The thing about the prowler is that it wad made to be more of a "cruiser" and not soo much as a "race car", mainly because Mopar had the viper for that. The Prowler was mainly just meant to look cool going down the road.
I think they meant for it to have a Hemi. The 5.7 fits in them so well that it can be installed in a day. It will also happily take the high output 4.7 magnum small block V8 from the 2011-2012 RAMs on the stock transmission. Why do this over a hemi? because that 4.7 will actually fit an m122 Eaton supercharger out of a Cadillac or a mustang (with the stock hood) and make a decent bit more power than the 5.7. Both the engine and supercharger can be had for $2500 all in at your local pick and pull all day long and you've got 420-450HP to play with which is comparable to a 1st gen Viper for less than half the money...there are even inexpensive 5 speed manual transmissions that will fit in these which is the beauty of buying a parts bin car with a minimal body.
I currently own a 2014 Viper GTS and a new 2022 Charger Hellcat Redeye and love them both. However, I did buy a new 1999 Plymouth Prowler in Prowler Red in 1999 and loved that car. Contrary to what you have said about this 23 year old example, my new Prowler was quite powerful and would squawk the tires on the 1-2 shift, the handling was tight and the ride was firm but not harsh. Getting in to the car was a bit of an issue but once in, it was quite roomy and comfortable and I'm 6'3 and 228 lbs. I talked to a Prowler owner a couple of weeks ago and he did a simple fix to the door opening issue and his doors open up very wide so that would be a nice upgrade. Probably one of the more fun cars I have owned and it did cause quite a stir back in the day and perhaps more so now that they are so rare. And Yellow is one of the hot colors to own. I hope this one finds a new owner that will enjoy it as much as I did my 1999 back in the day. Mike
David Letterman used to commute into my town/area as he had a private plane he flew out the local airport. I used to see him in all kinds of cars:modern (BWM, etc) and old (e.g. a mid 60s Ferrari) . One day he flew past me on the highway in a Purple Prowler. Badass car. Certainly my favorite (color)
Can you imagine a 1500HP 426 HEMIPHANT in that....what an old time HOT ROD should look like!!! Foose design and paint job could make that a RIDDLER Champion!
@@DWH300 Just like we did in the 50's, take off the front sheet metal and SHOW off your motor. Easy enough to put much of the running gear from all those wrecked Redeyes out there to get equipment to handle the power of a less than 3300 pound HOT ROD!
The Prowler is generally misunderstood. While it was to be a halo car to bring attention back to Plymouth, the real purpose of the Prowler was to gain experience in building an all aluminum car. Unfortunately, the Prowler ended and during the ‘08 crash Chrysler lost most of those involved in the aluminum Prowler to Ford to help with the to be aluminum F-150. The Prowler also had pretty much an F1 racing suspension. Also, the 253 hp engine was capable of 5.9 0~60 and a top speed of limited 126 mph. It weighed ~2,800 pounds so the power to weight was good. The 4 speed automatic does the engine no favors and a good 6 speed manual would vastly improve the numbers. The 4 speed auto can be “built” to give better performance but it’s basically a minivan transmission. You have to remember in 2000 a sub 6 sec 0~60 was pretty good time.
@@derekgaliee4351 your correct, it’s the 41LE used in the LH cars vs the 41TE used in the minivans. Same basic transmission but the 41LE was modified for the longitudinal mount vs the 41TE was for sideways mount. Supposedly the LE version was upgraded.
It was a concept car that gathered large crowds at all the Auto Shows. At the NY show there had a ballot box where you can vote if you would like to go into production. When it arrived at dealer's people filled the showroom to look at it. It was supposed to be a retro 1930's Hot Rod. What killed it was V6. Every year Plymouth promised a V8 and a manual transmission. That never came and people got tired of waiting. Chevy did the very same thing with the SSR.
No . Their V 8 didn't make Anymore Power at The Time . Putting in A V 8 more weight . As Performance The Was The Viper being The Halo Car till The Demon which I don't care for .
@@derekgaliee4351 They could've used the 4.7L SOHC 2V Magnum V8 for the Prowler or better yet create an all aluminum 4.7L DOHC 32V Magnum V8 for the Prowler as well and it would definitely be a pure 90s Hotrod.
i liked em when they came out, but was put off by the under powered V6. it's like they wanted to make a cool little Hot Rod, but weren't willing to commit and go all the way with a decent power plant
Honestly for that time frame, it wasn't really all that underpowered. The mustang gt's 5.0 v8 in the late 90's only had 215hp and the camaro Z28 and Pontiac trans am of the same year only had 275hp thru it's 5.7 V8.
Hell the 4.6L mustang gt V8's in the 90's/early 2000's only had 215-260 hp so I'd say this thing was pretty much on par from an HP perspective. The prowler was actually faster than the mustangs due to better power to weight ratio. Of course, a V8 growl would have been nice.
My dad had one in purple. Even had the little trailer. I gotta say, it was kind of a nightmare to drive. Trying to reverse with that wide butt and limited visibility was not very fun. I love the look but would never buy. Thanks for the review RacerX!
I don't know anyone that hated it. It is a awesome looking car and still want one. V8 would have been cool but should be over it. Can stuff one in one day
I recall seeing a purple Prowler on the old TV show "Nightman". He was a superhero at night with a red glowing eye who could fly. Otherwise he was a saxophonist who played in a nightclub. His car was a Purple Prowler. For me, this is one of these head scratcher cars. Its cool to look at and admire for its design. But the serious lack in power makes me glad I don't own one. It looks like it should be able to fly. But it can barely crawl. So I guess Prowler is the proper name for it since that's about as fast as you're gonna get. 😅 Still I think its an excellent show car for cruising if you're not the least bit concerned about speed and power. To me its something you would cruise in with your significant other on a late Sunday afternoon.
If nothing else, the Prowler has personality. Stingray usually has pretty cool vintage cars in the showroom. My brother bought his diesel Silverado there and sometimes we meet up when he takes it in for service and look around. The last time I was in there they had a sweet '57 Chevy.
