The Plymouth Prowler remains one of the more striking automotive curiosities created in the last 30 years, and a fine example of why building the show car isn’t always a good idea. I can still remember when it was unveiled at all the major car shows that year and thinking how awesome it was that Chrysler Corp. was actually going to build what they brought to the revolving pedestal. Still, the results were mixed at best, and today they are coveted by a select few and completely ignored by others. This 980 original mile example here on craigslist comes with the rare matching trailer, which the seller speculates may be worth as much as the car itself. Thanks to Barn Finds reader Rex M. for the find.
That’s a bold statement, but I do love that the trailer was offered by the factory as the ultimate add-on, of sorts. The Prowler is in the same camp as the Chevy SSR, in my opinion, of being the answer to a question that nobody asked. It’s hilariously ironic, then, that the seller apparently has an SSR in his collection as well. Personally, I remain conflicted about the Prowler, and I hesitate to completely disparage it because it is truly awesome that Plymouth brought this show-car-for-the-streets to market, a wish enthusiasts are never shy about voicing when it comes time to gawk at that year’s concept vehicles. But the Prowler didn’t do any one thing particularly well, and worse, it didn’t have a V8.
The seller only includes two photos of his purple Prowler, but it seems safe to assume that with under 1,000 miles, it’s pretty much near perfect. When all the marketing materials began circulating for the Prowler, purple was clearly the color of choice for both the show cars and the sales brochures. Additional colors would be introduced in subsequent years, but it hasn’t made much of a difference in values like it did for the Dodge Viper. Speaking of the snake sibling, the Viper was a concept car in real life, too, but it had one thing the Prowler didn’t: heaps of power and proven abilities on the track. The Prowler will always be cool, but it’s hard to see it ever being worth much more than it is now. What say you: is the Prowler a home run, and a sleeper on the collector car market?
Curiosity is a great description. Lots of low mileage examples out there for significantly less money. These are like many “collector” cars, they have a dedicated, but small, following and lots of pristine examples to choose from. That puts a cap on value, even for the nicest ones. Because of that the asking price is probably a reach. If that”s the case they better be willing to wait until the right buyer eventually comes along, which could take a very long time or lower the price.
Steve R
I’m one of those that love these cars, not so much for the product itself but for the bold audacity Chrysler showed in actually bringing it to the showroom floor.
It is a shame that they didn’t put a V8 in it even if just for the more suited exhaust note if not for performance.
These cars represent an era when Chrysler of old was at it’s absolute peak game, with Prowlers, Vipers, LH sedans and new “big rig” style Ram trucks roaming the streets.
As a long time autoworker this was my favourite time at the Chrysler Corporation, so much promise that would soon be wasted away thanks to a few misguided and egotistical executives.
An answer to a question no one was asking. If you wanted a car like this, you made your own or bought one already made. A V8 would have helped some, but not enough to make it a hit. The price was too high as offered for what was not a practical car. Not a good car to travel in, not all that comfortable. Not practical at all. Now Ferrari can get away with that because hey have the status, but not a Chrysler. They should have made it inexpensive or they should have made a convert with 2 seats and a little bit more practical, like an upscale Miata with more trunk space and leg room. These were the German years, they thought that pretending to be upscale would sell, but they didn’t understand the American market.
The Prowler was developed and had been in production for over a year before Daimler bought Chrysler.
Steve R
And right in front is a Chrysler Crossfire, another ignored ride. A cross between the previous Mercedes sports coupe and Chrysler, they were actually good cars, and still are. Along with the first Pacifica wagons they were the products of the short Chrysler/Mercedes marriage, and, they were good kids. The magazines disparaged the Crossfire as being “out of date” but at this age, it does not really matter. They are a bargain at the moment. And the fact that Chrysler is now badging its minivans as Pacificas shows how much they were liked.
An SRT version of the Crossfire is on my short list of cars I would buy if/when a fun car can enter my life again.
But, don’t tell too many people, we don’t want them to ever be popular.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/164754729399?mkevt=1&mkcid=1&siteid=0&mkrid=711-53200-19255-0&toolid=20008&campid=5335981329&customid=no-subcat
low mileage examples regularly run through Mecum and BJ in the mid-high 20s and usually cap out in the low 30s, so aiming for 55 grand is a bit of a stretch IMO………
You find more low mile than high mile Prowlers. Nobody bought these to use as a daily driver. They will never reach the level of Vipers and classic Mopars but they have their place. Ive always liked them since I first saw the concept at the Chicago auto show. Unlike a lot of cars this one doesnt have raw horsepower but drive it around on a sunny weekend and you won’t care.
This the first time I have seen where someone actually bought the trailer. Simply amazing!
I own several collector vehicles. From a Ferrari 430 spider to a Picture 1921 Indian Scout. And right there in the middle I have a 1999 Prowler with 17,000 miles. It is a fun car to drive and definitely a head turner. Specially for the under 30 generation. They’ve never seen anything like it and wherever I take it people gather around. I could bit care less for the HP that’s under the good. I own it and drive it because I appreciate it for what it is.
If you are 6 feet tall or taller this is not the car for you. They are hard to get in and out of. Your head will touch the crossbar for the convertible top not a lot of fun when you hit a bump in the road and your noggin hit the crossbar. Chrysler could have given you more room to make the car more comfortable this car was designed by Mr, Tom Gale Daimler Chrysler’s head of styling and he is of small stature physically and the interior dimensions were comfortable for him not for tall people. .
WOW !
That’s what I said when I first saw this ‘thing’ in the automobile section of a local newspaper.
MOPARS are known for big Block Power (Max Wedges); three generations of the best internal combustion engine ever developed (The HEMI); R/T (not road and track); it’s ROAD/TRACK; The Viper (ya want a V8 with torque; well ya got it); the A833 4 gear manual transmission (designed specifically to take the torque and power of the 426 HEMI) ( the so-called ‘rock crusher from the general had absolutely nothing on the A833).
As others have pointed out: no V8 and no manual transmission. Just a six with a slush box!
Who designed this thing? Not anyone who knew what Mopar and Chrysler stood for!
I knew this thing would not be in any way successful. Chrysler should have been ashamed to have their name associated with this POS.
Every time I see one trying to be unloaded, I think about the person who purchased it initially. Certainly not a car person for sure!