https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-nIt1BX3DFY
You'd be hard-pressed to find someone who enjoys their 1999 Plymouth Prowler more than Yuri Tereshyn of TheStraightPipes YouTube channel. The Prowler isn't something that typically comes to mind as a dream car, but Tereshyn always wanted one, and once he finally pulled the trigger and made the purchase, he treated everyone to an in-depth review of the muscle car-esque production car.
As it turns out, Jakub, the other half of TheStraightPipes duo, owns a 2010 Ford F-150 Raptor. And, since everyone loves a good drag race, Yuri and Jakub gave the people what they wanted. Despite the pretty wacky design, the Prowler is, surprisingly, something of a speed demon on the drag strip. Check it out in action!
Read More: Dodge Viper: Remembering the Sports Car That Brought 25 Years of Pure Speed
Plymouth Prowler: An Outside-the-Box Sports Car
Produced from 1997-2002, the Plymouth Prowler was inspired by Thomas C. Gale's -- the design and international director for Chrysler -- love of '30s-era hot rods. The two-door roadster was known for its unique body style, particularly the front wheels that evoked IndyCar race cars. Also, the four-speed automatic transmission was located at the rear of the vehicle. It was joined to the engine by a torque tube that rotated at engine speed, which is how such cars as the Chevy Corvette C5, Alfa Romeo 75, and Porsche 944 were designed.
Styling aside, the Prowler was originally produced with a Chrysler SOHC 3.5-liter V6 engine that churned out 214 horsepower at 5850 rpm, and then was later outfitted with an aluminum-block, 253-hp-at-6400-rpm version of V6 for the 1999 model year.
Later known as the Chrysler Prowler during the 2001 and 2002 model years, it was the first rear-wheel drive Plymouth since the 1989 Plymouth Gran Fury. Some of its features included dual air bags, leather seats, air conditioning with manual controls, and keyless entry. The Prowler was available in 12 colors, including Prowler purple metallic, Prowler black clear coat, a two-tone black-red called Woodward Edition, and a two-tone black-silver called Black Tie Edition.
As far as legacy goes for the Plymouth brand, the Prowler inspired a number of retro-styled vehicles, including the Chrysler PT Cruiser, the Chevrolet SSR and HHR, the Jaguar S-Type and X-Type, and the 2005 Ford Mustang.
This post was originally published on November 11, 2019.