Designer Chip Foose lately stopped by Jay Leno’s Storage to pore over one of the vital controversial tasks he’s ever been concerned in: the Plymouth Prowler.

The Prowler shocked the automotive world when it entered manufacturing as a 1997 mannequin. Whereas Plymouth had telegraphed the two-seater with a 1993 idea automobile, it was nonetheless shocking to see its hot-rod-inspired styling on a automobile truly being offered at dealerships—significantly these of then-declining Plymouth. That styling was positively of the love-it-or-hate-it selection, however the Prowler lasted till the 2002 mannequin yr, ending its manufacturing run as a Chrysler following the dying of Plymouth.

Whereas he didn’t design the completed product, or have any affect on the choice to get the automobile into manufacturing, Foose helped lay the groundwork for the Prowler’s design. Then a scholar at California’s Artwork Heart, Foose introduced the concept of a retro mannequin to then-Chrysler design boss Tom Gale, in response to a immediate to create a brand new area of interest automobile.

Within the video, Foose says his rationale was that many scorching rod and muscle automobile lovers wished to mix the traditional appears to be like of older vehicles with new expertise that may enable them for use on daily basis. One in every of his proposals, based mostly on a Nineteen Thirties Plymouth scorching rod, caught the attention of Gale, who pushed for the Prowler to change into a manufacturing automobile.

The manufacturing automobile stored most of the wilder components of Foose’s proposal, together with cycle fenders protecting 20-inch wheels that have been gigantic on the time. But it surely was let down by uninspiring mechanicals, together with an computerized transmission and three.5-liter V6 shared with different Chrysler fashions. The V10 from the Dodge Viper additionally being offered on the time most likely wouldn’t match, however there may be room for a V8 beneath the hood, Foose notes.

The driving expertise doesn’t present the identical stage of pleasure because the styling, however the V-6 gives an affordable 253 hp, and Leno was impressed by the shortage of cowl shake. It’s laborious to say if the Prowler is sports-car-level enjoyable, however the cramped cockpit and tiny trunk are positively sports-car-level impractical.

These components, mixed with a comparatively excessive worth (about $32,000 within the late Nineteen Nineties) restricted the Prowler’s enchantment, however the lack of a V8 was seemingly the largest turnoff, Foose believes. Attitudes could have modified over time, although. The stigma in opposition to V6 engines has abated considerably, and the Prowler has even been tipped as a strong collector-car funding by insurer Hagerty.

This text was initially printed by Motor Authority, an editorial accomplice of ClassicCars.com