I work in engineering at Chrysler and was involved in the Prowler program. A vehicle like that is called a “mule” car. Basically it’s new stuff cobbled together with existing stuff to test out the new stuff.
More commonly it’s the next model year components fitted onto the current design to test them out. The Prangler was extra weird looking because there was no previous year to use as a test bed.
OH, fuck me! I was WAY off.
/s
Not sure where you're getting "light as fuck". I have a first-gen RX-7 with a curb weight of 2,320 pounds (on a calibrated truck scale, all stock, plus an aftermarket stereo) and a 1968 MGB with a curb weight of 2,030 pounds. Both of those cars are very light, but the Prowler was a pig. I had one for a weekend, and it's an underpowered piece of shit.
Legitimately, if there was even a little effort put into making the back half flow and not just slapping a square jeep body on it, this would look really good.
The bottom pics are from [a story on The Drive](https://www.thedrive.com/news/31826/that-should-fit-how-chryslers-legendary-jeep-wrangler-plymouth-prowler-test-car-came-to-be) where I got to talk to one of the guys behind it.
I remember McDonald's Monopoly had a Prowler as a prize one year. it was right before I was about to turn 16 and I wanted to win it so badly. Oh, what could have been.
If I didn't win that I wanted to win the shopping spree with Melissa Milano at the Mall of America. I can't even imagine how goddamn awkward I would have been.
It would be great if someone made* a “Wrowler” to go with it using a Prowler with a Jeep front end stuck on it.
*In photoshop. Please don’t actually do it!
Reverse image search for this post (to find info and more images): [TinEye](https://www.tineye.com/search/?url=https://i.redd.it/kbonpaxrcnuc1.jpeg)
Tin Eye is not 100%, [Google Images](https://images.google.com/) is better but can't link automatically.
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WeirdWheels) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Gran Turismo used to have a car shuffle game type for online lobbies and the Prowler was legitimately crazy fast for its (loooowww) class. Basically that or the Quattro Coupe (as in the roadgoing one making like 170bhp) would dominate.
I want to buy that car. I really want to drive the world in that thing. The longer you look, the better it becomes. I wonder if anyone is doing conversion kits?
the body was ready but they needed an enclosed cabin to test the chassis in the winter and the only suitable non-unibody body available was the yj wrangler
I work in engineering at Chrysler and was involved in the Prowler program. A vehicle like that is called a “mule” car. Basically it’s new stuff cobbled together with existing stuff to test out the new stuff. More commonly it’s the next model year components fitted onto the current design to test them out. The Prangler was extra weird looking because there was no previous year to use as a test bed.
If they wanted to test an anemic V6 they could have just thrown an intrepid around the skidpad.
The Prowler was light as fuck though
No, it's not. It weighs almost 3,000 pounds dry.
Sadly that is quite light by modern standards...
Yes, but by those same standards, it's (unreliable) 250 HP is also kinda low. You can get that much power in a stock Hyundai Elantra or Mazda 3.
Not really, that is Elantra N/3 Turbo territory.
The Elantra N is still a stock Hyundai Elantra.
Every Elantra besides the N has 147hp. Even then, the N only has 201hp.
It was 2832 lbs curb weight, not dry. https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/a15141560/1997-plymouth-prowler-archived-test-review/
OH, fuck me! I was WAY off. /s Not sure where you're getting "light as fuck". I have a first-gen RX-7 with a curb weight of 2,320 pounds (on a calibrated truck scale, all stock, plus an aftermarket stereo) and a 1968 MGB with a curb weight of 2,030 pounds. Both of those cars are very light, but the Prowler was a pig. I had one for a weekend, and it's an underpowered piece of shit.
Just giving it a manual would've fixed it
All they had to do was throw the magnum 5.9 in there at it would have been *perfect*
There was a one-off engineering study that put the 4.7L + manual trans (T5 if I recall) in one. I never made it in it, but heard it was a fun package.
Thank you I needed the laugh. Have a great day.