Remember that the 3.5 was the same engine that the 300M had. The toughest Mopar V-8 at the time was the Magnum 5.9 [360] at 245 h.p. At 253 h.p., the 3.5 was considerably lighter. Of course the 5.9 had more torque but in theory the 3.5 could have been faster. It definitely needed a stick shift though. Another excellent video Racer X. But with all the fast cars you've driven an F-22 Viper would probably seem slow!
I love it when the manufacturer's decide to do a retro build, they're really fun! Love the prowler, but for the time, I thought it was overpriced for the power it offered. Would love to have pricing like that today for Mopar's special builds.
A good friend of mine and avid car collector bought his prowler brand new in 1999, it’s a black on black which from what I understand they didn’t make but 4-5 black on black in 1999. It’s a fun little car but it is way down on power. He ended up having his motor built and went twin turbo keep in mind tho that it still only makes about 530hp at the tire, made it way more fun to drive. I personally think the biggest problem with this car is the transmission, even at stock power levels had they tuned the transmission and shift points the car could have felt a lot more powerful and more fun than it actually is. Great video tho. My brother just bought a Scat 1320 edition based off your videos and reviews which brings up a question I have for you. We are hearing lots of talk that the stage kits for the 392’s could take the car up to 620-650hp. Personally I don’t see how that’s possible without forced induction, your thoughts? I’m thinking 500-525 is way more realistic
I'm confused? How did your car collector friend make 530hp? It'll make it more fun to drive when the aluminum frame breaks apart! I hope he beefed up the frame? Aluminum frames flex. Maybe I'm missing something here. Did he go to a steel frame instead? Shift points more powerful? I'm confused on that one as well. Factory car has timed bump shifts like a stall speed torque converter like what drag racing hot rodders would do. Gives you the sensation of a rollercoaster latching onto incline track. Engineers put in timed bump shifts to act like a stall. Maybe they didn't have that in1999 version. Mine is a 2001 Mulholland Edition. 253 hp is plenty for the car in my opinion. I wished they would've made a manual stick shift and clutch though. Autostick is the no fun stick.
I've got an '01 Mulholland and love it. Yes, I recognize the 'shortcomings' but I didn't buy it for comfort or to win a drag race. I drove it down the Overseas from Miami to KW with the music blasting and there's nothing like it. You will feel like you're driving, not cruising.
This 25 year old car was an exercise in lightweight design. 32% if it’s 2800lbs was aluminum including frame, suspension, brakes wheels and body panels
that v6 made more power then the v8s they were using at that time though, plus it was overhead cam and revved better. They also said they wanted to use a more modern engine then the very aged push rod magnum v8
@Jeremy Ellison Well they could've developed the 4.7L Aluminium DOHC 32V Magnum V8 for the Prowler and it would've made at least 350 HP to 400 HP with ease.
@@CJColvin 4.7L didn't come out until 2002, the prowler was done that year, i suppose they could have released it for the final year but that was always meant to be a truck engine so i doubt they would have put it in there anyways
Something else i think if you swapped out an 3.5 ho v-6 in it then it would be something to drive. I had a dodge truck with a 318 .030 over with a 340 cam in it and a 3.5 ho blew my doors off in an 2008 Charger.
Better yet a 305 HP 3.6L Penastar V6 would definitely be a really great swap and definitely make the Prowler move with ease and if you add a Ripp Supercharger to it then man that Prowler would definitely be some RT and Scat Pack Chargers and Challengers.
I’ve owned a Prowler since 1999. I have run it down the quarter mile in Louisiana and Texas. My fastest time has been 14.6 at 92 mph. I’ve outrun a 5.0 Mustang. My car gets rubber shifting to second gear under full throttle every time. There is room for a V8. There are a number of Prowlers that now have a Hemi swapped in. When the Prowler came out the only V8 was a truck engine. It had slightly more tongue but about the same HP and was much heavier. The front to rear weight ratio is nearly perfect. I’ve driven it hard on The Tail Of The Dragon and the car handles like a go cart.
Looking to add a Prowler to my collection as soon as I get my Challenger R/T paid off. Always loved the design/look, would make an excellent cruiser and would loom awesome setting next to my Challenger in the garage!
I drove that prowler in 97 before they even hit the streets for public use, Chrysler gave us two of those to use for filming “Nightman” we had to give them back when the show is done… it was fun cruising the streets of San Diego with people wondering what the hell was that car!
I was just a kid when this thing came out, and I thought it looked amazing. I wasn't fully into cars yet, but this one stuck out to me as well as the C5. I didn't find out how slow these things were until around 2014 when I started really getting into cars. It's a shame that they came out with so little horse power. I would say that is the biggest knock on them.
@@DeansStreetMachines As I said, I was a child when it came out. I am fully aware of my cars now. Just bc a car is a cruiser doesn't mean that it can't be sporty.
Yeah those will definitely be a collectible one day dar from now. But iv seen them at car shows moded with a small block chevy and manual transmission. I loomed really sick and sounded nuts.
I love my black prowler. The coupes are not factory. Its an aftermarket hardtop that a company use to make. After replacing the concrete run flats, sway bar and installing sound deadening mats, it is quiet and rides perfect.
I must be a unique buyer like he said. I have an all black 1999 Prowler 30,000 miles, absolute mint condition. What really makes it work is that it's added to my personal fleet of toys all under $100,00 all in mint condition. 2019 Can Am Ryker Rally, 2016 Can Am Spyder RSS, 5 speed manual, 2018 Polaris Slingshot, 5 speed manual, 2022 C8 Corvette Coupe.
I'm going to be real...I don't really care about the Prowler. As a matter of fact, I don't care at all. But when I see you post a video, I have to watch. I love the content and quality of product you put out. After a long day, that's exactly what I need to release stress and wind down. Keep up the grind brother!
I saw in some TV show Chip Foose claiming he is the original designer of Plymouth Prowler and BTW there is one company in the US offering parts for V8 Prowler swap.
