Chrysler to Halt Production of (XPlymouth)Prowler

DETROIT, Dec 19 Chrysler said it would stop building its Prowler roadster, a hand-built hot-rod look-alike, after five years of production.

The Prowler was introduced in 1997 as an image-building car for Chrysler's Plymouth division. When Chrysler killed the Plymouth nameplate in 2000, the $45,000 Prowler soldiered on as a Chrysler.

But with Chrysler's own image-building model, the Crossfire coupe, scheduled to go into production in about a year, the Prowler was destined to lose its role. In addition, the triangular frame of the Prowler was facing tougher federal standards for crashworthiness.

Chrysler said it would build the last 300 Prowlers in a special shade of red ( See Above), and shut down production in February. The Detroit plant that builds the Prowler also builds the Dodge Viper sports car.

Chrysler said it had sold about 11,000 Prowlers in the past five years.