Wicked Wednesday: 1999 Plymouth Prowler ‘Howler’ Has Hellcat Crate Engine

Any concerns about the Plymouth Prowler being under powered have been emphatically addressed by a Hellcat engine swap in this ‘Howler.’

The Plymouth Prowler was always an interesting car. With the hot rod retro design, it certainly looked the part of a performance car. And for the 1999 model year the car got a fairly significant boost in power thanks to an aluminum block 3.5L V6. But even with this power boost the car made only 253 horsepower. And even more of a concern for a car that looks like this is the lack of a V8 engine. A car like this must have a V8, right? Well, it does now. At least this 1999 Plymouth Prowler ‘Howler’ does. And it is not just any V8. It is a 707-horsepower 6.2L Hemi Hellcat crate engine. That is the power covered in a big way.

This week’s “Wicked Wednesday” is all about this 1999 Plymouth Prowler ‘Howler’. It was recently captured at the Houston Barrett-Jackson auction and posted to the Jalopy Jeff YouTube channel. The car ended up selling for $62,700. Which might sound a bit rich for a Prowler. But where else can you find a Prowler like this? A new Challenger with a Hellcat engine is going to cost you at least $70K. So, this is really a bit of a bargain.

The Good Stuff

The Hellcat engine under the hood is certainly big news. Actually, it doesn’t even fit under the hood. A hole had to be cut in order for the big Hemi and supercharger to fit. But that is not the end of the modification list. The Howler has a custom-built semi-automatic TH400 transmission. It is further equipped with a Strange Engineering third member, transmission yoke and stainless-steel side-exit exhaust with MagnaFlow mufflers. Helping it to get off the line is a custom Currie Enterprises 9-inch IRS differential with 930 CV stub axles and Nitto NT555 G2 tires. Slowing this thing down are Wilwood 6-piston calipers in the front and rear with 13-inch Wilwood rotors, and a manual brake master cylinder. The inside looks mostly stock except it has a GPS speedometer with one-off Dakota Digital gauges.

More Good Stuff

The exterior of this Howler is covered in Prowler Purple paint. The front bumper is deleted. On the side you will find aftermarket Viper side panels and side marker lights. And of course, a big ole Hellcat logo. This car now has the looks and the performance that the Plymouth Prowler should have had from day one. But hey, better late than never, right? And we doubt that the new owner of this car will ever be late to anything again.

Howling Good Deal

So, what do you think of the Prowler now in Howler form? Would you buy this over a brand-new Hellcat-powered Charger or Challenger? We think it makes a heck of a case for itself. It certainly looks like nothing else on the road. The performance we would expect to be outstanding. And don’t forget this is a roadster so you can enjoy some open-air motoring as well. No matter what you might think of the original Prowler this Howler build makes for one wicked ride.

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Joe Kucinski

Joe has been obsessed with cars since he got his very first Matchbox toy in the 1970s. In 2003, he found a new obsession in track days that led to obtaining his SCCA competition license in 2015. In 2019, he became a certified driving instructor for the National Auto Sport Association. His love for all things four wheels has never wavered, whether it's driving some of the best cars in the world on the racetrack, tackling 2,000-mile road trips in 2-seat sports cars or being winched off the side of a mountaintop in a Jeep. Writing for the suite of Internet Brands Auto Communities sites, including Rennlist.com, Ford Truck Enthusiasts, 6 Speed and more allows him to share that knowledge and passion with others.