I can tell you the reason why they didn't sell to many of them. It could've helped saved Plymouth, but it was the douche bag greedy car dealerships that I think helped partially contributed to their demise. A long time ago, I wanted one when they first came out and had the resources to buy one. The problem was the sticker shock of car dealers wanting an additional $10,000 or more over invoice. When the car dealerships pulled that crap because they think they can, it didn't happen for the Prowler. Also the stigma of the V6. So the car that you drove in this video that has 30,000 miles on it, is a Prowler you generally want to avoid if it's bounced around being sold to dealership to dealership if it shows up on Carfax. A lot of those car dealerships that had Prowlers sit for years on the showroom floor and not being fired up monthly or driven have problems. Oil seal leaks, transmission leaks due to sitting for years. So if you get a low mileage Prowler, that's the first thing you want to check is seal leaks and also the ball joint boots before you purchase. If you get a Prowler, get one that has been driven and has higher mileage to them. Something must've been wrong with the car you drove. Mine is a 2001 Mulholland Edition Prowler. It's fast. 253Hp is plenty for an aluminum framed car which flexes with the rest of the car. The timed bump shifts you feel in the transmission, the engineers put that in to react like a stall torque converter like you would find in hot rodded car for drag racing. Gives you the feeling of a rollercoaster when it latches onto the incline track lift. The stock exhaust sound is infectious. Sounds like a ferocious cat purring. The cars are also fun to drive in the snow and do pretty well in it too! Any car I buy or build, I don't trailer it. I'm more of a lets see what this puppy can do! LOL!
There's a guy at 1 of the Glendale Arizona car shows that has a purple prowler It's very custom. He removed the bumpers the front fenders the sides of the hood So you can see the purple 392 in it And then Added Fender flares to the rear With some big old fatty tires in the back. He did a really nice job on it. It's very pretty. And pretty fast it does 10.50 In the quarter. The last time I seen it ,it was for sale but I never did ask him how much.
Ive always loved the looks of the Prowlers. They have a couple here in New Orleans I see from time to time. Even had. A yellow one come to a car meet last month.
Love the Prowler ! I had an 01 yellow and it did very well . I wish I’d of kept it and either put a turbo on it or a ProCharger . It got more attention than my 408 68 Dodge Dart
It sounds like a 1990s minivan with a hole in the muffler. But that is okay. It is not fast, but super cool that this car was produced. Btw, another unique one is the 2002-2005 Ford Thunderbird. Would like to see you review that car as well. An underpowered V8 by todays standards, yes, but it was a cruiser and to this day I think it is one of the best looking American cars produced in the last few decades.
As A 2001 Prowler Owner I Can Tell You That If You Power Break This Thing On Blacktop You Will Smoke Those Oversize Tires , From A Dead Stop Also On Blacktop You Might Get Some Wheel Spin On (To The Floor) Acceleration Plus A Wheel Chirp Going Into 2nd Gear. That Being Said Remember That This Is A 2900lb, Car So It Is Accelerating At A Fast Rate. Now With The Indy Style Suspension And The Front And Rear Weight racial The Posted Curve Speed Is Just A Suggestion (Baring Any Tar Snakes Or Uneven Road Surface) You Can Easly Take That Curve At Twice The Suggested Speed ( It's A Real Rush ) The Exhaust Sound Is Not Your Run Of The Mill V6 Sound No It Will Not Sound Like A V8 But Respectable. Would I Rather Have A Big Block 4 Speed With Open Headers? But My Prowler Did Colect 11 Trophies Last Year At Car Shows
Aluminum pushrod double wishbone suspension with inboard Koni coil overs. Connected to a all aluminum frame with a transaxle. Hella platform to play with.
I had a Chrysler LHS with the exact same engine.... it would squeal very well....so in this car i think it would have been fine! This is one of my dream cars of choice!
Throttle was going to use this for their hellcat swap for road kill nights. Only reason why the didn't is because the rear end and axles "were like glass" and they wouldn't have enough time to address those weak links
Do I like them or do I hate them you ask? Well; since I bought a 2001 the answer is rather obvious. Personally I find the V6 to be surprisingly quick when you lay your foot into it (and considering cast iron mopar V8 horsepower for the early 2000's....GROAN). IMHO the real nemesis is the auto transmission which pours cold water on performance output from the V6. A standard transmission would do wonders for sharper 0-60mph time trials. Agree with your assessment on ingress/egress as one needs to fold themselves into a pretzel to crawl in or out. Ride quality? What ride quality? It is no magic carpet ride but more like an 1800th century buckboard on square wheels. Luv 'em or hate 'em; I'm willing to cast all those detractions aside as it is a unique, fun vehicle to drive and turns heads on city streets. Would I buy it over again? Absolutely!
I like the idea of you reviewing some older models.... would like your take on the old magnums I had one (stx though) but loved it ...would be cool to see you go thru some older models
Why don't you critique that hideous chevy sst retro car/truck. That thing was way heavier than the the prowler. I'd buy a prowler cool cruiser any day!!!
Mr.Bob Lutz said 5 years was The Production time. He didn't care if you like The Prowler or not. Please go look at Him drive out the Protype at The Detroit Auto show in1992
It wasn't about saving the brand, Plymouth was a profitable car maker when the prowler was made. 'It was never intended to be more than a niche car. As a convertible it's best to have a garage, not a lot of trunk space. Limited visibility isn't really an issue cause the only time the top is suppose to be up is when it's raining. It was a summertime cruiser.
I used to work for Guardian Glass as a tier one supplier for their windshields; from what I remember only 30 Vipers were mad a day. Seeing a Viper production line was pretty cool.
The Plymouth/Chrysler Prowler and Chevy SSR pickup were both busts. I included the SSR since it followed the Prowler and was also a flop. Both were overpriced, underpowered and not collector vehicles. In 2000 a new Prowler's MSRP was $43,000. In 2000 you could purchase a new Plymouth Voyager mini van for a starting price of $18,700. In 2003, Chevy offered the SSR Hotrod styled pickup for a starting price of $41,995. That's like $60,000 in todays money. The last year of the Prowler production was called the Chrysler Prowler since Plymouth had been closed. Plymouth made some amazing muscle cars like the Roadrunner, Barracuda and GTX before the countries gasoline shortage helped end the muscle cars and Plymouth. Thanks RacerX for sharing the Prowler. I aways like the looks of the Prowler, but not enough to pay $43,000 for a new one or $32,000 for a low mileage used one.
This would be a sweet candidate for engine swap! That powertrain plucked from the Intrepid/Vision/Concorde sedans doomed it. It could have been a street/strip terror, but instead ended up parked at country clubs driven by very old men on weekends. Chrysler had some great designers in the '90's, but its rep is still stained today from the cost cutting, engineering and build 'quality' of what made it to production.
