Chrysler Prowler Debuts In Blue

AUBURN HILLS, Mich.--The 2001 Chrysler Prowler will debut in blue.

The “Mulholland Edition” Prowler will be painted Prowler Midnight Blue with a dark blue convertible cloth top. A light blue pinstripe will be hand-painted around the upper beltline to give the two-seat roadster even more of a hand-crafted, customized touch.

The Mulholland Edition Prowler is named after Mulholland Drive in Los Angeles, the scene of countless classic movies and home to many exotic cars.

“While we said the Plymouth brand will be discontinued after the 2001 model year, Prowler continues life as a Chrysler,” said Tom Marinelli, vice president at the Chrysler/Jeep Division Global Brand Center. “The addition of Prowler to the Chrysler brand further expands the breadth and depth of the brand, giving us an affordable, yet exotic sports car.”

The manufacturer’s suggested retail price for the car is $46,000. In addition, matching Prowler Midnight Blue trailers will also be available through Mopar, Chrysler’s original equipment parts division, at a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $5,075. About 20 percent of all Prowlers are purchased with a matching trailer.

Through December of 2000, 6,775 Prowlers had been sold in North America. Of those Prowlers sold, 1,877 were black, 1,403 were red, 1,356 were purple, 999 were yellow, 869 were silver, 105 were black/red two-tone, 104 were orange, and 62 were silver/black two-tone.

Visually, Prowler pays tribute to the rolling art of hot rods. “Prowler also embodies some of the most advanced technology and materials and has the distinction of being North America’s most aluminum-intensive vehicle,” Marinelli said. “It was only a few years ago that the idea of mass producing a factory hot rod seemed too radical of a concept for any major automaker to undertake. Since then, however, the Chrysler Group’s concept-to-reality roadster has cruised into the hearts and garages of passionate automotive enthusiasts throughout North America.”

(The debut of the blue model is due at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit now through Sunday, Jan. 21.)

The Prowler first appeared as a concept car at the 1993 show. Favorable response prompted the former Chrysler Corp. to unveil a production version of Prowler at the 1996 show. Prowler production began in July of 1997 as a 1997 model. An average of 14 Prowlers are manufactured daily at the Conner Avenue Assembly Plant in Detroit where they are built alongside the Dodge Viper production line.