Dreamcast18
10-05-2006, 01:58 PM
Everywhere I go, folks recall how Chrysler launched the Prowler in LaLa Land by having a bunch of them driving around Sunset and Hollywood. Found this article that kinda mentions it:
Prowling Sunset Boulevard - Chrysler Corp. introduces Prowler automobile
Ward's Auto World, June, 1997 by David C. Smith
HOLLYWOOD -- It's 3:01 p.m. My partner Ken Zino and I are prowling Sunset Blvd.
In the heart of Hollywood. It's hot: 88 [degrees] and climbing. We're looking for a rumble and get it: From the tailpipe of our 1997 Plymouth Prowler. Maybe too much rumble. "Sounds like an Evinrude," Road & Track's intrepid Detroit editor snorts. "Purrs like a prowler -- some kind of cat," I retort.
3:04 p.m. The stares, waves and "Wows!" from fellow motorists and pedestrians escalate. A blonde in a high-riding Ford pickup pulls alongside. "What is that car?" "Prowler, ma'am." "Never seen one of those." "Probably not, ma'am. Not out yet, ma'am."
3:05 p.m. The light changes. Ken flips the AutoStick into first. Goodbye blonde.
We pass the flamingo-pink Beverly Hills Hotel. A dude in a Bimmer drops his cell phone as we cruise by. "How much?" "Just the facts, sir: A shade under 40Gs."
"Wait a minute . . ."
"Sorry, sir, we've got a case to solve."
Here are the facts:
Prowler: A throwback to the hand-built '30s vintage hot rods the '40s and '50s, in factory modern dress. Began life in 1990 as a sketch. Hit car shows in 1993. Regular production just starting. Delayed by getting the all-aluminum body and chassis to fit together just right. 1997 build target: 2,000, and 4,000 to 5,000 annually after that.
Meets all safety and emissions standards. Has to: It's the law. Street rods don't. No bumpers, no air bags, no side impact bars. Nada. But they have powerful V-8s -- Chevys, Fords, Rocket 88s. Prowler's purr comes from 3.5L V-6. Puts out 214 hp at 5,850 rpm. Respectable, but no door-blower.
Automatic transaxle mounted in rear with AutoStick. Slick. Can manually shift with a simple flip into four gear ranges. Pure rods have manual floor shifters.
Prowler: One color fits all. A deep purple. Early rods were paint-primer grey, now cover the spectrum. Started with California kids armed with pieces and wrenches. Now coopted by rich folks bankrolling perfect restorations. "Would you buyer a Prowler, sir?" we ask one such Beverly Hills gent with an eight-car garage who can't easily recall all of the cars in his fleet.
"No. I don't like anything built after 1965," he says, stroking his sparking black '32 Ford.
Prowler: $75-million to $80-million to reach production. Peanuts. Tiger Woods already is worth more than $100 million. Costs cut by borrowing heavily from Chrysler's Corp.'s parts bin, even minivans and Grand Cherokees. But also loaded with technology, especially materials innovations: Aluminum, magnesium (behind instrument panel), SMC. Still fairly heavy for a 2-seater with a trunk hardly big enough for two brief-cases and a suit jacket: 2,862 Ibs. (1,298 kg). Optional trailer for serious luggage.
So what's Chrysler trying to prove by building another low-volume sports car? In a phrase, marketing pizzazz. It really doesn't matter whether it makes any money (Chrysler operatives insist it will).
What we have here is an attempt to lift the stodgy, blue-collar image of the Plymouth nameplate, which has had no specific car it could call its own for decades. And at nearly 40 grand, it faces some rugged competitors: Corvette, Mercedes SLK, BMW Z3 to name a few.
Kevin Verduyn, design manager-advance product design center at Chrysler Pacifica, the company's California studios in Carlsbad near San Diego, is credited with the original Prowler design. Ironically, he allows that "I'm not much of a hot-rodder. but I admire what hot-rodders have done. There was not much artistry (in the early going) but they've now been elevated to classics.
"We were trying to do a purely emotional car. We asked ourselves, `What's truly the essence of an American car? Why do Europeans buy American cars?' So we see the Prowler as a sort of American passion statement. We wanted to have a love/hate relationship. Either way it's a more emotional experience."
So on the eve of Prowler's rollout -- only the best 1,000 among Chrysler-Plymouth Div.'s 3,000 dealers initially will get Prowlers-Chrysler chooses this glitzy movie town in the heart of vintage hot-rod territory to hand over the keys to the press for test drives.
Lack of a V-8 notwithstanding, Prowler's six is more than acceptable for most speed freaks. The automatic shifter helps, but it's jumpy. We took the mountain roads mostly in second and third gears, rarely braking. Prowler's huge tires proved to be a mixed blessing. Great for handling, not so great for ride. "Shake, rattle and roll," Mr. Zino shouts, barreling along through hard curves. The rear tires leave a huge imprint, with ripply aftershocks in the chassis. Ken says he can feel those vibes right down to the bushings. I humbly admit that I'm not that sophisticated.
We like the overall design -- sure it's a curiosity, as intended -- and the center-mounted instrument cluster and tech mounted close up to the steering wheel. The headlamp switch is tough to reach, though, and the glovebox is tiny.
So is the gas tank: Just 12 gallons (45L), providing only a 250-mile (416- km) range (EPA fuel economy is 17 mpg city/23 mpg highway).