Always loved the Prowler. The fact that they went SO FAR away from the standard (safe bet) designs makes up for a lot of sub-optimal stats. You pull up anywhere with one of these, and every head in the parking lot will be looking at you. You can't say that about the current 20 year old designs that Dodge makes, no matter what trim level they are at.
The 2000 Prowler had the upgraded engine 253 HP 0-60 was 5.6 seconds not 7.5 seconds the most powerful V8 Chrysler had was a cast iron magnum that produced 260. Handling was great due to light weight and wide tires not to mention 50/50 weight distribution. Engine front transaxle back.
@@dor1tomcswagger69 dodge always used truck engines in the dakota and ram and then car engine in cars back then, 3.9 was basically a 5.2 missing 2 cylinders and the 3.7 was built specifically for trucks and jeeps
They missed the mark in regards to engine... BUT the full iron block and head 360 (5.9L) that was in the Rams/Dakota RT of the era would have been a boat anchor. Even the SOHC 4.7 wasn't really in production but in the Jeeps at that time.
"I don't necessarily hate this car." Great line! That's like saying I hate this car but I really don't want to tell you that. I looked at them when they were brand new. Thought it was ridiculous. and still do.
How ?? This car made more Horsepower than any old Hot Rods back than. It made just as much as Any car in that price range. Tom Gale said they never intended to make over 15,000 units Ever
@@derekgaliee4351 apparently you didn’t own or ride in a old hot rod then. Strap yourself in one of those pooches and you’re in for a big disappointment.
@@ckane510 This Car being Designed & Hand Built is A Miracle in Automotive industry with All The Government Regulations. This & The Viper . A Hot Rod was built from other cars . Same with The Prowler Engine from Chrysler 300 M & Autostick from The Eagle brand & Transmission in the rear That idea is from Porsche 944 & Aluminum is 900 pounds in This car & Sheet Plastic Molding. This car pioneers a lot of Build Technology that is used today from Auto Racing to Production High Performance Super Sports cars & Hyper cars . This car gets no credit. There was After Market Super charger that made 0- 60 4.8 seconds & 12 .3 Quarter Mile times 114 mph . Iam looking for a low mileage One with Trailer this summer & will buy one.
It would be cool if someone put a SRT-4 engine and a custom drivetrain in the Prowler. What's interesting is that the SRT-4 engine made about the same power as the v6 and both cars weighed roughly the same. The SRT-4 was capable of running sub-6 sec 0-60 times. That V6 & 4 speed trans in the Prowler must really be dogs.
The Plymouth Prowler may have been underpowered (due to having a 250 HP V6 in it instead of a 350 HP V8) but it was still very cool looking and it looked a million times better than the 04-06 GTO (aka the rebadged Holden Monaro from Australia 🇦🇺).
The thing about the prowler is that it wad made to be more of a "cruiser" and not soo much as a "race car", mainly because Mopar had the viper for that. The Prowler was mainly just meant to look cool going down the road.
Perfect for a beach town
I think they meant for it to have a Hemi. The 5.7 fits in them so well that it can be installed in a day. It will also happily take the high output 4.7 magnum small block V8 from the 2011-2012 RAMs on the stock transmission. Why do this over a hemi? because that 4.7 will actually fit an m122 Eaton supercharger out of a Cadillac or a mustang (with the stock hood) and make a decent bit more power than the 5.7.
Both the engine and supercharger can be had for $2500 all in at your local pick and pull all day long and you've got 420-450HP to play with which is comparable to a 1st gen Viper for less than half the money...there are even inexpensive 5 speed manual transmissions that will fit in these which is the beauty of buying a parts bin car with a minimal body.
Great comment. They had the Viper already. We have a Prowler. It's a delight.
We used to supply the glass for both the Prowler and Viper at Guardian Glass, Upper Sandusky, OH back in the 90s.
I have one, changed the gear ratio and reprogrammed the ECU - pushes 300 horse now. Peels out, chirps second and I love it.
How did you reprogram the ECU?
@@blackhawk32b4it’s just an LH transmission - any late 90s early 2000s mopar tuner can do it
I currently own a 2014 Viper GTS and a new 2022 Charger Hellcat Redeye and love them both. However, I did buy a new 1999 Plymouth Prowler in Prowler Red in 1999 and loved that car. Contrary to what you have said about this 23 year old example, my new Prowler was quite powerful and would squawk the tires on the 1-2 shift, the handling was tight and the ride was firm but not harsh. Getting in to the car was a bit of an issue but once in, it was quite roomy and comfortable and I'm 6'3 and 228 lbs. I talked to a Prowler owner a couple of weeks ago and he did a simple fix to the door opening issue and his doors open up very wide so that would be a nice upgrade. Probably one of the more fun cars I have owned and it did cause quite a stir back in the day and perhaps more so now that they are so rare. And Yellow is one of the hot colors to own. I hope this one finds a new owner that will enjoy it as much as I did my 1999 back in the day. Mike
I remember contorting and squeezing the first time I got in, but learned that you simply put one leg in and "fall" into the seat. ;)
I’ve Always Loved the Prowler it Looks Real Vintage
I live in Minnesota, and I remember seeing Prince driving his purple one with the top down, back in the day.
I have a neighbor that has one. He only takes it out now and then. Also has a 73 charger.
🤔I sure miss my 73 charger 🍀 great cars 😎✌️
David Letterman used to commute into my town/area as he had a private plane he flew out the local airport. I used to see him in all kinds of cars:modern (BWM, etc) and old (e.g. a mid 60s Ferrari) . One day he flew past me on the highway in a Purple Prowler. Badass car. Certainly my favorite (color)
I'm 57 now and remember thinking it was a really cool car when it came out. With today's technology you could surly get more HP out of that engine.
Can you imagine a 1500HP 426 HEMIPHANT in that....what an old time HOT ROD should look like!!! Foose design and paint job could make that a RIDDLER Champion!
The engine compartment was barely large enough to handle the stock V6. It was built for a look. Not performance
@@DWH300 Just like we did in the 50's, take off the front sheet metal and SHOW off your motor. Easy enough to put much of the running gear from all those wrecked Redeyes out there to get equipment to handle the power of a less than 3300 pound HOT ROD!
