I can still vividly remember seeing my first photo of a Plymouth Prowler. The year would have been 1997, and the car in question was finished in Prowler Purple Metallic. I was amazed that a manufacturer at that time would produce a car with such a retro look. This 2000 model Prowler is something a bit special because in its entire life it has only covered a mind-blowing 58 Original Miles. The owner has set a price of $38,500 for the Prowler, so if you really have an overwhelming desire to own what is effectively a brand new one, it is located in Le Roy, New York, and listed for sale here on Craigslist.
It’s really hard to be terribly critical of what is effectively a brand new car. The car is spotless, and it needs no work to bring the exterior up to scratch. The Prowler is an interesting car to me. I’m not a huge fan of retro look cars, but the reality is that Plymouth was ahead of the game in this respect. They managed to just beat Volkswagen to the punch with the look, with the Prowler just beating the New Beetle into the showrooms. If you then reflect on the trend, it continues to this day with manufacturers like Fiat introducing a modern interpretation of the iconic 500.
Under the hood is the High Output 215ci V6, which is hooked to a 4-speed automatic transmission. The prowler attracted criticism from some quarters for not featuring a V8, but with 253hp on tap, and a vehicle weight of only 2,837lbs, performance was surprisingly impressive. This prowler has been sitting for a long time, and there is no indication as to whether it has been started or serviced, so there will almost certainly be some maintenance and checking to be done before it is fit for the road.
The interior of the Prowler was another area that came in for some criticism when the car was launched. There were a few vocal individuals who felt it was suffering from an identity crisis, as it wasn’t quite modern, and not quite retro enough. I actually quite like the interior, and as with the rest of the car, this is in “as new” condition. Owning a Prowler meant that you didn’t lack for creature comforts. Power windows, keyless entry, dual airbags, leather-trimmed seats and steering wheel, air conditioning, and power door locks were all part of the standard fare in a Prowler.
While the Prowler did come in for some early criticism, it’s a car that seems to have found its place within the classic car community. Values hit an all-time low in 2014, but have risen steadily ever since. Now a good one will set you back around the $35,000 mark, while an immaculate example will sell for around $45,000. This one will probably need a bit of checking over before it hits the road, but with only 58 miles on the clock, I’m sure that it will fit into the latter price category. If you bought it, would you drive it, or does it belong in a museum?
Chrysler sure went out on a limb with these. Always wonder how some cars make it all the way to production, only to fall flat. Somebody in the board room thought it was a good idea. Just never happened, and I don’t ever recall seeing one on the road, and I put a LOT of time on the road.
I have one small nit-picky thing, and it may be a regional thing from down-under, but clocks don’t have odometers, and always wondered where the saying came from, “miles on the clock”?
Otherwise, Adam, you do a great job!
The guy I work for has a purple `97 he hardly ever drives. I think it only has about 9K miles on it. I should’ve realized before I asked why he never drives it. Then it dawned on me; Omaha’s horrible streets! I wouldn’t subject A Prowler to those craters either.
Here in Tampa, I routinely saw at least 3 Prowlers on the street when these vehicles were new in the showroom. I remember seeing Prowlers in a bright yellow, a purple, and a black fairly regularly around Tampa in the early 2000’s.
I live in SoCal, would be interesting to know how many were built and how many sold in SoCal. I saw them daily and there was a used car dealer who liked them, had 3- 4of them on his lot several times. Usually summers. Still see some occasionally. Thought about one, but my experience with a LeBaron convertible that leaked like a sieve kept me from pulling the trigger. And the lack of a stick option meant my wife was not interested. Could not get her to give up her DOHC Vtec Del Sol for an automatic.
I have a nit-picky thing about the word “odometer”. Sounds like a smell gauge. What was wrong with the original “milometer”?
I wonder why the owner didn’t drive it? This car would have been much better if Chrysler had installed a V8.
Howard, maybe the expression “miles on the clock” came from the old days when speedometers first started appearing in cars – people would see a dial with numbers on it and say, “What is that, a clock?”
I don’t think these needed a V8. I know they took a beating for it, but Chrysler already had the Viper tearing up the streets and tracks. This seems more like an adequately powered boulevard cruiser to me. The red isn’t common. Nice car
From a practical or engineering standpoint the v6 made sense. I think it was from the 300m. Problem is your target audience is mostly died in wool pushrod v8 or bust folk. A gussied up intrepid motor just doesn’t have the sound or feel they are looking for. These are still pretty much a joke because of it. I think they would have been better received then and now if they just used the 5.9 magnum auto and/or the 5.2 magnum 5 speed from the dakota.
