While it was sometimes criticized as being a triumph of style over substance, the 1999 Plymouth Prowler still offered excellent performance for potential buyers. The car didn’t sell in the volumes that Plymouth hoped, making them a relatively rare vehicle on today’s roads. Our feature Prowler is a spotless example that has a genuine 2,900 miles on the clock. Its overall condition is close to showroom fresh and would suit a meticulous buyer. Located in Land O’ Lakes, Florida, you will find the Prowler listed for sale here on Craigslist. The owner has set a sale price of $32,400 for this distinctive classic. I have to say a huge thank you to Barn Finder Pat L for referring this gem to us.

As often happens, the Prowler started life as a concept show car. When unveiled, it embraced many retro styling features, including the exposed front wheels with integrated fenders reminiscent of a traditional hot rod. The company had not originally intended to mass-produce the Prowler, but the public acceptance was so high that they developed a roadgoing version. There are some differences in styling between the show car and the production model, but it retains its essential design characteristics. Our feature car is finished in distinctive Prowler Purple Metallic, and the paint looks spotless. There is no evidence of flaws or defects, as you might expect in a car with a four-figure odometer reading. The panels are straight, and the Black convertible top is in as-new condition. The unique alloy wheels show no evidence of stain or curb strike, and the overall condition is close to showroom fresh.

While its exterior may have been dripping with retro touches, the Prowler’s interior is mainly modern. It included such touches as leather upholstery, airbags, air conditioning, power windows, power locks, cruise control, and a premium stereo. The column-mounted tachometer is a nod to hot rod heritage, as are the white-faced gauges. Another characteristic that the Prowler shares with 1950s hot rods is its two-seat cockpit. This is by no means a family car. The overall condition of this interior is as you might find in a vehicle of this type. There is some slight stretching and wrinkling on the base of both seats, but no evidence of wear or physical damage. The same is true of the door trims and dash, while the carpet and console are spotless.

Some enthusiasts and contemporary motoring publications were openly critical of the Prowler’s drivetrain combination. There’s no denying that the first-year production vehicles lacked in the performance arena, but by the time our car rolled off the production line, there had been a marked improvement in that area. The engine bay is occupied by a 3.5-liter V6 engine that pumps out 253hp. The company added a more modern touch to the drivetrain compared to traditional hot rods by equipping the vehicle with a rear-mounted four-speed automatic transmission that improved weight distribution. The lack of a V8 engine didn’t really hurt the car’s overall performance, with it capable of covering the ¼ mile in 14.2 seconds. A large part of this was courtesy of a relatively low overall vehicle weight of 2,837lbs. This Prowler is a one-owner survivor that has been garage-kept for its whole life. The seller doesn’t provide specific information on how it runs or drives, but with a mere 2,900 miles showing on its odometer, it is a long way from being worn out. That gives us reason to be quietly confident that all is well mechanically.

When Plymouth launched the Prowler, they envisaged it as a premium model that would sell in respectable numbers. The 1999 model year was the Prowler’s most successful, but only 3,921 vehicles rolled out of the company’s showrooms. By the time Chrysler dropped the ax on the Prowler, it had only achieved 11,702 sales from five years of production. The figure was far below the company’s expectations, but it means that they remain relatively rare vehicles on today’s roads. Values have stayed relatively stable in recent years, but when you consider this car’s overall condition and odometer reading, its price looks pretty competitive. It has only been on the market for a short time, and I suspect a buyer will be found relatively quickly.