It would Twist The Frame
@@DWH300they made a hellcat swap version
That would put way to much stress on the aluminum frame.
I like it. It fits in the Florida lifestyle. Just let the top down and cruise beachside 😊
Woulda sold more if it had the hemi and a manual
AS. T bucket owner. I like the prowler..just wish it had a hemi in it.
The Prowler is generally misunderstood. While it was to be a halo car to bring attention back to Plymouth, the real purpose of the Prowler was to gain experience in building an all aluminum car. Unfortunately, the Prowler ended and during the ‘08 crash Chrysler lost most of those involved in the aluminum Prowler to Ford to help with the to be aluminum F-150. The Prowler also had pretty much an F1 racing suspension. Also, the 253 hp engine was capable of 5.9 0~60 and a top speed of limited 126 mph. It weighed ~2,800 pounds so the power to weight was good. The 4 speed automatic does the engine no favors and a good 6 speed manual would vastly improve the numbers. The 4 speed auto can be “built” to give better performance but it’s basically a minivan transmission. You have to remember in 2000 a sub 6 sec 0~60 was pretty good time.
Transmission from Chrysler 300 M
@@derekgaliee4351 your correct, it’s the 41LE used in the LH cars vs the 41TE used in the minivans. Same basic transmission but the 41LE was modified for the longitudinal mount vs the 41TE was for sideways mount. Supposedly the LE version was upgraded.
Remove the bumpers with the delete kit and drop a 5.7 hemi in it. Thst would make it cool!
I’ve always liked the prowler. I remember when they came out abs it was definitely cool and different.
It was a concept car that gathered large crowds at all the Auto Shows. At the NY show there had a ballot box where you can vote if you would like to go into production. When it arrived at dealer's people filled the showroom to look at it. It was supposed to be a retro 1930's Hot Rod. What killed it was V6. Every year Plymouth promised a V8 and a manual transmission. That never came and people got tired of waiting. Chevy did the very same thing with the SSR.
No . Their V 8 didn't make Anymore Power at The Time . Putting in A V 8 more weight . As Performance The Was The Viper being The Halo Car till The Demon which I don't care for .
@@derekgaliee4351 they had 5.2 and 5.9 V8, my 99 5.9 Dakota rt had more hp and was faster than my 2000 prowler in a straight line.
@@derekgaliee4351 They could've used the 4.7L SOHC 2V Magnum V8 for the Prowler or better yet create an all aluminum 4.7L DOHC 32V Magnum V8 for the Prowler as well and it would definitely be a pure 90s Hotrod.
@@derekgaliee4351 I was there worked for Plymouth that's exactly what happened.
@@CJColvinThat take money
It's a concept car. That's why it looks so nice.
i liked em when they came out, but was put off by the under powered V6. it's like they wanted to make a cool little Hot Rod, but weren't willing to commit and go all the way with a decent power plant
Honestly for that time frame, it wasn't really all that underpowered. The mustang gt's 5.0 v8 in the late 90's only had 215hp and the camaro Z28 and Pontiac trans am of the same year only had 275hp thru it's 5.7 V8.
Hell the 4.6L mustang gt V8's in the 90's/early 2000's only had 215-260 hp so I'd say this thing was pretty much on par from an HP perspective. The prowler was actually faster than the mustangs due to better power to weight ratio. Of course, a V8 growl would have been nice.
Correct, and less weight.
Looks exactly like mine from almost 20 years ago, sure wish it came with a V8, I probably would have kept it.
real car builders can put a v8 in it and $$$ a lot of them are doing Today
Begs for a Gen III Hemi swap. Forgot to mention that it was built along side the Viper at Conner Ave. Wacky is right!
I'd say 9/10 for looks and design and 3/10 for the powertrain, especially since a manual transmission was never even offered.
Fun Fact: Prowler was the catalyst for SRT. And it’s retro design philosophy was carried over to the Challenger.
My dad had one in purple. Even had the little trailer. I gotta say, it was kind of a nightmare to drive. Trying to reverse with that wide butt and limited visibility was not very fun. I love the look but would never buy. Thanks for the review RacerX!
I don't know anyone that hated it. It is a awesome looking car and still want one. V8 would have been cool but should be over it. Can stuff one in one day
Cool 😎 . Always liked the Prowler, just needed a Hemi and more frame .
I recall seeing a purple Prowler on the old TV show "Nightman". He was a superhero at night with a red glowing eye who could fly. Otherwise he was a saxophonist who played in a nightclub. His car was a Purple Prowler. For me, this is one of these head scratcher cars. Its cool to look at and admire for its design. But the serious lack in power makes me glad I don't own one. It looks like it should be able to fly. But it can barely crawl. So I guess Prowler is the proper name for it since that's about as fast as you're gonna get. 😅 Still I think its an excellent show car for cruising if you're not the least bit concerned about speed and power. To me its something you would cruise in with your significant other on a late Sunday afternoon.
I was driving that car in the show Night Man, I was the stuntman for “Nightman”
If nothing else, the Prowler has personality. Stingray usually has pretty cool vintage cars in the showroom. My brother bought his diesel Silverado there and sometimes we meet up when he takes it in for service and look around. The last time I was in there they had a sweet '57 Chevy.
Remember that the 3.5 was the same engine that the 300M had. The toughest Mopar V-8 at the time was the Magnum 5.9 [360] at 245 h.p. At 253 h.p., the 3.5 was considerably lighter. Of course the 5.9 had more torque but in theory the 3.5 could have been faster. It definitely needed a stick shift though. Another excellent video Racer X. But with all the fast cars you've driven an F-22 Viper would probably seem slow!
Prowler has been my #1 favorite car since I saw one in '99. The old school monster dragsters were my favorite as a kid.
I love it when the manufacturer's decide to do a retro build, they're really fun! Love the prowler, but for the time, I thought it was overpriced for the power it offered. Would love to have pricing like that today for Mopar's special builds.