Sure, the V6 makes more power with better fuel economy, but this car isn’t about that. It’s solely about nostalgia, and the sound is part of that. There is pretty much ZERO aftermarket for that engine either while you can get roots blowers for the truck V8. Wouldn’t have been a bad way to debut the hemi either. They really missed the mark on these. Once the novelty wore off interest died. I’d honestly take an ACR Neon over this.
“Problem is your target audience is mostly died in wool”
I think the problem was most of the target audience was just plain died. Another baby-boomer retro answer to a question nobody asked.
Wouldn’t be a market for muscle cars without us baby boomers. We built cars in our barns and little shops that the big 3 copied to start the pony and muscle car trends. Still know more about them because we ask the questions that most not like you are interested in.
Great set of assumptions Bobby. I was born in 1953. Owned a 1969 Z-28, 1970 Boss 302 and a 1973 Trans Am. I know a little about Pony cars, Muscle cars, Hot Rods, and the entire 1960’s to 1970’s car culture. Keep pitching Bobby-boy.
I see they’re starting to pull these out of shrink wrap. I’m sure we’ll see a lot of these over the years. When they first came out in the 90s, they seemed really special, so I think a lot of people bought one and never used it, assuming it would be an investment.
These are the next in line after everybody gets rid of their pickled Grand Nationals.
At least you don’t look like a total “Richard” driving a Grand national.
Bingo! And pickled pace cars!
I read an article once that interviewed an employee from Chrysler (possibly an engineer) and it was said that they never expected the Prowler to sell well. The biggest purpose that this car served was to be a testing ground for new technology that Chrysler was introducing at the time. I specifically remember from the article that it was used to test new techniques for making aluminum body panels and trying out new technology in production/assembly. I believe that’s why they didn’t go all out on the drivetrain because it has little to do with the company’s end goal.
It is disappointing to think that a car that stood out so much and could have been so much more was a bit of a flop in the spotlight. It’s like the story with the AMC Pacer. But I guess the fact that it was produced and exists is pretty cool in itself. Considering their goals for the car, Chrysler deemed it a success.
Patrick McC,
Here is an article in Road & Track that goes into what you are saying:
“The whole thing really was an exercise in research for how to use aluminum materials,” Gale says of the Prowler. “At the time, Chrysler really didn’t have a lot of applied research. So in my view, this was a great way to kind of force us to take a look at aluminum stamping, aluminum forming, extrusions, welding, and combining that with composite materials.
“Prowler was really more about that than it was the car itself, and I was kind of the one that pushed that. I was just anxious to see us have that kind of research,” Gale says.
https://www.roadandtrack.com/car-culture/car-design/a27637/the-secret-history-of-the-plymouth-prowler/
Good excuse after the car bombed. The shipyard that built the Titanic said they learned a lot about bad rivets.
Weekly free view limit meet proxies.
Last year, I read an article about the Prowler, and how it lost money on every unit sold. Chrysler execs justified it in the following….
The money the Prowler lost us overall, was way less than what Chrysler would have spent in advertising, and created a Halo car that developed Chrysler as a forward thinking and innovative company. Overall a terrific value in comparison.
Para-phrasing, but that was the jest of the article.
Strategic marketing, at its best.
That interior gets criticism from me since it looks strangely similar to the one on a same-era Grand Cherokee I had.
…But I’m not criticizing it from a parts bin perspective (i’m all for saving money on a vehicle if parts are recycled).
To me it gives me sweats, blinding fear, I think I can even feel a seizure coming on as the sight of anything that immediately reminds me of my former, and then current, 2001 Grand Cherokee Limited will have me sleepless for days. That’s the first thing this interior did.
That Jeep was the absolutely most unreliable, heap of garbage, money pit and time waster not only that I have owned, but that was ever manufactured in the world. Ever. I know this for a fact.
The Prowler? Meh. Alright if you’re the type tuck your T-shirt into jeans, drive slow, and recycle dad jokes.
Nice to see something other than a low mileage GN. When these were new, I wanted one. Today, I would like to actually drive one to see if I am missing anything. It looks like a fun toy.
I was floored the first time I saw one in a dealership. And for whatever reason, there were actually a few of them running around my area.
