Plymouth prowler
Discussion
Hi
As anyone owned a Plymouth prowler and what are they like to live with in the uk.
Wife really likes the look of them found 2 for sale on auto trader but am concerned over
Insurance
Servicing and availability of parts.
Any advice on how long they where made for and pitfalls would be appreciated.
Thanks
John
As anyone owned a Plymouth prowler and what are they like to live with in the uk.
Wife really likes the look of them found 2 for sale on auto trader but am concerned over
Insurance
Servicing and availability of parts.
Any advice on how long they where made for and pitfalls would be appreciated.
Thanks
John
Pretty sure 'Vrod' on here has one, if you look in the 'What have you done with your yank today?' he's been discussing recent mods.
Insurance shouldn't be a problem as its will fall under the classic American car policies. These are generally a lot cheaper than normal car policies, the trade off being its a second car, low mileage per year and most American car enthusiast would probably fix their own car than put it through the insurance.
On a side note, I've always wanted one and have yet to actually see one in the flesh! Its a shame they couldn't have shoe horned a V8 in there to get the sound but still think they're really good looking cars!
Insurance shouldn't be a problem as its will fall under the classic American car policies. These are generally a lot cheaper than normal car policies, the trade off being its a second car, low mileage per year and most American car enthusiast would probably fix their own car than put it through the insurance.
On a side note, I've always wanted one and have yet to actually see one in the flesh! Its a shame they couldn't have shoe horned a V8 in there to get the sound but still think they're really good looking cars!
I'd love one.
Me and a mate hired one (and a C6 Vette) in Vegas for three days last year. Drove up and down the strip, to the hoover Dam and into the desert for some "55mph" fun.
The prowler had chrome wheels and a chrome grille that was not to my taste but had the indicator buttresses removed and frenched into the bodywork, which I liked. Prowler had a borla exhaust, which sounded amazing at full chat when driving past the Vette. The Vette eat the prowler for breakfast truth be told but in terms of head turning fun, the prowler turned more heads on the strip than the 458s and other exotica being driven around!
I'd have to get the prowler trailer too:
Anyhoo if anyone is interested here are some pics of the cars we hired:
Prowling the strip
Desert
Drive by
Lake Mead (apologies for cheesy fat bloke content)
Pickup
v6
Dash (looked good at night, like a moody green and red)
Hoover Dam/Arizona state line
Lake Mead
Hoover Dam
Sex Museum (kind of a rule)
Cheers
Me and a mate hired one (and a C6 Vette) in Vegas for three days last year. Drove up and down the strip, to the hoover Dam and into the desert for some "55mph" fun.
The prowler had chrome wheels and a chrome grille that was not to my taste but had the indicator buttresses removed and frenched into the bodywork, which I liked. Prowler had a borla exhaust, which sounded amazing at full chat when driving past the Vette. The Vette eat the prowler for breakfast truth be told but in terms of head turning fun, the prowler turned more heads on the strip than the 458s and other exotica being driven around!
I'd have to get the prowler trailer too:
Anyhoo if anyone is interested here are some pics of the cars we hired:
Prowling the strip
Desert
Drive by
Lake Mead (apologies for cheesy fat bloke content)
Pickup
v6
Dash (looked good at night, like a moody green and red)
Hoover Dam/Arizona state line
Lake Mead
Hoover Dam
Sex Museum (kind of a rule)
Cheers
I've seen three in the UK, one purple, one yellow, one silver. They are bigger than you might think and I recall thinking must be like a bathtub to drive if you lack height (like me).
The main bugbear on American cars of this era was the chrome wheels which had great chrome on the face but not so good on the inner rims so they corroded and peeled like cornflakes. I imagine most would have been replaced with aftermarket wheels by now.
They only have a V6 so are not that fast but it's all about the posing.
Companies like Classicline, Flux etc all offer classic policies at reasonable costs.
The main bugbear on American cars of this era was the chrome wheels which had great chrome on the face but not so good on the inner rims so they corroded and peeled like cornflakes. I imagine most would have been replaced with aftermarket wheels by now.
They only have a V6 so are not that fast but it's all about the posing.
Companies like Classicline, Flux etc all offer classic policies at reasonable costs.
Edited by LuS1fer on Monday 22 July 12:18
Still very high on my all time want list, ticked a few of so far, my 75 corvette which I will own forever, then I had a 2006 mustang, now a 2009 challenger srt8, next would be a viper then a Prowler, for me purple is the only colour 
there have been a few for sale in the last year varying in cost from £19k to £29k, there was recently a very low mileage one for around £24k, yes not a V8 but a cool looking Rod that will happily eat up the miles so good for touring with, and I thinkyor money will be safe as they hold their value well.
there have been a few for sale in the last year varying in cost from £19k to £29k, there was recently a very low mileage one for around £24k, yes not a V8 but a cool looking Rod that will happily eat up the miles so good for touring with, and I thinkyor money will be safe as they hold their value well.Hi, yes I have recently got one!
If you want to know more about them, this site is excellent:
http://www.prowleronline.com
They are bigger than you think, very long wheelbase and wide at the back. Goes in the garage OK after a few practice runs.
To answer a few questions-
1. Insurance through Adrian Flux is about £250 for 3K miles a year, its less than my Audi A3 S-line as a daily driver to insure.
2. Spares - Has Chrysler 300 bits, so front discs dimpled and slotted on e-bay £108, fit perfect. Front speakers were shot, got equivalent infinity speakers and made an adapter. Bonnet struts had lost gas, imported from US, about £30 but double with postage and import tax. Can get almost anything from US or through the owners clubs.