A good friend of mine and avid car collector bought his prowler brand new in 1999, it’s a black on black which from what I understand they didn’t make but 4-5 black on black in 1999. It’s a fun little car but it is way down on power. He ended up having his motor built and went twin turbo keep in mind tho that it still only makes about 530hp at the tire, made it way more fun to drive. I personally think the biggest problem with this car is the transmission, even at stock power levels had they tuned the transmission and shift points the car could have felt a lot more powerful and more fun than it actually is. Great video tho. My brother just bought a Scat 1320 edition based off your videos and reviews which brings up a question I have for you. We are hearing lots of talk that the stage kits for the 392’s could take the car up to 620-650hp. Personally I don’t see how that’s possible without forced induction, your thoughts? I’m thinking 500-525 is way more realistic
I'm confused? How did your car collector friend make 530hp? It'll make it more fun to drive when the aluminum frame breaks apart! I hope he beefed up the frame? Aluminum frames flex. Maybe I'm missing something here. Did he go to a steel frame instead? Shift points more powerful? I'm confused on that one as well. Factory car has timed bump shifts like a stall speed torque converter like what drag racing hot rodders would do. Gives you the sensation of a rollercoaster latching onto incline track. Engineers put in timed bump shifts to act like a stall. Maybe they didn't have that in1999 version. Mine is a 2001 Mulholland Edition. 253 hp is plenty for the car in my opinion. I wished they would've made a manual stick shift and clutch though. Autostick is the no fun stick.
I've got an '01 Mulholland and love it. Yes, I recognize the 'shortcomings' but I didn't buy it for comfort or to win a drag race. I drove it down the Overseas from Miami to KW with the music blasting and there's nothing like it. You will feel like you're driving, not cruising.
Neat looking modern roadster and I always wanted one! 11:1 power to weight ratio is not to shabby.
Not a mistake at all. Everything is a package deal. Great looking retro look.
This 25 year old car was an exercise in lightweight design. 32% if it’s 2800lbs was aluminum including frame, suspension, brakes wheels and body panels
I had one, if it had another 50 H.P. it would have been quick for its time.
Coolest car on the road at the time
The prowler had such potential to be a absolutely bad hotrod from the factory and then only came with a v6
that v6 made more power then the v8s they were using at that time though, plus it was overhead cam and revved better. They also said they wanted to use a more modern engine then the very aged push rod magnum v8
@Jeremy Ellison Well they could've developed the 4.7L Aluminium DOHC 32V Magnum V8 for the Prowler and it would've made at least 350 HP to 400 HP with ease.
@@CJColvin 4.7L didn't come out until 2002, the prowler was done that year, i suppose they could have released it for the final year but that was always meant to be a truck engine so i doubt they would have put it in there anyways
@@jmellison1979 I know but they could at least developed it in the 90s like Ford did with the 4.6L DOHC 32V Modular V8 for the 1993 Lincoln Mark VIII.
Something else i think if you swapped out an 3.5 ho v-6 in it then it would be something to drive. I had a dodge truck with a 318 .030 over with a 340 cam in it and a 3.5 ho blew my doors off in an 2008 Charger.
Better yet a 305 HP 3.6L Penastar V6 would definitely be a really great swap and definitely make the Prowler move with ease and if you add a Ripp Supercharger to it then man that Prowler would definitely be some RT and Scat Pack Chargers and Challengers.
@@CJColvin the trans axle couldn't handle the torque of a power adder
I’ve owned a Prowler since 1999. I have run it down the quarter mile in Louisiana and Texas. My fastest time has been 14.6 at 92 mph. I’ve outrun a 5.0 Mustang. My car gets rubber shifting to second gear under full throttle every time. There is room for a V8. There are a number of Prowlers that now have a Hemi swapped in. When the Prowler came out the only V8 was a truck engine. It had slightly more tongue but about the same HP and was much heavier. The front to rear weight ratio is nearly perfect. I’ve driven it hard on The Tail Of The Dragon and the car handles like a go cart.
Was the Prowler different? Hell yah. Was it way too underpowered? Oh yah. But was it cool AF? HELL YAH!
The twin turbo Hurricane Inline 6 might be a good swap for that Prowler or just add a turbo to the 3.5L V6 ... add maybe 100 hp to it
Looking to add a Prowler to my collection as soon as I get my Challenger R/T paid off. Always loved the design/look, would make an excellent cruiser and would loom awesome setting next to my Challenger in the garage!
I drove that prowler in 97 before they even hit the streets for public use, Chrysler gave us two of those to use for filming “Nightman” we had to give them back when the show is done… it was fun cruising the streets of San Diego with people wondering what the hell was that car!
If you are a seasoned street rodder, which I am, there is nothing strange about this car. I wonder if I could jam a Coyote into kne?🤔
Have you heard anything about scat pack challengers not offering dynamics package for order anymore?
My bro said it looks like a fancy PT cruiser and now I cant unsee it lol.
I still like these though, just without the front bumper and in black paint.
I was just a kid when this thing came out, and I thought it looked amazing. I wasn't fully into cars yet, but this one stuck out to me as well as the C5. I didn't find out how slow these things were until around 2014 when I started really getting into cars. It's a shame that they came out with so little horse power. I would say that is the biggest knock on them.
was not supposed to be a Muscle car, it's a Roadster for Cruise learn your cars
@@DeansStreetMachines As I said, I was a child when it came out. I am fully aware of my cars now. Just bc a car is a cruiser doesn't mean that it can't be sporty.
Yeah those will definitely be a collectible one day dar from now. But iv seen them at car shows moded with a small block chevy and manual transmission. I loomed really sick and sounded nuts.
Whats the wheel sizes front and back?
I love my black prowler. The coupes are not factory. Its an aftermarket hardtop that a company use to make. After replacing the concrete run flats, sway bar and installing sound deadening mats, it is quiet and rides perfect.
The fiberglass hardtop was made by Mastercraft from CA. I have one on my 2001 Mulholland edition Prowler.
10 years later and still Cruising and enjoying mine, and did't make a Coupe
The coupe was a concept .. never hit prod numbers though so you are correct.
I’m curious, how much research did you do to prepare for the video?
I must be a unique buyer like he said. I have an all black 1999 Prowler 30,000 miles, absolute mint condition.
What really makes it work is that it's added to my personal fleet of toys all under $100,00 all in mint condition.
2019 Can Am Ryker Rally, 2016 Can Am Spyder RSS, 5 speed manual, 2018 Polaris Slingshot, 5 speed manual, 2022 C8 Corvette Coupe.
