The Plymouth Prowler was always one of the more eye-catching designs that came from the wave of early-2000s retro vehicles, though many felt let down by its rather lackluster performance, specifically its choice of a V6 engine over a V8. But what if there was a way to get that ’30s hot rod styling with all the grunt of an 8-cylinder engine?
That’s what the Chip Foose Hemisfear delivers and more, and you can now buy one for yourself. Up for auction at Mecum’s Indy event in May, the car was built in 2006 as the fourth of the 5 ever made, then refurbished to Chip’s “initial design characteristics and details” in 2011. No price is listed, but we can almost guarantee it will run you more than the average Prowler these days.
Read More: Is Chip Foose’s Jaguar E-Type Roadster Restomod Blasphemy Or Masterpiece?
That being said, while we have been comparing the Hemisfear to Plymouth‘s attempt at a production hot rod quite a bit, the two cars actually share no components. The Hemisfear’s autoclave carbon fiber body, tube-frame inner structure, and even the steel perimeter chassis are all completely custom. The graphics alone, which were reportedly hand airbrushed by Chip himself, took 14 hours to complete, and that’s on top of however long it took to do the rich Demon Red paint job. Elsewhere, brightwork done by Artistic Silver Plating is offset by sections of the bodywork left bare carbon, while Sunkist Orange brake calipers fill a set of custom center-lock wheels.
See Also: The Sexy 2002 Speedbird That Launched Chip Foose’s TV Career Can Be Yours For 50 Grand
But don’t let the gorgeous exterior fool you into thinking the interior was an afterthought, as it features just as much attention to detail. With purposeful flowing lines, quilted upholstery, and excellent material choices, the cabin manages to perfectly blend classic hot rod styling cues with modern interior design. The seats, for instance, meld the simple forms of old buckets with modern bolstering designs. The analog gauges feature chrome finishing and period-correct numerals, but they also contain a small digital readout at the bottom. Even the steering wheel, a buttonless, wood-rimmed affair, is juxtaposed by a center console made entirely of bare carbon fiber.
Given the car’s long, expansive hood, you’d expect the engine to be up front, but it’s actually the opposite, sitting aft of the driver behind a glass firewall. The engine itself is one of the Hemisfear’s best features. The handbuilt Direct Connection 392 Hemi V8 is said to be one of only three in existence, and it sends 485 hp (491 PS / 362 kW) to the wheels by way of a modified 5-speed ZF manual transaxle. That’s almost double what the most powerful Prowler made in a mid-engined package weighing less than a Miata.