Back then I knew all things about everything (because I was 16) and was convinced only Chrysler products were worthy of admiration.
Looking at their product line in 1997, aside from the Viper, this was mind blowing.
I guess perspective is everything Andre, and never forget, this things kid sister was the dreadful PT Cruiser!
IDK, my kid put a ton of miles on a PT Cruiser.
Well, if the Prowlers are becoming
collectable, maybe I should buy my SIL’s
PT Cruiser Sunset Boulevard Edition when she trades it in. Don’t know just how many Prowlers they made, but Sis’s
car is one of 500 made in 2008. No, it’s
not collectable yet, but it’s my last chance
to get back into the hobby without having
to mortgage my house! Think I’ll say that
prowlers and PT’s will become desirable
for their funk factor if anything else. i vote
museum piece on this one though.
I’ll tell you what I’d rather have a prowler any day than that useless chev HHR pickup joke or that ugly panel truck they came out to compete with the pt cruiser and have you ever owned a pt cruiser to call it bad? there was a pt on the net awhile back with a 5.2 v8 in it bet ya that was a fun ride! mopar or no car!
Look up the PT cruiser fitted with the V10 Viper engine. All for show, of course
Andre- JEEP= Just Empty Every Pocket-
I heard the zero to sixty on these was measured with an hourglass. Love the looks of it- like the Dreaded PT cruiser, theres no real estate under the hood for a v8. Will be interesting to see what this one brings. 38 large seems ambitious.
Cheers
GPC
Jeep
In Spanish it’s pronounced, “heap!”
Used to see one in mt. Kisco ny 20+ years ago, painted on the trunk said “my viagara”
It was a poser car. much like the GM SST. A fibrerlass waste of time and money it was much like the way a camel is a horse designed by committee.
SST? SuperSonicTransport.Perhaps SSR? SubSonicReject?
Lance! I always thought the Plymouth Prowler was a car. Poser car? You could be on to something. What were they, airplane, boat, train etc.?
Yuck! These cars make the Edsel look like the Mona Lisa!
Saw one when new and was not impressed. American auto manufacturers have put some great cars on the market that many have become sought after classics but this to me is proof they should leave hot rods to enthusiasts and professional builders.
I think these have a moderately unique beauty, as does the Chrysler Crossfire, examples of which I see with good body but needs some minor mechanical work, advertised for a few hundred dollars.
I heard that the car was based on a design exercise by Chip Foose. I liked the car when they first came out & still do.
Ok, enough with the Prowler. I want the green 33/34 roadster parked next to it.
I personally like the Prowler. For my birthday present, back in the day, my then wife rented a Prowler for me. It was awesome! I put the top down, and cruised in style. Had plenty of power for me. I know you guys always complain about horse power, but let’s be real – when and where are you really going to use it? A drag strip? I’ve had hot rods in my youth, and street raced. But now that I am older, I don’t need to do that. The Prowler handled well. And when night came, I put the top up and took it on the highway. The cab looked like an airplane cockpit, with the cool blue lighting. It’s a memory I will always remember..
Oh, and John, I used to own an Edsel Ranger – one of my favorite cars ever.
Hi! Jerry C.— We own a ’97 Prowler, orig. purple metallic, with matching trailer!
Enjoyed tripping in it but really do need the trailer for luggage….trunk can hold 2 lawn chairs and a jacket! ;) Saw one go thru town the first yr. they made them and said someday we would own one…..so different styling than most cars at that time! We take it to car shows locally and just have a lot of fun driving it around…get a lot of looks (good or bad?) Who cares…..WE enjoy it and that’s all that matters!!
Buy it… drive it in parades & special events… hold onto it for your kids or your estate. It will never depreciate any more than it already has.
People that speaks ill of PT Cruisers are mentally challenged..
I dunno, Eigil-paying thousands more dollars for a rebodied Dodge /Plymouth Neon doesn’t seem intelligent just because it’s rebadged as a Chrysler….Even the Turbo PT Cruiser was a slug. It got worse when it became the Caliber and they dumped that moronic CVT “transmission” in it. (CVT’s are just fine for some snowmobiles, UTV’s and garden tractors but not much else)
The Neon SRT-4 was the only one of that lineage that was worth driving, which spawned the questionable parentage of the SRT-4 Caliber later.
Here’s one for all of you knockers, what does the ‘PT’ stand for on the Cruisers, anybody know ?
And why would it be used on a car?