I'm going to be real...I don't really care about the Prowler. As a matter of fact, I don't care at all. But when I see you post a video, I have to watch. I love the content and quality of product you put out. After a long day, that's exactly what I need to release stress and wind down.
Keep up the grind brother!
I saw in some TV show Chip Foose claiming he is the original designer of Plymouth Prowler and BTW there is one company in the US offering parts for V8 Prowler swap.
I’ve never seen a Prowler coupe, I’ve seen removable hard tops for them
I was thinking the exact same thing!
I can tell you the reason why they didn't sell to many of them. It could've helped saved Plymouth, but it was the douche bag greedy car dealerships that I think helped partially contributed to their demise. A long time ago, I wanted one when they first came out and had the resources to buy one. The problem was the sticker shock of car dealers wanting an additional $10,000 or more over invoice. When the car dealerships pulled that crap because they think they can, it didn't happen for the Prowler. Also the stigma of the V6. So the car that you drove in this video that has 30,000 miles on it, is a Prowler you generally want to avoid if it's bounced around being sold to dealership to dealership if it shows up on Carfax. A lot of those car dealerships that had Prowlers sit for years on the showroom floor and not being fired up monthly or driven have problems. Oil seal leaks, transmission leaks due to sitting for years. So if you get a low mileage Prowler, that's the first thing you want to check is seal leaks and also the ball joint boots before you purchase. If you get a Prowler, get one that has been driven and has higher mileage to them. Something must've been wrong with the car you drove. Mine is a 2001 Mulholland Edition Prowler. It's fast. 253Hp is plenty for an aluminum framed car which flexes with the rest of the car. The timed bump shifts you feel in the transmission, the engineers put that in to react like a stall torque converter like you would find in hot rodded car for drag racing. Gives you the feeling of a rollercoaster when it latches onto the incline track lift. The stock exhaust sound is infectious. Sounds like a ferocious cat purring. The cars are also fun to drive in the snow and do pretty well in it too! Any car I buy or build, I don't trailer it. I'm more of a lets see what this puppy can do! LOL!
Same dam thing happened to me / the salesman tried to screw me and I went down the road and bought a Caddy
There's a guy at 1 of the Glendale Arizona car shows that has a purple prowler It's very custom. He removed the bumpers the front fenders the sides of the hood So you can see the purple 392 in it And then Added Fender flares to the rear With some big old fatty tires in the back. He did a really nice job on it. It's very pretty. And pretty fast it does 10.50 In the quarter. The last time I seen it ,it was for sale but I never did ask him how much.
Ive always loved the looks of the Prowlers. They have a couple here in New Orleans I see from time to time. Even had. A yellow one come to a car meet last month.
Oh and for the looks it looks more like the Easter Special Reese's Peanut Putter Egg.....especially in yellow
Love the Prowler ! I had an 01 yellow and it did very well . I wish I’d of kept it and either put a turbo on it or a ProCharger . It got more attention than my 408 68 Dodge Dart
It sounds like a 1990s minivan with a hole in the muffler. But that is okay. It is not fast, but super cool that this car was produced.
Btw, another unique one is the 2002-2005 Ford Thunderbird. Would like to see you review that car as well. An underpowered V8 by todays standards, yes, but it was a cruiser and to this day I think it is one of the best looking American cars produced in the last few decades.
As A 2001 Prowler Owner I Can Tell You That If You Power Break This Thing On Blacktop You Will Smoke Those Oversize Tires , From A Dead Stop Also On Blacktop You Might Get Some Wheel Spin On (To The Floor) Acceleration Plus A Wheel Chirp Going Into 2nd Gear. That Being Said Remember That This Is A 2900lb, Car So It Is Accelerating At A Fast Rate. Now With The Indy Style Suspension And The Front And Rear Weight racial The Posted Curve Speed Is Just A Suggestion (Baring Any Tar Snakes Or Uneven Road Surface) You Can Easly Take That Curve At Twice The Suggested Speed ( It's A Real Rush ) The Exhaust Sound Is Not Your Run Of The Mill V6 Sound No It Will Not Sound Like A V8 But Respectable. Would I Rather Have A Big Block 4 Speed With Open Headers? But My Prowler Did Colect 11 Trophies Last Year At Car Shows
Aluminum pushrod double wishbone suspension with inboard Koni coil overs. Connected to a all aluminum frame with a transaxle. Hella platform to play with.
I had a Chrysler LHS with the exact same engine.... it would squeal very well....so in this car i think it would have been fine! This is one of my dream cars of choice!
Throttle was going to use this for their hellcat swap for road kill nights. Only reason why the didn't is because the rear end and axles "were like glass" and they wouldn't have enough time to address those weak links
That would've been so cool! I'd still like to own one though. Find some way to shoehorn a HEMI into it! 😈
We have a couple of those cars running around here in Modesto California , they look great but not enough power for me
I’ve always wanted one. I am 6’2”. I was told I’m too tall for the car. Is this true?
Bro I live down the road from this Stingray Chevrolet. Wish I knew you was down.
Nice review of the car RacerX. It is definitely a wacky car.
Do I like them or do I hate them you ask? Well; since I bought a 2001 the answer is rather obvious. Personally I find the V6 to be surprisingly quick when you lay your foot into it (and considering cast iron mopar V8 horsepower for the early 2000's....GROAN). IMHO the real nemesis is the auto transmission which pours cold water on performance output from the V6. A standard transmission would do wonders for sharper 0-60mph time trials. Agree with your assessment on ingress/egress as one needs to fold themselves into a pretzel to crawl in or out. Ride quality? What ride quality? It is no magic carpet ride but more like an 1800th century buckboard on square wheels. Luv 'em or hate 'em; I'm willing to cast all those detractions aside as it is a unique, fun vehicle to drive and turns heads on city streets. Would I buy it over again? Absolutely!
Its designed after a drawing Chip Foose did. It does sit low. 3.5 inch ground clearance.
I like the idea of you reviewing some older models.... would like your take on the old magnums I had one (stx though) but loved it ...would be cool to see you go thru some older models
If the prowler could of had the 3.5 ecoboost and a more modern transmission, it would of been an absolute rocket.
