They built it? Really? The Hot Wheels-made-real Plymouth Prowler has you asking the same question in 2024 as it did when the first of these retro roadsters prowled American streets in 1997.
Paying homage to ’32 Ford hot rods, this was Chrysler Corp designer Tom Gale’s even more extrovert follow-up to the bonkers Dodge Viper. The Prowler wowed in concept form at the 1993 Detroit Auto Show, was somehow given the production green light, then they hand-built almost 12,000 of these overwhelming aluminium open-wheelers up until 2002. Introverts need not apply, especially when yours is glimmering in orange pearl framed against a deep blue Queensland sky. Sunshine Coaster Sid James spotted his 2001 Prowler for sale in Los Angeles three years ago. Handily, his son Corey is California-based so was tasked with inspecting and testing it before money changed hands. Sid had been burnt before. He’d transferred money over for a sight-unseen Prowler, was scammed, and lost the lot.
It was a happier story this time. “Part of the import rules is you must have new catalytic converters fitted,” Sid explained. “I got the high-flow cats, but regulations mean you can’t have them delivered to California. I had to go through three different muffler shops before I found someone who’d weld them in.”
He also had carbon brake pads fitted in the States to avoid any potential asbestos dramas, then transported the Prowler to San Francisco to set sail for Brisbane. Left-hand drive restrictions meant this 20-year-old Plymouth went straight to conversion specialist Performax, Sid’s being the 14th Prowler the company would convert.
“I’d ridden in a Prowler in the States in 2002,” Sid explained. “We were going down the freeway and people are beeping their horns and pointing and waving. I thought ‘what a unique car.’ I wanted one from the point on.”
Denne historien er fra Issue 497-utgaven av Unique Cars.
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Denne historien er fra Issue 497-utgaven av Unique Cars.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
SHANNONS HOT LAPS AT NÜRBURGRING
SHANNONS latest promotion has something any car enthusiast can only dream of.
READER RIDES
HAS THERE EVER BEEN A CONCEPT CAR SO UNLIKELY TO REACH PRODUCTION? THIS AUSSIE-BASED PLYMOUTH PROWLER IS PROOF THEY TRULY EXIST
GM'S JEWEL
ROB HAS DISCOVERED THERE’S MUCH MORE TO CADILLAC’S EARLY HISTORY THAN V16 ENGINES, TAIL FINS AND ELVIS PRESLEY’S PINK FLEET
UNDER THE WEATHER
RUST NEVER SLEEPS, SO AT LONG LAST GLENN TORRENS PROTECTS HIS BOMBODORE'S PATINA
CLASSIC CLUBMAN
MARK CURREY FOUND HIMSELF JUMPING IN THE PROVERBIAL DEEP END WHEN HE AND HIS BROTHER CRAIG TACKLED THE RESTO
MUSEUM OF VEHICLE EVOLUTION
NESTLED IN the Goulbourn Valley in Central Victoria, just south of Shepparton, is the Museum of Vehicle Evolution or MOVE for short. Recognised as one of the leading museums in the country.
TAKE A DASH!
DESIGN-FOR-MANUFACTURE GIVES NO THOUGHT TO THOSE WHO HAVE TO WORK ON THE DAMN THINGS
The LITTLE BULL
LAMBORGHINI V12S WERE THE BEDROOM POSTER FAVOURITES, BUT SANT AGATA'S V8 URRACO IS THE LESSER-KNOWN BABY SUPERMODEL
SHELBY MUSTANG MARKET REVIEW
Carroll Shelby created the business model, followed in the early 1980s by Peter Brock, for selling modified versions of popular road cars with the blessing of, but no direct involvement from the manufacturer.
SNAKE CATCHER!
SHELBY AND FORD GO HAND IN HAND, BUT THE 69 GT MODELS WERE THE END OF THE ROAD AS CARROLL WAVED GOODBYE, TO THE BLUE OVAL BRAND
