Plymouth Prowler Mule is One of The Worst Things We’ve Ever Seen
Lovingly referred to as the “Prangler,” this Plymouth Prowler test platform is perhaps one of the most offensive-looking vehicles ever.
There’s been no shortage of funky-looking concept cars, test mules, and pre-production cars spied in the automotive world. Some of them are a little more out there than others, but they’re largely inoffensive. That is not the case here. This test mule for the Plymouth Prowler might be one of the worst things that has ever rolled on four wheels. The Prowler, in its own right, is already a fairly divisive vehicle. How could you make more opinions surface on this “modern hotrod?” You could slap the rear end of a Jeep Wrangler on it!
The nice folks at Hemmings brought this eyebrow-raising bit of wonder to our attention. In a world where AI-generated images are flooding the internet and making it hard to decide what is and isn’t real, you’d almost be inclined to hope this is fake. According to Hemmings, though, this is very real. Worse yet is the fact that there was more than one cruising around during the Prowler’s development. It’s certainly a spectacle to look at. That said, we wouldn’t hesitate to say we’re glad the chances of us ever being subjected to one of these beasts in person is slim to none.
Why Did This Happen?
It’s not at all uncommon to see companies use existing vehicles as test mules for cars in development. A great example of this in more recent times is the Holden Ute mule disguise cars for developing the C8 Chevrolet Corvette. Hemmings reports that it’s suspected this monstrosity came to be for the sake of testing the Prowler’s front suspension system. That makes a good amount of sense, considering the open-wheel design up front was pretty unique. Upon closer inspection of the red Prangler, it appears to largely be a Wrangler with a Prowler’s front end on it. The yellow one seems to be a later example, given its more prowler-esque body lines.
Using things you already have during development is extremely practical and sensible. That doesn’t mean we can’t ridicule how hilariously bad this thing looks. It truly has a silhouette that only a mother could love. However, we suspect that even the Prangler’s mother may have some choice words about its appearance. Maybe it has a good personality? The front end sporting what appears to be Jeep bumpers with headlights haphazardly attached to them certainly isn’t doing it any favors.
At any rate, it’s always fun to see a bizarre bit of automotive history. We may not enjoy looking at you, Prangler, but we certainly appreciate the duty you served. Although, that duty ultimately led to the Plymouth Prowler’s release. So, whether that’s a good thing or not is up to you.
Photos: Hemmings