Yes racer x I thought the prowler was cool looking and I even saw one with the trailer going down the road
Why don't you critique that hideous chevy sst retro car/truck. That thing was way heavier than the the prowler. I'd buy a prowler cool cruiser any day!!!
U know what fits.. an lS1 and. Manual These hold there value really well and there a huge following for these rides btw GR8 vid as usual!
Mr.Bob Lutz said 5 years was The Production time. He didn't care if you like The Prowler or not. Please go look at Him drive out the Protype at The Detroit Auto show in1992
Definitely interesting! I've seen a few on the roads over the years. The interior materials are similar to my 1998 Dodge Stratus
It wasn't about saving the brand, Plymouth was a profitable car maker when the prowler was made. 'It was never intended to be more than a niche car. As a convertible it's best to have a garage, not a lot of trunk space. Limited visibility isn't really an issue cause the only time the top is suppose to be up is when it's raining. It was a summertime cruiser.
I saw one of these Prowlers get a 6.1 Hemi
Dodge should brought it back with a different design and one of their v8s
They did it was called a 🍀hellcat 😎✌️
@@haroldbirge6881 I meant keep this similar body but tweak it so that it can fit a v8 and get rid of those plastic bumpers. The car had potential
Yes, prowler could handle
@@Rick-fe8xn I know what you meant 😆I was seeing how far I could stretch it ✌️
I have had 3 of them, I love them
Rear gear swap helps them a lot when it comes to feeling better.
I used to work for Guardian Glass as a tier one supplier for their windshields; from what I remember only 30 Vipers were mad a day. Seeing a Viper production line was pretty cool.
The Plymouth/Chrysler Prowler and Chevy SSR pickup were both busts. I included the SSR since it followed the Prowler and was also a flop. Both were overpriced, underpowered and not collector vehicles. In 2000 a new Prowler's MSRP was $43,000. In 2000 you could purchase a new Plymouth Voyager mini van for a starting price of $18,700. In 2003, Chevy offered the SSR Hotrod styled pickup for a starting price of $41,995. That's like $60,000 in todays money. The last year of the Prowler production was called the Chrysler Prowler since Plymouth had been closed. Plymouth made some amazing muscle cars like the Roadrunner, Barracuda and GTX before the countries gasoline shortage helped end the muscle cars and Plymouth. Thanks RacerX for sharing the Prowler. I aways like the looks of the Prowler, but not enough to pay $43,000 for a new one or $32,000 for a low mileage used one.
This would be a sweet candidate for engine swap! That powertrain plucked from the Intrepid/Vision/Concorde sedans doomed it. It could have been a street/strip terror, but instead ended up parked at country clubs driven by very old men on weekends. Chrysler had some great designers in the '90's, but its rep is still stained today from the cost cutting, engineering and build 'quality' of what made it to production.
Present collectors knows what to collect.
Always loved the Prowler. The fact that they went SO FAR away from the standard (safe bet) designs makes up for a lot of sub-optimal stats. You pull up anywhere with one of these, and every head in the parking lot will be looking at you. You can't say that about the current 20 year old designs that Dodge makes, no matter what trim level they are at.
Oh that looks like such a pleasure to work on. So much space in that engine bay 😢
The 2000 Prowler had the upgraded engine 253 HP 0-60 was 5.6 seconds not 7.5 seconds the most powerful V8 Chrysler had was a cast iron magnum that produced 260. Handling was great due to light weight and wide tires not to mention 50/50 weight distribution. Engine front transaxle back.
You have to watch the whole video.. I talked about the power difference.. thanks for trying me anyway 👍
Look at Horsepower numbers were the same from similar Sports cars on the market.The Ford Mustang made about 210 that was GT . BMW Z 3 215+220
When the prowler came out. I wanted one.
X would you say Corvette has more room or about the same
The corvette has more room for sure
I drove one and was impressed with the v6 it had some balls would have been better if it had a hemi though 😎
Dakota never came with the 3.5L, they had a 3.9L and then the 3.7L after that
@@jmellison1979 my bad I thought it had the same engine I guess I was wrong I just assumed Chrysler would have used the same engine
@@dor1tomcswagger69 dodge always used truck engines in the dakota and ram and then car engine in cars back then, 3.9 was basically a 5.2 missing 2 cylinders and the 3.7 was built specifically for trucks and jeeps
They missed the mark in regards to engine... BUT the full iron block and head 360 (5.9L) that was in the Rams/Dakota RT of the era would have been a boat anchor. Even the SOHC 4.7 wasn't really in production but in the Jeeps at that time.
"I don't necessarily hate this car." Great line! That's like saying I hate this car but I really don't want to tell you that. I looked at them when they were brand new. Thought it was ridiculous. and still do.
How ?? This car made more Horsepower than any old Hot Rods back than. It made just as much as Any car in that price range. Tom Gale said they never intended to make over 15,000 units Ever
@@derekgaliee4351 apparently you didn’t own or ride in a old hot rod then. Strap yourself in one of those pooches and you’re in for a big disappointment.
@@ckane510 This Car being Designed & Hand Built is A Miracle in Automotive industry with All The Government Regulations. This & The Viper . A Hot Rod was built from other cars . Same with The Prowler Engine from Chrysler 300 M & Autostick from The Eagle brand & Transmission in the rear That idea is from Porsche 944 & Aluminum is 900 pounds in This car & Sheet Plastic Molding. This car pioneers a lot of Build Technology that is used today from Auto Racing to Production High Performance Super Sports cars & Hyper cars . This car gets no credit. There was After Market Super charger that made 0- 60 4.8 seconds & 12 .3 Quarter Mile times 114 mph . Iam looking for a low mileage One with Trailer this summer & will buy one.
@@derekgaliee4351 enjoy.
It would be cool if someone put a SRT-4 engine and a custom drivetrain in the Prowler. What's interesting is that the SRT-4 engine made about the same power as the v6 and both cars weighed roughly the same. The SRT-4 was capable of running sub-6 sec 0-60 times. That V6 & 4 speed trans in the Prowler must really be dogs.
The Plymouth Prowler may have been underpowered (due to having a 250 HP V6 in it instead of a 350 HP V8) but it was still very cool looking and it looked a million times better than the 04-06 GTO (aka the rebadged Holden Monaro from Australia 🇦🇺).