posted 08-10-2006 01:20 PM                  

Who make the Prowler & Howler Concept?

I thought Metalcrafters designed it....but Riley Tech Engineering says so too.

posted 08-10-2006 03:10 PM                  

As a engineer at Ford Motor Company in the 1960s, Bob Riley was quickly identified as an uncommon talent. In the Advanced Concepts group, Bob gained a reputation for solving the handling, road feel, and NVH issues that came up in the group’s prototypes. One of the group’s leaders, Jonathon Rundels, later directed Chrysler Corporation’s concept car activities in the 1990s.

That was the "Golden Age" of Chrysler concept cars, and Riley & Scott was an important part of the success. A pattern developed. Chrysler tapped Metalcrafters in California to build the bodies, and Riley & Scott to design and build the chassis and suspension. "What Bob and R&S did was consistently deliver chassis that drove and felt like our best production vehicles", Rundels notes. "Chrysler executives and the press noticed that, and we think it helped in the decision to produce some of these cars".

Starting with the Prowler in 1994, R&S completed a series of successful projects including the Sidewinder, the Jeepster, the Chronus, and the Jeep Commanders (I and II). The Prowler, of course, was one of the earliest of a whole class of low volume "halo" vehicles that continues to define Daimler Chrysler today and includes the Viper and the PT Cruiser.

posted 08-10-2006 06:17 PM                  

"Chrysler maintains a West Coast design operation.....located in Carlsbad, north of San Diego, Chrysler Pacifica is a small operation of about 20 people, headed by design chief Tom Tremont. Actual car designers number about five - three permanent and two more on rotation from CTC. This fortuitous group includes Pacifica's design manager, Kevin Verduyn. According to Verduyn, the idea for the Prowler originated during an "idea fair" held a Pacifica in May 1990, beginning with a brainstorming session for ideas of concept cars Pacifica might possibly develop. Everyone in the building participated enthusiastically as ideas were jotted down on 3 x 5 cards, then stuck to a huge board, a synergistic process which generated 150 or so thought starters. No idea was too far out, including edible cars. One of the suggestions, contributed by an un-named source, was the idea of doing a "retro" hot rod......In early November, 1990, Chrysler's top bras from "back east" (including Tom Gale, design director Neil Walling and Chrysler president Bob Lutz) were at Pacifica for another presentation. Lutz spied a small sketch from the idea fair that sparked his interest hanging on a wall in Verduyn's office. The Verduyn sketch depicted a modern-day street rod with a curvaceous yet almost trianglular body, bright blue and slung between fat tires that were colored outrageously yellow. It was this illustration (and serendipity) that kicked off the model that ultimately let to the Prowler. Concurrently, the designers were dispatched to local but well-respected hot rod shows at Temecula and Hemet to immerse themselves in rodding culture."

It is possible, of course, that after the preliminary design sketchs and going to some of these hot rod shows, they saw a Chip Foose vehicle. We all know that it was based loosely on a '34 Ford and there are lots of hot rods like that out there to be seen. According to this book, the idea and design was already there, but it sounds like they were looking for ideas of refinement.

This picture is of Kevin Verduyn's sketch.

This is the preliminary design.....

posted 08-10-2006 09:21 PM                  

quote:

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Originally posted by Marty Usher:
Larry - what ever became of your full fender project?? When Lindsay and I were at the NSRA Street Rod Nationals last week we saw several varistions of early 30's roadsters with styling simalar to Prowler's but with full front fenders. I really like the look expecially if it was bolt on/bolt off!

Marty

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I have the vision and the design Marty.
I just don't have the time to make it happen.

My shop is doing extremely well, with over 50% increases in sales for the last three years in a row. While this is good for my wallet, it's just about killing my soul. I just can't seem to find time for any hobbies or the special projects that I so much enjoy doing.
Some day my friend, some day!

Anybody want to buy a booming busines in sunny Southern Califonia?

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Larry (Cruise Control) Lord
Larry@FMBbox.com
Products for your Prowler and Trailer:
Wonder Bar Stabilizer Bars - Upright Trailer Storage Stands - Deck Lid Hinge Protectors - Trailer Latch Reinforcement Kits - Keyed Alike Chrome Coupler Locksets - Chrome Receiver Locks - Chrome Coupler Locks
FMB Prowler Products.

posted 08-10-2006 09:47 PM                  

quote:

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Originally posted by Larry Lord:
Here's a little more Chip Foose information from one of our SoCal events in case you've never seen it.

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Larry,
Thanks for posting that older thread on Chip Foose.

It warms my heart to see a man with such passion for his work and his unending desire to help others.

I would truly love to meet him someday!!!

Brian

posted 04-15-2018 07:28 AM                  

Scroll down once you open the link.
http://www.prowleronline.com/ubb/Forum1/HTML/024417.html

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