1,577 Actual Mile Black on Black Prowler

In these post-bailout days, I wonder if a car like the Plymouth Prowler will ever again be built by a major manufacturer. The Prowler said that anything was possible, and that Chrysler was all about exploring niche markets as they had with the Viper. Today, with public scrutiny at an all-time high and with auto executives needing to justify every decision to a panel of completely unqualified politicians, it's highly unlikely that such a remarkable car will ever be built again. With that in mind, it's a sure-fire bet that future collectors will prize the Prowler, and even today we're starting to see prices creep upwards which suggests that it's already happening. In addition, RK Motors Charlotte has sold every low-mileage Prowler we've ever had, usually within days of listing it. History is on the Prowler's side.

This 1999 Prowler is probably the one to buy if you're looking to the future. With just 1577 original miles, there are not many cars with lower mileage and we've probably sold all of them. Black on black is a classic combination that emphasizes the Prowler's hot rod roots, and could be a perfect blank canvas for future rodders, you never know. Today, however, the finish is like new, probably better, since there have been hours and hours invested in keeping it shiny and clean for the past twelve years. It has never seen rain, and storage has always been in a climate controlled garage. As a largely hand-assembled vehicle, Prowlers typically show above-average build quality and paint finish, and this one certainly looks better than most 1999 Chrysler products. The paint is remarkably smooth, panel gaps are excellent, and this retro-looking roadster seals up tighter than any '32 Ford roadster ever could. All the exposed suspension components, the plastic bumperettes, and the bicycle-style front fenders are in as-new condition.

There's not much chrome on the Prowler, but things like the faired-in headlights are crystal clear, and the Prowler script in the rear bumper has a cool red insert. The smooth-fitting tail lights are straight out of the hot rodder's playbook, while the exposed suspension cradle visible underneath is clearly intended to be a design element. A single, small Plymouth badge featuring the famous schooner ship mascot is the only real brand identity on the entire car, simply because the entire car IS the brand identifier. There's just nothing else like a Prowler.

Mechanically, this is a new car in just about every possible way. I'm sure it's had an oil change, but beyond that, everything is fresh out of the box. Inspection reports from the State of Ohio E-Check suggest that the car has been properly maintained and even driven occasionally to keep everything in top operating condition. It features the second generation Chrysler 3.5L SOHC 24 valve V6 that puts out 253 horsepower and 255 pounds of torque, which moves the relatively lightweight Prowler with real authority. The 4-speed automatic transmission features “AutoStick” which is a manual gear change feature that is more toy than functional performance improvement, but it fits the Prowler's persona perfectly. Heck, far more “real” hot rods are built today with automatics than stick shifts, so who can blame Chrysler for doing their homework and giving the public what it wants? The engine even has a rowdy, throaty exhaust note coming from two fat chrome pipes out back. For a bit of flash, this Prowler also carries optional chrome plated wheels (which cost an extra $1000) wearing its original 225/45/17 front and massive 295/40/20 rear Goodyear tires.

The Prowler's driver and passenger will welcome the very nicely shaped black leather bucket seats. The windows and locks are power, and the superb, 320-watt, seven speaker sound system comes standard with a six disc CD player located behind the passenger seat. Buttons located on the backside of the steering wheel can control the sound system while the cruise control switches are located on the front side. The dash offers a center-mounted 150 mph speedo with four smaller ancillary gauges, the voltmeter and oil pressure gauge to the left and fuel and temp gauge to the right, all in a gloss black panel that is a great tribute to vintage hot rods of all kinds. The designers got a lot of the details exactly right on this car, and I can't think of a better homage to the American hot rod than this. The black canvas convertible top fits snugly and is absolutely like new.

According to the original window sticker, the retail price on this Prowler was $42,000.00, reflecting the base price of $40,000 and just two options. The Chrome 17x7.5 front and 20x10 rear wheels were $1000, and the Prowler Black Clear Coat was another $1000, but everything else was standard equipment. Other documentation includes an original factory Prowler brochure, the original books and manuals (which are still sealed in plastic wrap), the original sound system CD, original dealer paperwork, and those Ohio Emissions Test papers I mentioned earlier.

Prowlers are only going to get more expensive from here on out, it's almost a certainty. They're an interesting footnote to a cool period in automotive history when Chrysler was really feeling bold, and their swagger was reflected in the product. And all of this completely overlooks the fact that the Prowler is a pretty darned fun car to drive. A 2-seat convertible with a sporty V6 and looks that get more attention than Scarlett Johanssen—what's not to love? Bad, black, and beautiful, this Prowler deserves a place in the best Mopar collections. Call today!