8:42 p.m. As the sun sets on Sunset Blvd., we park our Prowlers for the night and walk away wondering whether a real star is born or just another bit player.
Prowling Sunset Boulevard - Chrysler Corp. introduces Prowler automobile
Ward's Auto World, June, 1997 by David C. Smith
HOLLYWOOD -- It's 3:01 p.m. My partner Ken Zino and I are prowling Sunset Blvd.
In the heart of Hollywood. It's hot: 88 [degrees] and climbing. We're looking for a rumble and get it: From the tailpipe of our 1997 Plymouth Prowler. Maybe too much rumble. "Sounds like an Evinrude," Road & Track's intrepid Detroit editor snorts. "Purrs like a prowler -- some kind of cat," I retort.
3:04 p.m. The stares, waves and "Wows!" from fellow motorists and pedestrians escalate. A blonde in a high-riding Ford pickup pulls alongside. "What is that car?" "Prowler, ma'am." "Never seen one of those." "Probably not, ma'am. Not out yet, ma'am."
3:05 p.m. The light changes. Ken flips the AutoStick into first. Goodbye blonde.
We pass the flamingo-pink Beverly Hills Hotel. A dude in a Bimmer drops his cell phone as we cruise by. "How much?" "Just the facts, sir: A shade under 40Gs."
"Wait a minute . . ."
"Sorry, sir, we've got a case to solve."
Here are the facts:
Prowler: A throwback to the hand-built '30s vintage hot rods the '40s and '50s, in factory modern dress. Began life in 1990 as a sketch. Hit car shows in 1993. Regular production just starting. Delayed by getting the all-aluminum body and chassis to fit together just right. 1997 build target: 2,000, and 4,000 to 5,000 annually after that.
Meets all safety and emissions standards. Has to: It's the law. Street rods don't. No bumpers, no air bags, no side impact bars. Nada. But they have powerful V-8s -- Chevys, Fords, Rocket 88s. Prowler's purr comes from 3.5L V-6. Puts out 214 hp at 5,850 rpm. Respectable, but no door-blower.
Automatic transaxle mounted in rear with AutoStick. Slick. Can manually shift with a simple flip into four gear ranges. Pure rods have manual floor shifters.
Prowler: One color fits all. A deep purple. Early rods were paint-primer grey, now cover the spectrum. Started with California kids armed with pieces and wrenches. Now coopted by rich folks bankrolling perfect restorations. "Would you buyer a Prowler, sir?" we ask one such Beverly Hills gent with an eight-car garage who can't easily recall all of the cars in his fleet.
"No. I don't like anything built after 1965," he says, stroking his sparking black '32 Ford.
Prowler: $75-million to $80-million to reach production. Peanuts. Tiger Woods already is worth more than $100 million. Costs cut by borrowing heavily from Chrysler's Corp.'s parts bin, even minivans and Grand Cherokees. But also loaded with technology, especially materials innovations: Aluminum, magnesium (behind instrument panel), SMC. Still fairly heavy for a 2-seater with a trunk hardly big enough for two brief-cases and a suit jacket: 2,862 Ibs. (1,298 kg). Optional trailer for serious luggage.
So what's Chrysler trying to prove by building another low-volume sports car? In a phrase, marketing pizzazz. It really doesn't matter whether it makes any money (Chrysler operatives insist it will).
What we have here is an attempt to lift the stodgy, blue-collar image of the Plymouth nameplate, which has had no specific car it could call its own for decades. And at nearly 40 grand, it faces some rugged competitors: Corvette, Mercedes SLK, BMW Z3 to name a few.
Kevin Verduyn, design manager-advance product design center at Chrysler Pacifica, the company's California studios in Carlsbad near San Diego, is credited with the original Prowler design. Ironically, he allows that "I'm not much of a hot-rodder. but I admire what hot-rodders have done. There was not much artistry (in the early going) but they've now been elevated to classics.
"We were trying to do a purely emotional car. We asked ourselves, `What's truly the essence of an American car? Why do Europeans buy American cars?' So we see the Prowler as a sort of American passion statement. We wanted to have a love/hate relationship. Either way it's a more emotional experience."
So on the eve of Prowler's rollout -- only the best 1,000 among Chrysler-Plymouth Div.'s 3,000 dealers initially will get Prowlers-Chrysler chooses this glitzy movie town in the heart of vintage hot-rod territory to hand over the keys to the press for test drives.
Lack of a V-8 notwithstanding, Prowler's six is more than acceptable for most speed freaks. The automatic shifter helps, but it's jumpy. We took the mountain roads mostly in second and third gears, rarely braking. Prowler's huge tires proved to be a mixed blessing. Great for handling, not so great for ride. "Shake, rattle and roll," Mr. Zino shouts, barreling along through hard curves. The rear tires leave a huge imprint, with ripply aftershocks in the chassis. Ken says he can feel those vibes right down to the bushings. I humbly admit that I'm not that sophisticated.
We like the overall design -- sure it's a curiosity, as intended -- and the center-mounted instrument cluster and tech mounted close up to the steering wheel. The headlamp switch is tough to reach, though, and the glovebox is tiny.
So is the gas tank: Just 12 gallons (45L), providing only a 250-mile (416- km) range (EPA fuel economy is 17 mpg city/23 mpg highway).
8:42 p.m. As the sun sets on Sunset Blvd., we park our Prowlers for the night and walk away wondering whether a real star is born or just another bit player.