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spoons	Who designed the Prowler for Chrysler? Who make the Prowler & Howler Concept? I thought Metalcrafters designed it....but Riley Tech Engineering says so too. ------------------ Brian K. Richardson West Palm Beach, FL http://www.brianrichardson.net 1997 Purple W/ 1997 Mopar Trailer TGF Metalcrafters Rear Spoiler ~ Mopar Borla Prowler Exhaust ~ Splash Guards(Front + Back) ~ Ceramic brake pads (front) ~ "Cracked Ice" shimmers on rear bumpers ~ Magic Touch Design 2.2 Air Intake ~ Purple Painted Shift Bezel ~ Trailer Leather Bra ~ Complete, Speaker Upgrade ~ Front Suspension Brace ~ 2001 Prowler Ignition Key ~ Louvered Transmission Cover ~ Flamed Panther Prowler "Cat-Skins" seat covers.
Wayne Finch	From their own website: 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. Each of the cars expressed a different form of advanced chassis engineering. The Prowler incorporated a race-car derived pushrod front suspension, and remains in production today. The Sidewinder, a cabriolet pickup, adopted independent suspension. When built, the Chrysler Chronus was the ultimate expression of grand touring (a glass-lidded humidor nestled between the front seats) and its ride was key to its position.
392HEMI	Wayne, great information, where do you get this stuff? Thanks for the post. See you in Mo-Town.
condor	The design of the Prowler was by Chip Foose. In April was a Foose special with the first design pictures and scale models of the Prowler and how it startet at the Petersen Automotiv Museum in LA to see. It was very interesting to see, how the first prowler scale models looked like. Also, all major Chip-Foose Hot Rods and Customs to the latest Roadster show winner was on display.
CJ	According to Chrysler's book "Anatomy of A New American Roadster"......... "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.....
Larry Lord	Here's a little more Chip Foose information from one of our SoCal events in case you've never seen it. ------------------ 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 - KatRack Stowable Cargo Carriers - Keyed Alike Chrome Coupler Locksets - Chrome Receiver Locks - Chrome Coupler Locks FMB Prowler Products.
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
Larry Lord	quote: 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 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? ------------------ 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. This message has been edited by Larry Lord on 08-10-2006 at 09:22 PM
TooHipCat	quote: 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. 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
Michiganprowler	I know this is an old thread but I just saw it. I can 100% verify Riley & Scott were involved in the first prototype. I was the account manager of the company that made the Prowler front & rear suspension. Our engineer & I went to Riley & Scott across from the Indy Speedway in the early 90's to consult with them on the suspension bushings. We did not see the car which was under a wraps but we did see they were hand fabricating the frame & suspension. It took 25 years but I finally have a Prowler.
u00tjs2	Welcome aboard. Since you were involved in the Prowler suspensions, any ideas on Front lower ball joint replacements See posts on Ball joint failures. Not trying to put on the spot-just looking for info. ------------------ [img]http://www.prowleronline.com/ubb/smilies/blueprowl.gif[/img]
Michiganprowler	I started investigating what oem quality options are available for the rubber bushings used in the control arms , rocker & rear links. With our cars approaching 20 yrs old there is going to be a need for these since no more runs of control arms are planned. It will take a while but I'm sure we will come up with a few options. I will also see if I can find out who made the last run of ball studs.
spoons	If someone can send me 2 New and one broken Prowler ball joints I can reverse engineer them and maybe make them better than the OEM. Email me at b_richardson@yahoo.com
Tomcal	Ball joints were made by TRW Automotive Division.
kees	Best to read the copy of the Haggerty article, posted by Maddawg6 on this topic, per the link below. Scroll down once you open the link. http://www.prowleronline.com/ubb/Forum1/HTML/024417.html ------------------ This message has been edited by kees on 04-15-2018 at 10:11 AM