Some of you might know but don’t give the game away, let’s see what sort of guesses we get back.
My wife just sold hers after 10 years, great little buzz box but don’t bother trying to work on the engine, and 1300 dollars to change a $24.00 timing belt ?
At the time they hit the streets Chrysler considered them as Trucks (ha-ha) so thats what the powers to be decided to sell them as,
PT Cruisers. I might be missing something psychologically but I really liked all those retro styled vehicles, PT Cruisers , Prowlers, Chevy SSRs & HHRs , even Fords T-Bird. If I were wealthy I would have bought them for my collection along with my fantasy collection of every year of Corvette’s since 1953,,,,,,,,, & I’d drive “em all. On a daily rotating schedule. Is it too late to start a Go Fund Me Page ?
PT looser
I’ve actually seen then go 200,000
These were quite a novelty when new.
Got Chrysler lots of attention. More than Ricardo Montalban ever did. 😉
As time goes buy design flaws have been exposed. Not the perfect hot rod they appeared to be.
Still be a fun runabout on Summer nites and way cheaper than a boxy GN .
Chrysler laid a lot of eggs but none bigger than the Prowler.
Obviously no one wants to take a crack at the PT question so I’ll tell you what I heard from a member of a US PT club. You open the rear doors, pull the lever and fold the seat backs down, grab the latch and tilt the whole lot forward, pull the locks and lift the seats out through the side doors and viola, what have you got? A neat little two seat ‘PANEL TRUCK’. End of story.
Sorry guys but I though it might be interesting for some.
William Brown, is that dollars or miles, Cruiser or Prowler you’re not too clear?
I thought powers to be at Chrysler referred to it as “Plymouth Truck”, ? I would have answered yesterday, last night, but you asked to not give it away?
Moosie, I’m only quoting from a guy in the US who is in a PT Cruiser club, you may be right but the panel truck does sound a bit more logical when you think about it. My wife’s car was great when it came to carrying largish loads, there was a heap of room in the back with the seats out. The brand Plymouth doesn’t appear anywhere on the vehicle as far as I know.
Tony,
Hello down under, And I hope that’s not a slur. The panel truck designation makes much more sense than the Plymouth Truck name that popped up when I googled it only because like you said the Plymouth name is absent from the vehicle . I almost bought one back then but I was worried that me being 6′ 4″ & 280 lbs. might feel cramped. Then the thought was maybe a Prowler might be enjoyable till the same issue came to light, plus being a single Dad of two children there would be no room for the three of us , then a Z-O6 Corvette idea struck out for the room issue. So I happily settled for a late model, at the time (2003), 2000 Silverado Z71 1500 5.3 that turned out to be the best, most reliable , comfortable vehicle I’ve had the pleasure of owning.
I may have jumped the gun by calling the PT Cruiser dreadful. I haven’t owned one. I had two of them for a short time as loaner cars while my much loved Jeep Cherokee was in for repairs. The base model I remember being disappointed with. Not sure what I was expecting. The turbo model was livelier. I know the window switches being on the dash irritated me. I guess the knot ones I see left around here in the northeast are beat to death, usually multiple colors with the duct tape and bungee cord options installed.
The PT prices have gone through the floor here in Oz, the retro balloon has burst on them, a car yard sat on one for 16 months before they managed to sell it, it was jet black with all the extras that you can buy for them including the shiny mag wheels, continental kit on the tail gate, etc, etc, etc., they almost had to give it away. I traded my wife’s on a 2012 Ford Escape and managed to get 3,500 for it as a trade, I couldn’t sell it privately. They can be picked up for well under 4,500 just about anywhere with low mileage and all the bells and whistles. The private ones are about 2,500 or less and are pretty rough, sad but they might come back in around 15 or 20 years or more and become collectable, who knows?
My Dad and I attended the ’96 WPC Club meet in Detroit. One of the tours Chrysler put on for us was the Conner Ave plant. We sat in the Indy Pace Car Viper GTS in the lobby then toured the plant. In one corner were several completed GTS’s (the guide said one was on its way to Jay Leno), but what was going down the line was most interesting: the first Prowlers, which were all destined for crash testing. That was pretty cool.
Oh, and since 2010 we’ve been driving Dad’s last car: a 2005 PT Touring Edition. My kids both drove and we keep it as a back up vehicle. It’s got 50K on it and it is a nice little car.
Hey Ike I resent/resemble that Richard remark!! Lol