3. Despite its size its only 1280kg, so they fitted a 3.5 24V V6. Yes we would all have loved a V8 but at the time the GM V8 produced less hp, was heavier and more thirsty. In 1997 the steel block V6 had 214hp, only made them for 1 year. In 1999 relaunched with aluminium block and 253hp, gives 0-60 of 5.8 seconds so I bought a 2000 model as I wanted more hp. My 'mods' were a sweet-thunder exhaust and I think it sounds as good as a V8! I bought a X-flow pipe so it sounds modern, my V8 had side exits with no cross over so sounded old skool, don't let a V6 put you off, the howl suits the prowler very well.
4. What's it like owning one in the UK - LHD took a while to get used to as you sit low and can't see the bonnet or the indy style front wheels. Don't buy one if your shy, my V-Rod and 1938 Ford V8 hot rod attract attention, but I didn't expect this from the prowler, people always ask what is it?, is it a kit car?, what engine has it got?, I've never ever seen one before, whats it like having a car more rare than a Ferrari?, park up and people just take pictures...
I always wanted one and love it. If you need any specifics just ask.
Updated what I have done with some pictures here:
http://www.pistonheads.com/xforums/topic.asp?h=0&a...
If you want to know more about them, this site is excellent:
http://www.prowleronline.com
They are bigger than you think, very long wheelbase and wide at the back. Goes in the garage OK after a few practice runs.
To answer a few questions-
1. Insurance through Adrian Flux is about £250 for 3K miles a year, its less than my Audi A3 S-line as a daily driver to insure.
2. Spares - Has Chrysler 300 bits, so front discs dimpled and slotted on e-bay £108, fit perfect. Front speakers were shot, got equivalent infinity speakers and made an adapter. Bonnet struts had lost gas, imported from US, about £30 but double with postage and import tax. Can get almost anything from US or through the owners clubs.
3. Despite its size its only 1280kg, so they fitted a 3.5 24V V6. Yes we would all have loved a V8 but at the time the GM V8 produced less hp, was heavier and more thirsty. In 1997 the steel block V6 had 214hp, only made them for 1 year. In 1999 relaunched with aluminium block and 253hp, gives 0-60 of 5.8 seconds so I bought a 2000 model as I wanted more hp. My 'mods' were a sweet-thunder exhaust and I think it sounds as good as a V8! I bought a X-flow pipe so it sounds modern, my V8 had side exits with no cross over so sounded old skool, don't let a V6 put you off, the howl suits the prowler very well.
4. What's it like owning one in the UK - LHD took a while to get used to as you sit low and can't see the bonnet or the indy style front wheels. Don't buy one if your shy, my V-Rod and 1938 Ford V8 hot rod attract attention, but I didn't expect this from the prowler, people always ask what is it?, is it a kit car?, what engine has it got?, I've never ever seen one before, whats it like having a car more rare than a Ferrari?, park up and people just take pictures...
I always wanted one and love it. If you need any specifics just ask.
Updated what I have done with some pictures here:
http://www.pistonheads.com/xforums/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Edited by vrod on Wednesday 24th July 14:07
John,
Have uploaded some pictures:
Roof up:
Open:
Roof down:
Engine is tucked well back for weight distribution. There are removable side panels for access:
Boot - gearbox is over rear axle so flat bags fit with enough room for a week-end but not much more:
Interior:
Against my bike it doesn't look quite so big!:
Cheers, Nick.
Have uploaded some pictures:
Roof up:
Open:
Roof down:
Engine is tucked well back for weight distribution. There are removable side panels for access:
Boot - gearbox is over rear axle so flat bags fit with enough room for a week-end but not much more:
Interior:
Against my bike it doesn't look quite so big!:
Cheers, Nick.
we had one for a while, wife always wanted one after we hired in Florida, great looks, very crashy ride on std. suspension and a nightmare to maneuver as visibility is a joke, especially with roof up. goes, handles and stops well if bumps aren't in the equation, a box to be ticked but soon wears thin & you probably wouldn't have another 
attention is ridiculous, especially in conspicuous yellow! I could not drive it at all as it was to much attention for me (and thats saying something)
zero practicality: miniscule fuel tank and rear storage is tiny which disappears completely with roof down, we had a hard top for ours which worked quite well but from I understand they make the car seem common, £3.5k new I think they were.
reliable and bought at the right money you shouldn't loose anything.
good luck with it, more of them in europe & for less money by the way
attention is ridiculous, especially in conspicuous yellow! I could not drive it at all as it was to much attention for me (and thats saying something)
zero practicality: miniscule fuel tank and rear storage is tiny which disappears completely with roof down, we had a hard top for ours which worked quite well but from I understand they make the car seem common, £3.5k new I think they were.
reliable and bought at the right money you shouldn't loose anything.
good luck with it, more of them in europe & for less money by the way
Hmm, the fully factory spec Prowler not your thing? How about this kit car?
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PLYMOUTH-PROWLER-REPLICA...
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PLYMOUTH-PROWLER-REPLICA...
Roo said:
Have you sold yours Nick?
yip, it went to a dealer on the cote d'azur who was going to matt black stripe it i believe, weirdly it went for more than we expected as they're cheaper in europe, but then he wanted a low miler & yellow in particular, 7k miles in 14 yrs 
I know why 
did you manage to move the silver one on? looking for an LPG vehicle at the mo if you know of any
Gassing Station | Yank Motors | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff