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The Plymouth Prowler was a proud end to a proud name. The Plymouth division began in 1928 as a spin-off for Chrysler's 4-cylinder models, and it distinguished itself as Chrysler' largest producer from 1936 until 1954. The Prowler and PT Cruiser were part of an attempt to distinguish the brand once again, by designing vehicles that harkened back to the glory days of hot rods and cruisers. The Prowler was the star of the '93 and '94 auto shows. It was a true concept car, not only for its ground-breaking styling but also for its extensive use of aluminum which makes it expensive to produce. But its 1997 debut was too little too late to save Plymouth, which ceased to exist in 2000, and the stylish Prowler roadster became a Chrysler for 2001.
Anson's 1997 Prowler is not bad for a low-cost replica. Of course the Prowler is so unique and appealing that it's hard to go too far wrong. The paint quality is pretty good, although there are a couple of blemishes here and there. The model has an opening hood and trunk (both nicely painted underneath), and a removable soft top. The lights and bumpers are well done. The undercarriage shows the unique aluminum-frame construction and good details on the engine, exhaust and the disk brakes visible through the wheels.
Opening the hood reveals the odd-looking '97 engine, which changed quite a bit in later years. There's little detail though - the engine looks like it's molded in one piece.
The interior is also fair. The seats are soft vinyl, which is a nice touch. The body-colored center instrument panel with white dials is a striking feature, as is the trademark tachometer on the steering column. But the dash texture is a little too rough and angular - it loses the retro look of the real thing. The stereo and environmental controls look good on the black console. The mirrors are just stickers, which is unfortunate. The door hinges, while of the diecast-dogleg ilk, are completely hidden when closed. Bottom line - the quality of the replica is fair, but the subject is interesting enough to make this a fun model to own!
(11/03/2002)
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