posted 03-24-2003 07:21 AM                  

1) Custom convertible 56 Chevy for Chris Titus.
2) Redesigned 02 Thunderbird to be a Speedster
3) Showed some of his most prized custom rod work.

Well, anyway, they showed a custom concept car he put together years ago for Chrysler, and it looked a lot like the Prowler in shape. He said The designers were so impressed with the design, it evolved into the Prowler concept....and the rest is history.

Is this old news to you all? Or is this a type of scoop here?

Look for the show called "Wild Rides" on TLC. It was a great show.

posted 03-24-2003 10:03 AM                  

"Chrysler maintains a West Coast design operation.....located in Carlsbad, north of San Diego, Chrysler Pacifica is a small operation of about 20 people, headed by design chief Tom Tremont. Actual car designers number about five - three permanent and two more on rotation from CTC. This fortuitous group includes Pacifica's design manager, Kevin Verduyn. According to Verduyn, the idea for the Prowler originated during an "idea fair" held a Pacifica in May 1990, beginning with a brainstorming session for ideas of concept cars Pacifica might possibly develop. Everyone in the building participated enthusiastically as ideas were jotted down on 3 x 5 cards, then stuck to a huge board, a synergistic process which generated 150 or so thought starters. No idea was too far out, including edible cars. One of the suggestions, contributed by an un-named source, was the idea of doing a "retro" hot rod......In early November, 1990, Chrysler's top bras from "back east" (including Tom Gale, design director Neil Walling and Chrysler president Bob Lutz) were at Pacifica for another presentation. Lutz spied a small sketch from the idea fair that sparked his interest hanging on a wall in Verduyn's office. The Verduyn sketch depicted a modern-day street rod with a curvaceous yet almost trianglular body, bright blue and slung between fat tires that were colored outrageously yellow. It was this illustration (and serendipity) that kicked off the model that ultimately let to the Prowler. Concurrently, the designers were dispatched to local but well-respected hot rod shows at Temecula and Hemet to immerse themselves in rodding culture."

It is possible, of course, that after the preliminary design sketchs and going to some of these hot rod shows, they saw a Chip Foose vehicle. We all know that it was based loosely on a '34 Ford and there are lots of hot rods like that out there to be seen. According to this book, the idea and design was already there, but it sounds like they were looking for ideas of refinement.

This picture is of Kevin Verduyn's sketch.

This is the preliminary design.....

posted 03-25-2003 06:00 AM                  

Thanks!

Bill

posted 03-25-2003 06:27 AM                  

quote:

---

Anyone know if and when this show might be on again? I keep hearing about it but can't seem to catch it.

---

I hate to say it, but it was just on. I just got done watching it 2 minutes ago. I checked the schedule of SPEED channel and it doesn't appear to be showing again between today and Thursday, at least locally.

quote:

---

This is the preliminary design.....

---

This might sound sick, but if I could make one big change to the Prowler, it would be to make it look more like that concept. Probably not one of the most popular opinions, but how about a 2005 Prowler?

------------------
Bill Gallagher
1999 Red
www.MagicTouchDesigns.com

• MTD Prowler Intake System 2.2
• MTD Bypass Kit
• MTD Suspension Frame Braces
• Other Modifications

posted 03-25-2003 06:53 AM                  

Always learning something new here!

Maybe try Speed channel's home page and check out the schedule? I haven't tried to see about reruns of that show yet....

posted 03-25-2003 02:00 PM                  

Chip Foose relocated the front wheels forward, cut the shovel nose grille back into the hood, extended the rear fenders and fabricated a rear roll pan ala '33 Plymouth. Lingenfelter installed an LS1 Corvette C5 engine and transaxle. The owner?? Dick Marriott from the hotel chain & GM Board member. The car looks better in person that the photograph reveals.