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- As Y2K approached, a fascination with retro design overtook the auto industry.
- That was especially true at Chrysler, and the Plymouth Prowler is the wildest example.
- This car used to belong to then-Chrysler exec Bob Lutz, before he traded it for a jet engine.
Upon its launch in the mid-1990s, the Plymouth Prowler was met with some bemusement. It looked amazing, a doodle from the desk of a Hot Wheels designer, wrought in steel and aluminum. Sadly, it was automatic only, and its V-6 was two cylinders shy of a proper hot rod Billy Gibbons guitar solo. Thirty years later, however, you have to admire Chrysler’s audacity in actually putting such a wild design into production.Bring a Trailer This particular Prowler has some provenance, and it’s up for sale on Bring a Trailer (which, like Car and Driver, is part of Hearst Autos ). It’s a 1997 model that just so happens to be the second production Prowler ever built. It’s got what you need: low mileage, the desirable purple paintwork, and a clean history. What sets it apart, though, is the backstory, as this car was once straight-up swapped for a jet engine.Bring a TrailerAnyone familiar with Chrysler history in the 1990s just said to themselves, “Jet engine? Gotta be Lutz.” Give yourself a pat on the back then, because this Prowler was indeed previously driven by Bob Lutz, ex-marine aviator and one of the more colorful automotive executives in modern history.Bring a Trailer As the number two at Chrysler when the Prowler came online, Lutz bought Prowler number two (company chairman Bob Eaton got the first one). As the story goes, he was driving it when he rolled up to an Alabama hangar where he was negotiating the purchase of a spare jet engine for his fighter aircraft.The owner of that jet engine, a specialist who was importing disassembled Czech jet fighters, reassembling them, and selling them privately, did not want to part with that engine. Lutz was a good customer, but it was the only spare. But, he allowed, that sure was a neat purple car there. Could you get me one of them? The deal was struck.Bring a Trailer It’s a great story, and just adds to the appeal of owning an example with such a low VIN. This Prowler currently has just 14K miles on it, and would make for an ideal modern collectible for the upcoming fall driving season.The 3.5-liter V6 made 214 horsepower, which doesn’t sound like a lot, but the Prowler weighs almost exactly what a Subaru BRZ does, and it feels plenty spry. The four-speed automatic can be shifted manually, and will run into the redline-based fuel cutoff instead of upshifting for you. It’s not a Max Wedge V-8 stuffed into a 1930s coupe, but this pseudo-hotrod Plymouth still offers plenty of fun.Related Story
- From the Archive: 1997 Plymouth Prowler
Part of that is rolling up to your local car show and having a great yarn to tell. The Prowler was basically the last hurrah for Plymouth, before DaimlerChrysler put it into permanent dry dock. It might not have offered a ground-shaking V-8, but it was good enough for a couple of fighter jet enthusiasts. The auction ends on September 10.Brendan McAleerContributing EditorBrendan McAleer is a freelance writer and photographer based in North Vancouver, B.C., Canada. He grew up splitting his knuckles on British automobiles, came of age in the golden era of Japanese sport-compact performance, and began writing about cars and people in 2008. His particular interest is the intersection between humanity and machinery, whether it is the racing career of Walter Cronkite or Japanese animator Hayao Miyazaki’s half-century obsession with the Citroën 2CV. He has taught both of his young daughters how to shift a manual transmission and is grateful for the excuse they provide to be perpetually buying Hot Wheels.
Source: caranddriver.com