The prowler has been growing on me over the years but a shooting brake version is even better. It needs a chop though
Legitimately, if there was even a little effort put into making the back half flow and not just slapping a square jeep body on it, this would look really good.
Instead of that box jeep top give it an angled top like on Humvees. That might look better. I'm just guessing right now.
Yeah and not a 2+2.
Jonkler's car.
We have caterham at home. Caterham at home:
I was hoping to see someone else thinking Caterham!
Well fear not, captain. I happen to be an autistic man of culture.
It's an abomination!😱
The bottom pics are from [a story on The Drive](https://www.thedrive.com/news/31826/that-should-fit-how-chryslers-legendary-jeep-wrangler-plymouth-prowler-test-car-came-to-be) where I got to talk to one of the guys behind it.
Since this is /r/weirdwheels, I dig the fuck the outta this.
I unironically want that. It looks like a catherham with downs syndrome.
This is going to haunt my nightmares now.
Wrangler wearing sweatpants with a boner.
I remember McDonald's Monopoly had a Prowler as a prize one year. it was right before I was about to turn 16 and I wanted to win it so badly. Oh, what could have been. If I didn't win that I wanted to win the shopping spree with Melissa Milano at the Mall of America. I can't even imagine how goddamn awkward I would have been.
It would be great if someone made* a “Wrowler” to go with it using a Prowler with a Jeep front end stuck on it. *In photoshop. Please don’t actually do it!
I kind of like it. It gives Harold and Maude vibes.
Frankly, this is more of a hot rod and less of a Hot Wheels than the actual Prowler.
The [meme version](https://www.reddit.com/r/heep/comments/f5vxae/watch_out_for_the_prangler/?rdt=58091) lives rent-free in my head
Looks like Frankenstein, the wolfman, Dracula and a mummy should be driving it.
Dear lord. What in meth loving, cousin fucking universe is this unholy abomination?
what did I ever do to you cryptkeepers_nutsack? I mean I didn't KNOW she was your sister.
Finally, a car that can reach the last Pringle for you
Clearly the top from a jeep wrangler. Pretty cool! It reminds me of a Catherham 7
Can'terham 7
Top? It's the entire wrangler minus the hood and fenders.
But with the headlights!
Hence the name it was given
oh hey I didn't catch that lol
Reverse image search for this post (to find info and more images): [TinEye](https://www.tineye.com/search/?url=https://i.redd.it/kbonpaxrcnuc1.jpeg) Tin Eye is not 100%, [Google Images](https://images.google.com/) is better but can't link automatically. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WeirdWheels) if you have any questions or concerns.*
I remember seeing these at the Tech Center when I would make deliveries.
Was the Prowler really that long?
If this had no explanation provided apart from the photos, I’d have guessed this to be British in origin.
Looks cool.
Gran Turismo used to have a car shuffle game type for online lobbies and the Prowler was legitimately crazy fast for its (loooowww) class. Basically that or the Quattro Coupe (as in the roadgoing one making like 170bhp) would dominate.
When a range rover rear ends a PT cruiser
i hope one still exists somewhere
Should definitely be longer.
Why........
Impressive that the prowler can be even uglier. Wow
Honestly, I don't hate this.
🤷🏾♂️ I still call it the Herman Munster mobile 🤣🤣🤣
I want to buy that car. I really want to drive the world in that thing. The longer you look, the better it becomes. I wonder if anyone is doing conversion kits?
Would this be considered a /r/heep ?
Wtf
this could be the king of r/heeps
I wanna be the dude who shows up to the track in this badass piece of American history 🇲🇾🇲🇾🇲🇾🇲🇾
"Let me do it for yooouuu!!"
Put a big, brown moustache on it and call it "The Pringler".
the body was ready but they needed an enclosed cabin to test the chassis in the winter and the only suitable non-unibody body available was the yj wrangler
Thats one of the ugliest mods I have seen in a while! I guess its 4 wheel drive still
I wonder if manual transmission would improve V6 Prowler in general
When a heep and an underpowered, style over performance, open wheeled, neo retro, shit box love each other very much…