine, its 4-speed automatic transmission, the rack-and-pinion steering, the rear axle, open driveshaft, and coil-spring suspension.
The 3.5-liter V6 engine created the biggest controversy around the Viper, as racing enthusiasts believed any hot rod need the juice supplied by a V8 engine. While the V6 provided only 214 horsepower, the Viper's lightweight construction allowed it to go from 0 to 60.
The 1998 Prowler drew some mocking when it came out only in Prowler Purple. Prowler Black, Prowler Yellow, and Prowler Red were added for the 1999 model year.
MORE: Can PT Cruisers Be Cool? These Ones Fight the Stereotype
The short life of the Prowler
The Prowler came with its fans and detractors but managed to soldier on for five years, outlasting even the Plymouth brand, which died in 2000. The 2001 and 2002 model years were known as the Chrysler Prowler.
Chrysler sold about 12,000 units during the Prowler's lifetime. The car never really caught on as a collectible, but that means prices are relatively affordable if you've always dreamed of owning a Prowler. Carfax
lists several models available in the high $20,000s to mid-$30,000s. MORE: The Chrysler Conquest: Why It Was Sold Under Three Brands
Insuring your dream car
Whether the Chrysler Prowler, the Dodge Viper, or another vintage car rests in your dreams, you'll find the best type of insurance and the best rate when you work through Jerry
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