Complete Collection of Plymouth Prowlers Set to Be Auctioned at Mecum's Glendale Event

      Just over a year ago, the Plymouth Prowler was featured on Hagerty’s list of classic cars that are appreciating in value. Now, at Mecum’s Glendale 2025 auction, a total of six Prowlers are set to be auctioned. If you’ve ever had a fascination with Chrysler’s unique, open-top Boomer cruiser, you’ll find a selection of low-mileage roadsters this year, including one with the famous purple exterior and just 300 miles on the odometer.

      Describing the Prowler as “weird” may be somewhat unfair, but its distinctly unconventional design certainly sparked mixed opinions. The hot-rod-style front bumpers, which barely concealed its exposed suspension, gave the impression that the body had been stripped down to minimize weight for better performance. Weighing in at a respectable 2,800 pounds, it approached the forthcoming Honda S2000 in terms of lightness.

      However, there’s a catch: the Prowler was priced comparably to an E36 BMW M3, with a starting MSRP just below $40,000. When adjusted for inflation, the original MSRP of the Prowler equates to about $80,000 today. While it generates enough power to make a 2025 Miata driver feel uneasy, its only interaction with a modern sport sedan would likely involve trailing behind in the view of tail lights.

      At its time, it was outclassed. Its 3.5-liter V6 produced a modest 214 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque. While that output was decent for a V6 during that period, it was not particularly impressive against its contemporaries. Car and Driver tested it and recorded a 0-60 mph time of 7.0 seconds, meaning it could easily be outpaced by nearly any standard European sports car. The SLK? Yes. The Z3? Absolutely. Even the base Porsche Boxster outperformed it with the same curb weight but less horsepower. For reference, a 1990 Miata could reach 60 in 9.2 seconds, even with a manual transmission and just 116 horsepower.

      Subsequent models received an updated V6 and a slight power increase, bringing it closer to the 250-horsepower output of the Chrysler 300 and Dodge Charger/Magnum, which utilized the same engine. Nevertheless, even with nearly a 25% power increase, the Prowler still tended to be more of a visual choice. If it helps, its lackluster performance was likely influenced at least partially by the standard automatic transmission.

      Among the six Prowlers available at Mecum, each is unique. There are two different orange finishes (including the two-tone Woodward Edition), along with a blue, silver, red, and the previously mentioned purple. Five of the six models are from 2000 or later, meaning they come with the more powerful V6. Two of them have under 1,000 miles on the odometer, while a third shows only 1,229 miles. All are scheduled for auction from March 18-22.

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