posted 09-01-2004 11:38 PM                  

I couldn't believe my ears today,,,listening to a local Cadillac dealer's radio commercial about working with Chip Foose on two Cadillac cars to trick out for an upcoming TV show on the Discovery Channel. This Cadillac guy said Chip was involved with Chrysler in the Prowler design

If Chip did,,,I wasn't aware of it. Can anyone verify or deny the claim positively?

I know Gale had a 1933 hi-boy with a hemi in it,,,,wonder if that was what they were referring to?

posted 09-01-2004 11:52 PM                  

quote:

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Originally posted by CJ:
I'll ask Bob in the a.m.

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Thanks CJ, I appreciate that.

Larry

posted 09-02-2004 06:22 AM                  

Chip clearly feels that the Prowler concept car resembles his drawings from college, as do many modern renditions of 1930-era Fords. The Prowler design was granted trademark status. Legally, Chip had nothing to do with the car. Chrysler is very protective of its intellectual properties and trademarks. If Chip had a legititmate claim, he would have challenged Chrysler's patent long before now.

This same issue surfaces periodically. People can say what they want and even what they believe without legitimate claim.

The story of the Prowler design is in the Prowler book called "Plymouth Prowler - Anatomy of A New American Roadster". The chapter called "Design - From Concept to Production" explains how Kevin Verduyn's design for a modern-day street rod served as the basis for the Plymouth Prowler. In a nutshell, Tom Tremont was the design chief for Chrysler Pacifica, which was a small operation of about 20 people and located in Carlsbad, CA. This group included Pacifica's design manager, Kevin Verduyn.

According to Verduyn, the idea for the Prowler originated during an "idea fair" held at Pacifica in May, 1990. In early November 1990, Chrysler's top brass from "back East" (including Tom Gale, design direct 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. This drawing kicked off the model that ultimately led to the Prowler. The fifth-scale model came out almost like the sketch. Gale, whose interest in hot rods led him to design and build his own personal ground-up design conterminous with the Prowler, was "real enthusiastic" from day one" says Verduyn, "so much that the Prowler became his baby".

posted 09-02-2004 06:56 AM                  

Copied from Mac motosports Brochure

posted 09-02-2004 07:15 AM                  

Thedqman poste the story I've heard....

posted 09-02-2004 08:58 AM                  

I had read the PROWLER STORY, from the HOME PAGE, on the Prowler history before posting this thread and didn't see Chip's name included. The radio commercial really caught me by surprise and I really felt the need to know before contacting the person who made the commercial. I had heard that Kevin Verduyn had drawn the original concept,,,,but I can see from these other posts and pictures where Chip may have "felt" that his rendering preceded Kevin's. Drawings are just that,,,drawings. Chrysler took the leap from drawings to final production and should be given full credit for their vision and desire to go where no other auto manufacture would travel.